Stassi Schroeder revealed she unfollowed Meghan Markle after previously being one of the Duchess of Sussex’s biggest public supporters.
“The way she moves through social media, I think that she’s stuck in 2017, and she just thinks I’m a lowly reality person,” Schroeder, 37, told listeners on her “Stassi” podcast earlier this month. “That’s what I think, and I am furious, and this is the last straw. I’m not watching her [Netflix] show anymore.”
Schroeder admitted, “I have literally defended her when no one else did. I have filmed videos about it, I’ve commented on all the things, I literally had my f***ing PR reach out.”
During a heated podcast discussion, the Vanderpump Rules alum and best friend Taylor Strecker unloaded on Markle for refusing to acknowledge Schroeder’s frequent support over the years. According to Schroeder, the “last straw” was finding out that Markle’s company As Ever had sent a PR gift to “The Toast” host Claudia Oshry even though they’d been critical of the duchess in the past.
“When you’re sending PR boxes to people who talk s*** about you — Claudia and Jackie [Oshry] don’t talk s*** about her, but they literally, they’ve questioned her, and they also say, ‘I wonder what Stassi’s thinking about this,’” Schroeder complained. “[They say,] ‘I wonder what Stassi’s thinking about this because Stassi’s her No. 1 fan.’ Everyone f***ing knows! No longer.”
Schroeder admitted, “My feelings are hurt, and I’m a toxic fan. … I was a toxic fan that’s now a toxic hater.”
Strecker, 42, theorized that Markle may want to win over “haters” because of her troubled history with the royal family. (Markle and Prince Harry stepped down for their royal duties in 2020 and were disconnected with some of Harry’s relatives for an extended period prior to Harry’s reunion with King Charles III earlier this month.)
“I think that now that you unfollowed her, you’re going to get a f***ing PR package,” Strecker predicted before arguing: “If you like her, she thinks you’re crazy, maybe? Maybe now, she’ll get the f***ing picture!”
Diving deep into her theories about Markle, Schroeder accused the royal of “paying [more] attention to haters” than the people who’d risked their reputation to defend her.
“The strategy to pay more attention to your haters than your fans is so f***ing bats*** crazy to me. [It’s her] way of trying to control the narrative,” the Vanderpump Villa star added. “I think she’s controlling.”
Schroeder ultimately decided that she was done giving Markle and her companies publicity.
“I’m not going to talk about her anymore,” she vowed. “I’m going to unfollow her right now. Literally, I’m unfollowing her. Done!”
Us Weekly has reached out to Markle’s representatives for comment.
Prior to her change of heart, Schroeder came to Markle’s defense in March over the lukewarm reception to Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan. Markle was criticized by some viewers and in the media for depicting a lavish lifestyle that is unrelatable to many.
“Anyone complaining about this like they’re expecting this to be something they can relate to, that’s not the point,” Schroeder responded at the time. “I love this. This is something I absolutely cannot f***ing relate to.”
The Bravo personality specifically singled out Markle’s “unattainable, beautiful life” as a reason for Netflix subscribers to engage with With Love, Meghan.
“[I want to see] the duchess making fruit tarts and what china she uses,” Schroeder explained on the “Pop Culture Hour” podcast in March. “That’s not my life, and I want the escapism of something that’s so aspirational that I don’t even think I could attain it. … It’s a fantasy.”
Markle does have a history of engaging with podcasters who have championed her and Harry’s plight since leaving the U.K. In March, “Not Skinny But Not Fat” host Amanda Hirsch said she’d received a handwritten note from the duchess after saying she was “scared for Meghan” ahead of the release of With Love, Meghan.
“Dear Amanda, I heard you were feeling scared. Don’t be! This is the fun part — let’s enjoy it. As ever, Meghan,” Markle reportedly wrote to Hirsch.
Hirsch, 33, later shared the note via Instagram with the tongue-in-cheek caption: “OH MY DUCHESS.”