Meghan Markle Mocked Over Upside-Down Canning Tongs as Fans Spot Stove Wasn't Even Turned On

Meghan Markle's latest As Ever cooking photograph has drawn criticism from some X users, who questioned the absence of a visible flame beneath the saucepan. The image shows the Duchess of Sussex appearing to stir a pot while wearing a black outfit and a black-and-white gingham apron.

Critics also recirculated an October 2025 photograph showing her using a jar lifter, prompting renewed debate about whether she was holding it upside down. The photographs were published separately, and neither establishes that she was pretending to cook.

Critics Question Apparent Unlit Hob

The more recent photograph appeared in promotional content for As Ever ahead of the holiday season. Alongside the image, the brand teased seasonal 'surprises in store', according to reporting by 'Hello!'.

An apple pie was visible on the counter, but some users focused on the stove rather than the promotional message. They argued that the controls appeared to be switched off and that no flame could be seen beneath the pot.

One X user wrote, 'When pictures prove you can't cook..', while accusing Meghan of posing rather than preparing food. Other comments similarly treated the apparent absence of heat as evidence that the scene was arranged for the camera.

Those interpretations go beyond what a still photograph can establish. The image does not show the full preparation process, when the burner was last used or whether the contents required heat at that moment.

The post's promotional purpose also does not, by itself, establish that the cooking activity depicted was fabricated.

Earlier Jar-Lifter Photograph Resurfaces

The criticism revived discussion of a photograph published in October 2025, in which Meghan appeared to use a jar lifter during food preparation.

Jar lifters are designed to help handle jars, including when they are hot. Critics argued that she was gripping the tool by the end intended to hold a jar rather than by its handles.

The earlier image also received an assessment from a culinary professional. Rob Seixas, senior food director at Delish, said the tool was upside down and explained the handling risks associated with using it incorrectly.

His assessment supports a specific criticism of how the utensil appeared to be held. It does not establish Meghan's overall cooking ability or explain what was happening outside the frame.

Some posts combined the old jar-lifter photograph with the recent stove image, presenting them as examples of the same problem. However, the images came from separate posts published approximately a year apart.

Supporters Offer Alternative Explanations

Not everyone agreed with the criticism of the recent photograph. Some X users argued that cooks may continue stirring after switching off the heat.

One supporter suggested Meghan could have been preparing candy, custard or a sauce. That was a proposed explanation, rather than confirmation of what was in the saucepan or which recipe she was following.

The competing responses reflect different readings of the same image. Critics interpreted the apparent unlit hob as evidence of posing, while supporters argued that the photograph could capture a stage of preparation that did not require an active burner.

Neither account supplies the missing sequence before or after the photograph was taken. Claims that the saucepan was empty or that Meghan was deliberately misleading viewers remain unverified.

Photographs Do Not Establish Cooking Ability

The two images provide different grounds for discussion: the earlier jar-lifter photograph prompted a named food professional's assessment, while the latest stove criticism rests on users' interpretation of a brief visual moment.

A promotional photograph can show how a person is holding a utensil or standing beside an appliance. It cannot provide a complete account of the recipe, preparation sequence or decisions made outside the frame.

For now, the recent criticism remains a dispute over how the photograph should be interpreted. The images alone do not prove that Meghan cannot cook or that she was pretending to prepare food.