Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the centre of controversy after a seemingly harmless gesture at a bookstore event quickly turned into an online storm.
The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance on Thursday at Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland, just a short drive from her £11 million Montecito mansion. She joined her close friend and author Courtney Adamo for a live-streamed panel discussion — but it wasn’t long before Meghan’s behaviour became the main talking point.
During the event, Meghan appeared to interrupt Adamo mid-sentence, reaching over to adjust her friend’s microphone, which she was apparently holding too far from her face. While some viewers saw it as helpful, many others called it “bossy,” “awkward,” and “incredibly rude.”
One X user fumed: “Awkward moment Meghan Markle interrupts bookstore speaking event to correct how her friend holds the microphone. Is she trying to be over smart?”’
Another viewer added: “So incredibly rude, and yet so typical. She just can’t help but make every moment about herself.”
Clips of the incident have since circulated widely online, with fans divided over whether the Duchess was simply being considerate or unintentionally overshadowing her friend.
The event was part of an ongoing series at the independent bookstore celebrating female authors and community voices. Meghan, dressed in a casual white shirt and minimal makeup, appeared relaxed and cheerful throughout — though the viral moment has now once again drawn attention to what critics describe as her “habit of taking over the spotlight.”
A local attendee told reporters: “It really didn’t seem like a big deal in the room — Meghan just wanted to help. But online, people are turning it into another scandal.”
The Duchess, who has largely kept a low profile since the end of her Spotify deal and amid rumours of new media projects, has not commented publicly on the incident.
Still, the controversy marks yet another reminder of how every move Meghan makes continues to divide public opinion — even when she’s just trying to fix a microphone.
