Importance Score: 15 / 100 🟠
Meghan Markle Attends Broadway Show Amidst “As Ever” Brand Launch and Reviews
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, made a public appearance in New York City, attending a Broadway performance of “Gypsy” and meeting lead actress Audra McDonald, just days after the launch of her new lifestyle brand, As Ever, which has garnered both excitement and critical reviews. This outing marks her first public appearance since her brand’s product range, including a raspberry spread, faced scrutiny online.
Duchess of Sussex Enjoys Manhattan Outing
On Thursday evening, the Duchess of Sussex appeared unfazed by recent critiques as she dined with friends at the upscale Polo Bar in Manhattan. Following dinner, she attended the Broadway production of “Gypsy,” which premiered in November 2024. According to reports, she arrived at the theater accompanied by a four-car motorcade.
Celebrating “Gypsy” and Meeting Audra McDonald
The Duchess later shared a series of photos from her evening on Instagram, expressing her admiration for the Broadway show and its cast. In a heartfelt message, Meghan, 43, conveyed her enthusiasm about meeting actress Audra McDonald.
First Photo: Embracing the Star
The initial image in her social media post featured Audra McDonald, who stars as Momma Rose, the central character striving to propel her daughters to Vaudeville stardom. Meghan shared a black and white photograph of herself embracing McDonald, looking directly into her eyes, with other cast members visible in the background.
Sharing Moments with the Cast and Crew
The Duchess, seemingly without Prince Harry, also posted additional photos and a video capturing moments with the “Gypsy” cast and crew, highlighting her meeting with Audra McDonald.
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Meghan Markle’s Broadway appearance and enthusiastic praise for Audra McDonald follow the sold-out launch of her As Ever brand amidst early product reviews.
The final image in Meghan’s series showcased another affectionate embrace with the Tony Award-winning actress.
For the Broadway event, Meghan donned a $1,390 Houndstooth Linen-Blend Maxi Skirt from Carolina Herrera and a $448 silk button-down shirt by Veronica Beard, both conveniently linked on her ShopMy page.
Fashion Details of the Evening
For her theater outing, Meghan chose a $1,390 Houndstooth Linen-Blend Maxi Skirt by designer Carolina Herrera, paired with a $448 silk button-down shirt from Veronica Beard. These items were helpfully linked on her ShopMy page for interested buyers.
She completed her ensemble with black suede pumps by Aquazzura, priced at $609.
Caption Highlights Show’s Impact
In the caption accompanying her photo collection, Meghan encouraged her followers: “If you get a chance to see @gypsybway, you absolutely must. Congratulations to the tremendously talented cast and crew for creating magic on that stage.”
She further elaborated on McDonald’s performance: “And meeting @audramcdonald for the first time last night… Her performance will leave you absolutely speechless. Full body chills. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house, and if the theater didn’t have to close for the night, the standing ovation would still be happening,” she concluded with an emotional smiley emoji.
“As Ever” Brand Launch and Product Reviews
Meghan’s New York visit coincides with the debut of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and her new podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” with Lemonada Media. The initial product offerings from As Ever, including her signature raspberry spread, flower sprinkles, and pancake mix, rapidly sold out, with the most expensive item, wildflower honey with honeycomb, selling out within minutes.
Meghan’s Instagram caption praised the “magic” created by the cast and crew of “@gypsybway”.
She described Audra McDonald’s performance as “speechless”, anticipating a perpetual standing ovation if the theater allowed.
The As Ever product line, featuring raspberry spread, flower sprinkles, and pancake mix, experienced a near-instant sell-out upon launch.
Mixed Reception from Critics
Despite the swift sales, the As Ever launch has faced mixed opinions. Columnist Maureen Callahan described the brand as ‘snobby, salty, [and] superficially sweet.’ Her review detailed negative taste tests of several products.
Of the crepe mix, Callahan wrote it yielded a texture similar to “undercooked pancakes.” She found the shortbread cookie mix “bland,” lacking “distinctive punch” despite being both “too sweet and a little too salty.” The edible ‘Flower Sprinkles’ were likened to “colored lint” with an unpleasant texture.
Another review tested all eight As Ever products, finding them not “worth the wait.”
Scrutiny of Raspberry Spread
In particular, the raspberry spread received critical attention. One review described it as failing under a taste test, being too thin and dripping excessively.
Despite being promoted as “her jam,” the Duchess previously clarified that her preserves technically differ from traditional jam due to a fruit-forward recipe, deviating from the standard equal parts sugar and fruit. As Ever maintains that the raspberry fruit spread recipe originates from Meghan’s home kitchen.
The raspberry spread from Meghan’s As Ever brand faced scrutiny in taste tests for its texture and flavor profile.
On her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” the Duchess explained the distinction between her fruit spread and traditional jam recipes.
She expressed a preference for fruit-forward preserves, suggesting that traditional jam recipes may mask the taste of the fruit.
Taste Test Details: Raspberry Spread
According to a food publication, traditional jam regulations require at least 45 percent fruit and 55 percent sugar, originating from a single fruit. The raspberry spread was described as “extremely sweet,” more akin to a “sugary dessert sauce.”
A strong lemon flavor was noted, consistent with the product description. However, the texture proved problematic for use with toast, being too thin and causing a “sopping wet disaster” due to excessive dripping and absorption into the bread. The sweetness of the spread reportedly overpowered the sourdough bread, leaving only the sugar and lemon flavors prominent.