Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has faced harsh criticism as it invites viewers into her California home for homemaking advice, drawing comparisons to Martha Stewart.
As The Guardian put it, “The mildest way to describe this show is as a ghastly artefact of a particular cultural era that recently met its apocalypse.”
However, Stassi Schroeder, a self-proclaimed fan of Meghan, 43, watched the first episode, which premiered on Netflix on Tuesday, March 4. She offered a contrasting opinion.
“Anyone complaining about this like they’re expecting this to be something they can relate to, that’s not the point,” the Vanderpump Rules alum, 36, said via her Instagram story. “I love this. This is something I absolutely cannot f—ing relate to.”
Her comments echoed statements she made on her “Pop Culture Hour” podcast, which she recorded before watching the show.
“I wanna see this unattainable, beautiful life of the duchess making fruit tarts and what China she uses,” Schroeder said in the episode released Wednesday.
“That’s not my life and I want the escapism of something that’s so aspirational that I don’t even think I could attain it … It’s a fantasy.”
With Love, Meghan, produced by Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions, showcases Meghan’s passion for cooking, gardening, and more, alongside appearances from celebrity guests.
Stassi Schroeder and Meghan Markle
The series features a brief cameo from Prince Harry, as well as appearances by Mindy Kaling, Alice Waters, and Abigail Spencer.
The show is part of Meghan and Harry’s $100 million Netflix deal, which was signed in 2020. It follows the 2022 Harry & Meghan docuseries and the 2024 Polo documentary.
Schroeder acknowledged that while she is a fan, she understands why some perceive Meghan as inauthentic based on her social media presence. However, she believes that perception stems from Meghan finally stepping out of the royal family’s shadow.
“She is authentic,” Schroeder argued. “We’re just not used to that type of authentic person.”
“I just feel like there is a real girly in that soul, but she has been so tormented by the royal family that it’s like she can’t deprogram herself,” she continued.
“And she wants to be authentically herself. But I feel like she needs to take time to figure out who authentically she is.”
Schroeder further explained that Meghan should focus on herself rather than proving others wrong.
“I think when your energy is to prove people wrong, you’re so busy focusing on that that you’re not being your authentic self,” she said.
“I wish she could just not think about them and just be like, ‘I wanna do this for me. I wanna be me.’ I think that we would be seeing different product coming from her.”
