Backlash explodes as Duchess of Sussex faces national outrage over failed pitch tied to “43% Nigerian” claim
LAGOS, Nigeria — July 2025
Meghan Markle’s ambitious attempt to secure a $10 million loan from the Nigerian government has ended in dramatic rejection — and ignited a firestorm of criticism across the nation.
According to insiders in both diplomatic and financial circles, a private emissary acting on Meghan’s behalf quietly approached Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, proposing a multimillion-dollar investment into the relaunch of her As Ever lifestyle brand. But officials swiftly and firmly shut it down.
“Nigeria does not fund celebrity identity experiments,” one senior government official reportedly said — a statement now reverberating across international headlines.
The Visit That Sparked Controversy
The loan request comes just weeks after Meghan’s high-profile visit to Nigeria alongside Prince Harry, tied to the Invictus Games initiative and her widely publicized claim of being “43% Nigerian” — based on a commercial ancestry DNA test.
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“We welcome guests. We do not bankroll them,” one Lagos-based political analyst told local press.
“And especially not for vague business ventures with no local footprint.”
Public Outrage: “Tone-Deaf, Opportunistic, Insulting”
The reaction on Nigerian social media and in local media outlets has been blistering.
Many citizens see the attempt as a tone-deaf and opportunistic cash grab, especially as Nigeria grapples with inflation, energy shortages, and domestic funding crises.
“She came for a photo-op and left with a pitch deck?” wrote one Nigerian columnist.
“That’s not heritage — that’s hustling.”
Hashtags like #MeghanGoHome, #43PercentFraud, and #DuchessDenied trended on Nigerian Twitter (X), with thousands weighing in on what they call “royal-level entitlement.”
No Citizenship. No Nigerian Business. No Deal.
Officials cited lack of Nigerian citizenship, absence of a registered local business, and no demonstrated benefit to Nigeria’s economy as the official reasons for denying the loan.
One anonymous source within the Ministry said the proposal “had no business plan, no structure, and no relevance to national interest.”
Fallout in Montecito?
While there has been no official comment from Meghan Markle or her Archewell/As Ever representatives, palace watchers say the backlash could further damage her already fragile brand credibility — particularly as she faces other controversies surrounding her lifestyle ventures and public statements.
Bottom Line?
Meghan Markle’s connection to Nigeria may have been framed as personal, cultural, and emotional —
but trying to turn it into a $10M business boost backfired spectacularly.
And this time, the answer from Nigeria was loud and clear: No means no.
