Megan Markle’s assistant has disclosed a shocking revelation that Markle allegedly purchased over $200,000 worth of fake followers for her new Instagram accounts ranging from $100 to $10,000.
The popular social media platform, Instagram, has recently experienced a surge in accounts imitating Megan Markle’s latest lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
Markle made a grand announcement about her new business venture on Thursday, accompanied by a polished video clip and subtle hints regarding the nature of the venture, resulting in a rapid increase in her followers to over 339,000.
However, an insider has come forward claiming that a significant portion of these followers were bought artificially, amounting to more than 200,000 fake accounts.
The unexpected reveal of Markle’s business endeavor has sparked widespread speculation among fans and followers regarding the specifics of the venture and the significance behind its name.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the project, numerous users on Instagram have wasted no time in creating similar accounts under variations of Megan’s new Instagram handle, potentially putting individuals at risk of falling prey to scams once American Riviera Orchard is operational.
In a span of less than 24 hours, approximately 15 users have established accounts under the name American Riviera Orchard, with some accounts already amassing over 1,000 followers, suggesting a misconception that these accounts belong to Megan Markle herself.
Many of these accounts utilizing the name American Riviera Orchard have also adopted Markle’s logo, which strikingly resembles a royal crest featuring the initials A and R, presumably symbolizing American Riviera, and is scripted in a style reminiscent of the Duchess’s distinctive calligraphy.
Furthermore, certain accounts boldly claim to be operated by the Duchess herself by explicitly stating the account name as Megan Duchess of Sussex.
While the exact nature of Markle’s new business remains undisclosed, concerns have been raised that if the venture involves selling products in the future, consumers could be misled into purchasing from fraudulent accounts.
Revelations from the insider suggest that even Markle’s official account had been followed by bot accounts, contributing to the surge in her follower count, including over 200,000 bot accounts.
A former assistant who departed the role a few months ago shed light on the intricacies of gaining a large following on social media, emphasizing that acquiring 250,000 followers in a day is a challenging feat, even for renowned personalities.
The assistant elaborated on the suspicious nature of the followers, noting that when followers are purchased, they typically accumulate gradually in small increments, unlike the sudden spikes observed on Markle’s account.
The assistant highlighted discrepancies such as the lack of engagement on Markle’s posts despite the substantial increase in followers, indicating a high probability that a significant portion of the followers were inauthentic.
Commentators have criticized Markle’s tactics, branding her actions as deceptive and inauthentic, akin to employing a troll army of bots to bolster her online presence.
A comparison was drawn to other celebrities’ social media milestones, with examples such as Rupert Grint gaining a million followers in just four hours, highlighting the stark difference in organic growth rates between Markle and other public figures.
As scrutiny mounts over the legitimacy of Markle’s Instagram following, questions arise about the authenticity and integrity of her brand launch on the platform.