Meghan Markle’s new LA wildfires video feels ‘false and orchestrated’ while ‘trying to be relatable’ to Gen Z in TikTok-style clip, brand expert claims

Meghan Markle’s latest social media post feels ‘false and orchestrated’ in an attempt ‘to be relatable’ to younger audiences, a brand expert has said. 

Meanwhile, a social media expert claimed the Instagram Reel was a ‘clear nod to the “TikTok-ification” of content, as the Duchess of Sussex, 43, embraces a ‘personality-driven’ approach to her online presence. 

Meghan on Tuesday uploaded an Instagram Reel where she thanked singer Billie Eilish for helping her out with a sweet request in the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires. 

Meghan, who appeared to be make-up free, was dressed casually in a sweatshirt with her two children’s names on it, Lilibet and Archie, while showing off merch items the Ocean Eyes singer, 23, had sent for a fan whose home had burned down. 

According to branding and PR expert Hayley Knight, the video presented as a ‘very stylistic, intentional attempt’ to connect with younger social media users and ‘place her relevance amongst them’. 

Ms Knight noted how the video was ‘casually presented’ with Meghan holding up the camera to create a ‘candid, unedited look and feel’ – like the aesthetic content commonly found on TikTok ‘where authenticity and spontaneity are rewarded’. 

Social media expert Estelle Keeber added the video is a ‘clear nod to the “TikTok-ification”‘ of content online, adding Meghan appears to be ‘tapping into a style that resonates’ with youngsters who ‘value authenticity over polished perfection’. 

Ms Knight also highlighted that Meghan’s use of informal language ‘including mentioning that she feels “old”‘ suggests she is ‘trying to be relatable’ to younger audiences. 

Meghan Markle’s latest social media post feels ‘false and orchestrated’ in an attempt ‘to be relatable’ to younger audiences, a brand expert has said

Meanwhile, a social media expert claimed the Instagram Reel was a ‘clear nod to the “TikTok-ification” of content, as the Duchess of Sussex , 43, embraces a ‘personality-driven’ approach to her online presence

‘Her conversational tone is also intentional, as users on TikTok expect and appreciate relatability and direct communication from public figures,’ Ms Knight added. 

She also suggested the ‘inclusion of overlaid text’ in the video is ‘reminiscent of TikTok’s format’ to make the content ‘more accessible’. 

The founder of London-based PR agency Immortal Monkey, Ms Keeber continued: . ‘By directing her message at Billie Eilish, referencing feeling “old,” and opting for a makeup-free look, Meghan is leaning into relatability – something that has become a key engagement driver on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. 

‘The shift towards short-form, personality-driven content isn’t just a trend; it’s a strategic move that many public figures are embracing to maintain cultural relevance.

Ultimately, however, the video feels ‘orchestrated and false, compared to her previous endeavours of reaching a more “luxury” audience’, Ms Knight – who is the founder of marketing agency Be Yellow – concluded.

Meghan’s monologue ‘doesn’t feel very natural’, she said, adding: ‘You can tell she’s slightly out of her depth, and I can imagine she’s been informed to create this video based on the situation.’ 

However, ‘it is quite pleasant seeing her in this informal setting,’ the PR expert shared, contrasting Meghan’s appearance in the video with her put-together fashion looks for formal events. 

In the video, posted on Meghan’s new Instagram account, the mother-of-three name-dropped her A-list pals, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine and his wife Behati Prinsloo, while discussing how she was able to get in touch with Billie to help out with a charitable request. 

Meghan Markle resurfaced on Instagram Tuesday as she gave a huge shoutout to singer Billie Eilish for helping her out with a sweet request following the Los Angeles wildfires

In the video , Markle, who was dressed casually in an embroidered black crewneck sweatshirt, began excitedly sharing that something she was expecting in the mail had finally arrived

The Suits star began the clip by explaining how she and her ‘husband’ Prince Harry  had visited the town of Altadena, which was completely ravaged by the fires in January. 

She explained how the couple visited a mother and her 15-year-old daughter whose home burned down in the area, as they joined them to see their home for the first time since the fire.

She was told that the one thing that the young woman had been looking for in her home was a t-shirt she got at the Billie Eilish concert that was left in the washing machine or dryer.

Unfortunately, however, their home was destroyed in the fires and so was the t-shirt.

However, Meghan was determined to have the 15-year-old’s story reach Eilish, and she was successfully able to score a ton of signed merch for the teen, which she showed in the video.

‘I thought of everybody that I knew and I made a voice note, and I was like, “Please can someone get this voice note to Billie Eilish? Here’s what I’m asking,”‘ she explained in the clip.

She then excitedly panned the camera to the bounty of stuff, which included a lunchbox, t-shirts and more.

‘I don’t even know what this stuff means, but it’s signed for her!’ Meghan said excitedly, joking that she felt ‘old’ for not knowing if the lunchbox was a popular part of her fandom.

‘I’m going to go and email her mom now, just wanted to share with you guys,’ she concluded with a big smile on her face.