Meghan Markle's fans have been accused of 'terrorizing' two British priests who criticised her luxury £112 advent calendar and suggested a cheaper, more charitable alternative.
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is selling a luxury advent calendar filled with 24 Compartés chocolates for £112 (about $148) as a holiday offering from her As Ever lifestyle brand, in collaboration with the Los Angeles-based chocolatier.
The online feud began after Rev Daniel French, an Anglican priest and London university chaplain, weighed in on the launch. French urged his followers to consider an £8 Christian advent calendar from the Meaningful Chocolate Company, which includes Fairtrade chocolate, a Christmas story and an activity booklet, while supporting the Leprosy Mission.
His post prompted a barrage of angry responses from some members of the so-called 'Sussex Squad', the Duchess's most devoted online supporters. Critics branded the priest 'evil' and 'satan spawn' and accused him of having an 'ugly heart for a so-called Christian'.
Father Chris Phillips, a priest in south-west London, then backed French on X, writing that he had 'encountered the Sussex Squad on here'. Phillips subsequently faced his own wave of hostile messages and eventually locked his account and blocked some of the Meghan supporters, according to the Daily Mail.
One critic accused the priests of using their platforms to attack Meghan, while another called them 'sorry excuses for Christianity'. The Daily Mail, which first reported the row, noted that French had framed his post as a simple suggestion of a cheaper, charitable option rather than a personal attack on the Duchess.
The episode is the latest skirmish in the long-running online war between Meghan's supporters and her critics. The Duchess's business ventures since returning to the UK have been closely scrutinised, with every product launch from As Ever dissected by both camps. What began as a priest's nudge towards a charity calendar has become another front in the culture war that follows the Sussexes wherever they go, with two clergymen caught in the crossfire.
The As Ever brand has become a lightning rod since its launch, with every product release scrutinised by supporters and critics alike. The 112-pound price tag for 24 chocolates drew predictable criticism from those who saw it as out of touch, while supporters defended the Duchess's right to sell luxury goods. French's alternative, the Meaningful Chocolate Company's calendar, has been praised by charities for combining Fairtrade chocolate with support for the Leprosy Mission. The Sussex Squad, a loose network of online supporters, has a reputation for fiercely defending Meghan against perceived attacks. Phillips, who backed French on X, said he had encountered the Sussex Squad before locking his account. Neither Meghan nor her representatives have commented on the row.