Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of controversy—this time over a holiday display that branded her “Villain of the Year.”
The Duchess of Sussex was featured in a cheeky “Holiday Hypocrites” window installation at the trendy Los Angeles boutique Kitson, where owner Fraser Ross put her face front and center wearing a Santa hat that read “Montecito Diva.”
The display—designed as a tongue-in-cheek “naughty list”—also included other so-called “villains,” such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, George Clooney, and Katy Perry. But it was Meghan’s inclusion that sent social media into overdrive.
According to reports, Markle’s devoted fans have flooded the store with angry calls and emails, accusing Ross of bullying and misogyny. “One fan called twenty times in a single day,” Ross told the Daily Mail. “They kept saying we ‘weren’t nice.’ It was borderline obsessive.”
Ross insists the display was crowdsourced from followers, who named Meghan repeatedly as a top pick. “We asked our customers who should make the list this year,” he said. “Meghan’s name came up again and again—and people gave specific reasons why.”
The boutique owner says the backlash hasn’t made him reconsider the display. “It’s an annual tradition,” Ross added. “Every year we call out celebrities who say one thing and do another. Meghan fit the category for many people.”
The criticism comes after Meghan’s loyal supporters recently rallied behind her when her estranged father, Thomas Markle, was hospitalized for surgery earlier this month. The Duchess reportedly reached out to him after intense pressure from her online fan community.
Ross, however, remains unmoved by her defenders. “We’ve been getting harassment from Meghan Markle’s fan army,” he said. “Maybe a reality check from a retail window will give her some perspective.”
He added that many customers cited Meghan and Prince Harry’s ongoing public disputes with the Royal Family as a key reason for her inclusion in the “hypocrites” gallery. “We’re not saying she’s evil,” Ross said. “We’re just saying the public’s had enough of the double standards.”
