A YouTuber is weighing in after Meghan Markle launched a new podcast with the same name as her video series.
In a press release issued on Thursday, March 13, the Duchess of Sussex announced her new podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” will debut on April 8.
The name of the podcast has received mixed reactions online. As Yahoo reported, social media users drew comparisons to existing shows with similar names, including “Confessions of a CEO” with Kelci Borges, “Confessions of a Founder” by Alysha M Campbella and the YouTube series “Confessions of a Female Founder” by Kady Méite.
“I completely understand why people are drawing connections, and I truly appreciate the support and understand their intention,” Méite said in an interview with Yahoo published on Friday, March 14.
“But I also understand coincidences as well. It is highly unlikely Meghan even came across my channel, but I am flattered by the thought,” she added.
Méite is the founder of Veil Street, a fashion brand that designs “hijab hoodies” to blend “modesty and streetwear,” according to its website. The creator’s YouTube channel has 1.77k subscribers and features vlogs, business tips, and of course, the “Confessions of a Female Founder” series.
“What does concern me is how quickly this is turning into another reason to drag a woman down. That’s not something I want to contribute to. I know firsthand what it feels like to have my work actually copied … this isn’t that,” she added.
Méite elaborated on the topic in a statement shared with Us Weekly: “I am not a podcaster. I enjoy YouTube, entrepreneurship and sharing my journey.”
“I don’t want a video title to fuel the already going Meghan hate train,” she said.
As for Meghan, the royal’s new podcast with Lemonada Media will give listeners a glimpse of behind-the-scenes stories from female founders, as well as her own company, As Ever.
“I’m so proud of what we’re creating, and the candid conversations that I’m able to have with other female founders as we unpack the twists and turns of building a business,” Meghan, 43, said in a statement. “Through my friendships and relationships, we’re able to dive into the type of insights that everyone wants to know as they’re building a business, and that I’m able to tap into as I’m building my own business with As Ever.”
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for the Duchess of Sussex for comment.