Meghan Markle is catching heat online after sharing a promotional video for her lifestyle brand As Ever — and it’s not the tea that has people talking.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, posted a clip to the brand’s Instagram Stories showing hot water being poured into a pink, heart-shaped mug filled with her hibiscus tea in a Valentine’s Day-themed push. But eagle-eyed viewers quickly zeroed in on something else entirely: the surface beneath the cup.
In the video, an unopened tin of As Ever tea was positioned carefully so the label faced the camera, while a used teabag sat nearby. As the camera zoomed in on the steaming mug, critics say the white tile surface underneath appeared stained — with darkened grout and visible marks that some claimed looked less like a kitchen counter and more like a bathroom floor.
Why not make a cup of “As Ever” tea right on the toilet floor? 😂 pic.twitter.com/tUBPYqUfrw
— That 1 (@that_1) February 11, 2026
Social media users didn’t hold back.
“Why not just brew it on the toilet seat at this point?” one person joked on X.
Another wrote, “I can’t even focus on the tea. I’m distracted by the grout.”
A third user chimed in, “Dirty, stained tile isn’t exactly the vibe I want with my afternoon cup.”
Others mocked the setting with sarcastic remarks about “extra flavor” and “added immunity benefits,” while some questioned how a polished brand promo could overlook what they described as an unappetizing backdrop.
The tea video arrives as Markle appears to be leaning hard into seasonal marketing to boost sales for As Ever. Valentine’s Day has become a central theme for the brand’s latest push, with pink mugs, heart motifs, and romantic gift suggestions filling its social media feeds.
But online critics have also been scrutinizing the company’s inventory.
Earlier this year, internet sleuths claimed they uncovered what appeared to be large quantities of unsold products by manipulating order numbers on the brand’s website. Screenshots shared on Reddit allegedly showed tens of thousands of units still available across several items, including fruit spreads, candles, flower sprinkles, and peppermint tea.
Within days of the discovery circulating, the site reportedly limited bulk purchases and added messaging directing high-volume buyers to contact customer service directly.
Markle has also enlisted her husband, Prince Harry, to help promote the brand’s Valentine’s offerings. In a recent Instagram Story, Harry appeared to endorse the chocolate collection — including white chocolate bars topped with dried flower sprinkles — calling it a favorite.
Still, if the reaction to the tea clip is any indication, it’s not just what’s in the mug that matters — it’s what’s under it.
And for some viewers, the setting stole the spotlight in all the wrong ways.
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