In the high-stakes world of celebrity kitchens, where culinary prowess is as much about performance as precision, a fiery storm has erupted, threatening to topple Meghan Markle’s carefully curated image. On August 20, 2025, Gordon Ramsay, the Michelin-starred chef whose razor-sharp critiques have felled many a cook, unleashed a scathing attack on the Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. Labeling her a “fake cook” and her kitchen practices “utter chaos,” Ramsay’s outburst, delivered during a heated segment on MasterChef, has ignited a global uproar. His tirade—centered on Meghan’s now-infamous “unhygienic” raw chicken storage—has fueled a fan backlash, with thousands vowing to cancel their Netflix subscriptions in protest. As hashtags like #MeghanKitchenDisaster trend and the Sussexes’ streaming empire teeters, the question burns: has Meghan’s culinary dream curdled into a public relations nightmare? Join us, dear reader, as we dive into this sizzling scandal, where raw poultry, royal ambition, and Ramsay’s wrath collide in a spectacle that’s anything but appetizing.

The drama began with the March 4, 2025, premiere of With Love, Meghan, an eight-episode lifestyle series filmed in a rented Montecito mansion near the Sussexes’ $14.6 million home. Touted as Meghan’s love letter to hospitality, the show featured her hosting friends like Mindy Kaling and Delfina Blaquier, whipping up dishes from raspberry jam tarts to sun tea. Fans initially celebrated her return to the foodie roots of her pre-royal blog, The Tig, with one X user gushing, “It’s so nostalgic!”. But the glow faded fast. In episode three, eagle-eyed viewers spotted raw chicken legs stored uncovered in Meghan’s fridge, perched precariously above fruits and vegetables. Social media erupted, branding the setup “salmonella central” and “disgusting.” “No serious chef would store raw meat like that,” one X post fumed, accusing her of cross-contamination risks. Another quipped, “Hello salmonella, my old friend,” as clips went viral, amassing 5 million views.

Enter Gordon Ramsay, whose culinary empire—38 Michelin stars and shows like Hell’s Kitchen—thrives on brutal honesty. During a MasterChef critique, the 58-year-old chef was shown a clip of Meghan’s fridge fiasco by a contestant hoping to dodge his ire. Ramsay didn’t hold back. “This is a bloody disgrace!” he roared, slamming his fist on the counter. “Raw chicken dripping onto veg? That’s not a kitchen, it’s a biohazard! She’s no cook—she’s playing dress-up in a rented house, peddling this fake lifestyle nonsense.” He mocked her “flower petal garnishes” and “pretentious jam jars,” declaring, “If you can’t respect basic food safety, get out of the kitchen!” The audience gasped, and the clip, aired live on Fox, spread like wildfire, trending under #MeghanKitchenDisaster with 12 million engagements on X.

The fallout was swift. Fans, already divided over Meghan’s Netflix venture, took to X in droves. “I’m done with Netflix—how do they let this slide?” one user posted, announcing their subscription cancellation. Another wrote, “Ramsay’s right—she’s out of her depth. Unsubscribed!” Estimates suggest over 10,000 users canceled Netflix in the 48 hours post-Ramsay, a dent for the streaming giant already facing scrutiny over its $100 million Sussex deal. Yet, Meghan’s defenders rallied, accusing Ramsay of bullying. “He’s tearing down a woman who’s just sharing her passion,” one supporter tweeted. Others pointed to her 2018 Hubb Community Kitchen cookbook, arguing her culinary cred predates royalty. The polarized X storm—#StandByMeghan versus #FakeCook—has only deepened the divide.

Meghan’s kitchen misstep wasn’t her only critique. Critics like GB News’ Stephen Dixon called the show “totally fake,” noting it wasn’t filmed in her Montecito home but a staged set. Chef Jameson Stocks, who claimed he was approached for the show, branded it “forced and awkward,” advising Meghan to “stick to acting”. Even the show’s director, Michael Steed, admitted Meghan’s no chef, emphasizing “imperfection” as the series’ charm. But Ramsay’s attack, with its visceral imagery of “salmonella chaos,” hit hardest, especially after a viewer claimed her bath salt recipe from episode six caused skin burns. The controversy has dented Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand, with unsold raspberry jam stocks piling up despite initial sellouts.

Behind the scenes, Meghan is reeling. Sources close to the Duchess say she’s “devastated” by Ramsay’s words, viewing them as a personal attack. “She poured her heart into this,” a friend told Closer Online. “To be called a fake by someone like Gordon hurts deeply.” Harry, 40, has reportedly urged her to ignore the noise, focusing on their upcoming season two, set for August 26, featuring Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth, who praised Meghan’s “really good” cooking. Smyth, who catered their 2018 wedding, taught Meghan to fillet fish, offering a counterpoint to Ramsay’s rage. Yet, Netflix’s new “first-look” deal with the Sussexes, a downgrade from their $100 million contract, hints at pressure to deliver. Insiders say Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos remains supportive, citing Meghan’s cultural pull—her Hermès blanket from their 2022 docuseries sold out globally.

The Palace has stayed silent, but royal watchers see this as another blow to Meghan’s post-royal reinvention. Her rumored memoir, Unveiled, already a source of Palace panic, could now address this controversy, potentially escalating tensions after her website profile’s erasure. King Charles, post-reconciliation with Harry, has distanced himself, with no comment on the Netflix saga. William and Kate, reportedly wary of Meghan’s media ventures, have privately called the show “a distraction,” per aides. Meanwhile, Harry’s secret £25 million Kensington villa purchase suggests a UK foothold, perhaps to balance Meghan’s flagging projects with royal goodwill.

Public sentiment is a mixed grill. On X, Ramsay’s fans cheer his “no-nonsense” takedown, with one user joking, “Gordon’s serving Meghan a raw deal!” Others decry his tone as misogynistic, noting, “He wouldn’t go this hard on a male celebrity”. Foodie influencers like Sophia Roe defended Meghan, calling out snarky reviews as bullying. The controversy has sparked broader debates about celebrity chefs versus amateurs, with Ramsay’s own kitchen hygiene scrutinized—X users unearthed a 2019 Kitchen Nightmares episode where his restaurant faced health violations. “Glass houses, Gordon,” one tweeted.

As With Love, Meghan season two looms, the stakes are high. Will Meghan refine her approach, addressing hygiene concerns with professional rigor? Or will Ramsay’s words linger, souring her brand? Netflix’s faith hinges on viewership, but cancellations signal trouble. Meghan’s resilience—seen in her Tig days and Grenfell cookbook—may yet turn the tide. For now, the kitchen remains hot, and the world watches as a duchess battles a chef’s wrath, her dreams simmering in the crucible of public opinion. Can she rise above the chaos, or will this be her final course?