The Paris fashion world was abuzz recently with a viral moment showing Meghan Markle at the Balenciaga show, but not for reasons flattering to the Duchess of Sussex. Markus Anderson, Meghan’s longtime friend and Soho House executive, publicly criticized Meghan’s over-the-top, high-pitched laugh during the event — calling it “annoying” and revealing backstage tensions the public never saw.
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The Balenciaga show was supposed to be Meghan's triumphant return to the elite fashion scene, surrounded by celebrities and flashing cameras. Instead, an awkward incident involving her laugh turned into one of the most talked-about moments of Paris Fashion Week.
Footage shows Meghan chuckling and trying to conceal her laughter after a model’s slight stumble on the runway, prompting speculation she was laughing at the model’s embarrassment. When Markus was caught reacting awkwardly to this, he reportedly joked to insiders that Meghan “practices that laugh in the mirror” and that it was so loud it “made models lose their stride.” Such candid remarks soon made it online, sparking thousands of tweets and TikTok remixes mocking Meghan’s laugh.
The episode didn’t stop there. Insiders say Markus’s comments suggested Meghan had “invited herself” to the front row — a seat she wasn’t initially on the guest list for and had to be inserted into through contacts. Backstage, sources describe a tense atmosphere where “even her best friend is over it,” as Markus seemingly distanced himself from her social climbing strategies.
Public reactions have been brutal, with headlines calling Meghan’s laugh “cringe” and “utterly lacking class.” Fashion insiders explain that Paris Fashion Week is about mystique and subtlety, and Meghan’s loud laughter was considered a “fashion no-no” — trying too hard and drawing negative attention.
For Meghan, this viral backlash is yet another challenge as she navigates the pressures of celebrity, royalty, and fashion world expectations. Whether this painful spotlight on her laugh is a minor stumble or a sign of growing disconnect with her inner circle remains to be seen.
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