Pamela Anderson Shrugs at Claims Meghan Markle Copied Her Cooking Show
Kai Montgomery here, rolling my eyes at the latest kitchen controversy because apparently celebrity cooking is now headline news. Look, I don’t want to be the one to say it, but here we are with Pamela Anderson and Meghan Markle both stirring pots and stirring up chatter about who served it first.
Pamela Anderson premiered her series Pamela’s Cooking with Love on a streaming platform in February. One week later, Meghan Markle debuted With Love, Meghan on Netflix. When host Andy Cohen asked Anderson to rank the “copycat” claims on Watch What Happens Live on August 3, the Baywatch alum scoffed at the suggestion. “One,” she replied, “I didn’t really look [for similarities], but I didn’t invent cooking shows.” That was as blunt as Anderson gets, and frankly, it was enough to deflate any drama before it bubbled over.
Anderson’s executive producer, Jesse Fawcett, echoed her nonchalance back in March when critics pointed out near-identical title fonts and soft-focus close-ups. In a statement to Daily Mail, Fawcett reminded doubters that “we take pride in planting the first seeds – creating original, distinctive programming that audiences love,” adding that such comparisons are “a compliment to see our work with Ms. Anderson resonate so strongly.”
While Anderson and her team aren’t losing sleep, other industry vets weighed in on Markle’s Netflix venture. Martha Stewart, speaking to Yahoo! Lifestyle on July 27, made it clear that authenticity is her gold standard. “Meghan, I don’t really know very well, and I hope she knows what she’s talking about,” Stewart said. “Authenticity, to me, is everything, and to be authentic and knowledgeable about your subject matter is extremely important.” She shrugged off any competition with a polite “Good luck.”
Markle herself prefers the label of entrepreneur over influencer. In an interview with People in March, she admitted that launching her lifestyle brand As Ever came with trademark twists and real-time learning curves. “I appreciate everyone who gave me the grace to make mistakes and figure it out,” she said, crediting her audience for their patience as she refines her vision.
The cooking show chatter is only one flavor in a broader trend of stars turning founders. Rihanna kicked off the beauty-entrepreneur boom in 2017 with Fenty Beauty, boasting 40 foundation shades and subsequent lines like Fenty Skin and Fenty Hair. Selena Gomez followed in September 2020 with Rare Beauty’s 12-product roster designed to simplify your makeup routine. Beyoncé joined the fray in 2023 with Cécred, an eight-item haircare collection aimed at nourishing every curl and coil. And Lady Gaga inspired a makeup revival when she launched Haus Laboratories in 2019, then reimagined it in 2022 with a fresh retailer and product line.
At this point, cooking shows, beauty lines, haircare labels—celebrity-driven brands have become a main course. Whether Pamela’s whisk is first or Meghan’s is on the rise, audiences are here for the full feast of entertainment and entrepreneurship. Another cooking kerfuffle for the history books. Bon appetit.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Watch What Happens Live, Daily Mail, Yahoo! Lifestyle, People Magazine, E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
