Meghan Markle was advised to “stay silent” to save her brand following the latest wave of allegations against her.
The Duchess of Sussex has been the target of numerous negative reports recently sparked by fresh accusations about her behaviour towards staff.
US magazine Vanity Fair published a damning cover story about the duchess earlier this month, in which it claimed that former members of staff, who used to work with Meghan when her deal with Spotify was on, had to allegedly take “breaks from work to escape scrutiny”, leave their job altogether or undergo “long-term therapy”.
While the report did include a comment by producer Jane Marie, who said that Meghan is a “lovely, genuine person,” it raised questions about the duchess’s demeanour. The new claims follow previous accusations made against her behaviour last year and other ones made back in 2018 during her time as a working royal, the latter of which she has vehemently denied.
Now, a PR expert has cautioned the duchess to steer clear from engaging in negative publicity as it could potentially damage her brand.
Renae Smith, founder and director of The Atticism, told Express.co.uk: “My advice to my clients, 90% of the time, is to avoid engaging with negative news cycles unless there is direct, irrefutable evidence—like a video or hardcore proof—that demands a response.
“Research shows that unproven allegations often fade from public consciousness much faster when left unaddressed, as engaging can inadvertently extend the media cycle and draw more attention to the claims.
“By staying silent, the focus can shift back to more positive narratives and ongoing projects.”
Ms Smith added that this approach “makes the most sense” when it comes to Meghan’s case as her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan – due to be released on March 4 – is a “timely opportunity” to spotlight the message she wants to project.
She said: “Her team should capitalise on that. By leaning into the aspirational content her core audience loves and ignoring the noise, she can maintain her brand’s strength.
“Ultimately, Meghan’s audience segmentation means these allegations will likely fade without significantly damaging her reputation among her core demographic.
“Consistency in her messaging and staying aligned with her audience’s values will remain the best course of action.”
The Sussex couple have declined to comment on the latest claims, but sources close to them told the Times they find them”distressing”.
