The sun-drenched waters of Biscayne Bay in Miami have become the backdrop for a brewing scandal involving none other than Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
The epicenter of this controversy?
A 200-foot luxury yacht, the Asterisk Siren’s Deception Asterisk, owned by the flamboyant socialite Christopher LaSalle, more popularly known as Yachtboy.
His latest venture, titled Asterisk Miami’s Hot Yachts Asterisk, promises to deliver the kind of drama that has made his previous shows a guilty pleasure for many.
However, no one could have predicted the bombshell that erupted from the trailer of its second season.
In a mere 12 seconds of grainy footage, viewers are treated to a glimpse of Meghan aboard a private yacht, laughing and enjoying herself with a group of unidentified men.
Critics quickly pounced on the footage, branding it as evidence of reckless behavior.
LaSalle himself teased that this series isn’t just about yachts but also about the secrets people think they can conceal while sailing in international waters.
According to him, some of these secrets belong to very well-known figures.
The clip features Meghan in a sheer white cover-up over a bikini, raising a glass of rosé, her hair tousled by the ocean breeze.
The timestamp reads August 2023—a month when the Duchess was supposedly focused on philanthropic efforts in New York.
The yacht in question is rumored to be linked to a Russian tech oligarch, adding another layer of intrigue to the situation.
For Meghan’s critics, this footage was a smoking gun, revealing what royal commentator Miranda Thorne described as staggering hypocrisy.
This revelation comes at an unfortunate time for Meghan, who was already reeling from the lukewarm reception of her $20 million Spotify deal and the abrupt end of her Archetypes podcast.
She has been striving to reshape her public image as a serious advocate for women’s rights and social justice.
Yet, the appearance of her on a luxurious yacht starkly contrasts with the modest persona she has tried to project since stepping back from royal duties.
Sources close to the Sussexes assert that the video has been taken out of context.
A spokesperson firmly stated that Meghan attended a private gathering aimed at discussing charitable collaborations, dismissing any claims of impropriety as false and defamatory.
However, LaSalle remains unrepentant.
Known for his party-anarchist persona, he has built a career on leaking compromising footage of celebrities, claiming that the public deserves to see how these individuals truly live.
LaSalle’s recent remarks during a live stream from his yacht only added fuel to the fire.
He revealed that Meghan’s team threatened legal action as soon as they learned of the tapes, but he expressed confidence in his right to expose the truth.
Insiders suggest that LaSalle has more footage, including scenes of Meghan dancing provocatively and engaging in private conversations with a hedge fund CEO facing legal troubles.
This isn’t the first time Meghan’s affinity for yachts has raised eyebrows.
Back in 2018, just months before her wedding to Prince Harry, she was photographed on a yacht in the Mediterranean with her ex-boyfriend.
While those images were initially brushed off, critics now argue they reveal a pattern of behavior inconsistent with her carefully curated public image.
PR expert Lila Moreno pointed out that Meghan is in a precarious position.
Ignoring the controversy could make her appear guilty, while addressing it might only amplify the story.
As the trailer for Asterisk Miami’s Hot Yachts Asterisk continues to gain traction, amassing millions of views and trending hashtags, the backlash against Meghan is intensifying.
Royalists are seizing the moment to criticize the Duchess, while her supporters are accusing LaSalle of sexist exploitation.
Feminist blogger Tara Nguyen lamented the double standards, questioning why Meghan is being shamed for enjoying a swimsuit while men face little scrutiny for similar behavior.
Despite the pushback, LaSalle’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down, as he prepares to air a special segment dedicated to dissecting the footage.
In the midst of this turmoil, Meghan has retreated from public engagements, canceling a scheduled appearance at a Women’s Leadership Summit.
Friends describe her as devastated, although skeptics argue that her emotional response is merely part of her narrative.
Buckingham Palace, adhering to its policy of silence regarding the Sussexes, reportedly harbors frustration over the situation, fearing that it has turned the monarchy into a spectacle.
For Prince Harry, this unfolding drama is a nightmare scenario.
After years of defending his wife against tabloid scrutiny, he now faces the reality of their private moments being commodified for entertainment.
While the couple explores legal avenues, experts warn that pursuing a privacy case in the U.S. could prove challenging.
As the world waits for Asterisk Miami’s Hot Yachts Asterisk to debut, the question looms large: is Meghan a victim of media exploitation, or has she crafted her own narrative to escape accountability?
To her detractors, the Yacht Saga exemplifies her duplicity, while supporters see it as yet another instance of the misogynistic scrutiny faced by women in the spotlight.
With her carefully curated image taking on water, it remains to be seen whether Meghan can weather the storm or if she will be overwhelmed by the tides of public perception.