The CEO of San Ysidro Ranch and the owner of R&R Mercantile in Montecito, California, accused Meghan Markle of using their names for a PR stunt. The two businesses claim that Markle never actually stayed at the ranch or visited the store, but that her representatives used their names to create the impression that she had.
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The CEO of San Ysidro Ranch, Michael Meldman, said that Markle never stayed at the ranch, but that her representatives contacted him in January 2023 to inquire about booking a room. Meldman said that he was told that Markle would be staying at the ranch with her family for a few days, but that she ultimately never booked a room.
The owner of R&R Mercantile, Robin Robins, said that Markle never visited her store, but that her representatives contacted her in February 2023 to inquire about purchasing a gift basket. Robins said that she was told that Markle would be picking up the gift basket herself, but that she never came to the store.
Both Meldman and Robins said that they were disappointed that Markle's representatives would use their businesses' names without their permission. They said that they believe that Markle's representatives did this in an attempt to create the impression that Markle is a regular customer of their businesses, which would help to improve her public image.
Markle's representatives have not yet responded to the allegations.
The accusations have sparked a debate on social media, with some people believing that Markle's representatives did indeed use the businesses' names for a PR stunt, while others believe that the accusations are unfounded.
It is unclear what impact the accusations will have on Markle's public image. However, the accusations have certainly raised questions about the ethics of using businesses' names for PR purposes.