Two British clergymen felt compelled to privatise their social media accounts after receiving an onslaught of abuse from some supporters of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
The abuse came after the two priests, Reverend Daniel French and Father Chris Phillips, spoke out against her new £112 luxury advent calendar from her lifestyle brand As Ever.
The dispute began when Reverend French took to social media to highlight a far cheaper alternative to the Duchess’s gourmet offering.
Sharing a photograph of Meghan alongside her As Ever product, Reverend French wrote: “For £5.99 you can pre-order a Christian Advent Calendar with Fairtrade chocolate from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. A donation is made to the Leprosy Mission.”
The dispute began when Reverend French took to social media to highlight a far cheaper alternative to the Duchess’s gourmet offering
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He told his followers that the calendar he recommended was nearly 20 times less expensive, still contained chocolate, and came with a “little booklet on the meaning of Christmas.” Proceeds from each sale would benefit charitable causes.
The response from some of Meghan’s online supporters was swift and hostile. Reverend French was labelled “satan spawn” and “evil,” with one accuser claiming he possessed an “ugly heart for a so-called Christian.” Others called him a “demon” and a “disgrace to the cloth.”
Father Chris Phillips then waded into the row, posting his agreement with his fellow clergyman’s position. His endorsement triggered a second surge of hostile messages from Meghan’s admirers.
One wrote: “With everything happening around the world, this is what they’re choosing to worry about, a Meghan Advent calendar?
Father Chris Phillips has privatised his account
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“Those who should be preaching love, kindness and the Gospel are instead using their platforms to spread criticism and hostility. If you can’t afford it, that’s fine, but keep it moving. Stay in your lane and leave her stuff to those who can afford it.
“And the hypocrisy? Buckingham Palace sells Advent calendars too, so why aren’t they talking about that? This man of God is using Meghan’s Advent calendar to criticise her when his platform should be used to preach the Gospel, not fuel negativity.”
Responding to the onslaught, Father Phillips remarked that he had “encountered the Sussex Squad on here,” adding simply: “Wow.”
Within 24 hours of posting, Father Phillips was forced to make his account private and block a number of users. Reverend French similarly locked down his profile in the face of the sustained campaign, but has since made it publicly accessible again.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has unveiled a premium advent calendar priced at £112 ($148) through her lifestyle brand As Ever, produced alongside Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartes | INSTAGRAM/@ASEVEROFFICIAL
Those who rallied to the clergymen’s defence described them as having been “terrorised” by “deranged trolls”.
The comments came from individual social media users and do not represent Meghan herself or the wider community of people who support the Duchess.
GB News has approached both priests seeking their response.
The advent calendar at the centre of the row is a collaboration between Meghan’s As Ever brand and Los Angeles-based gourmet chocolatier Compartés.
Priced at $148 (£112), it contains 24 handcrafted chocolates in flavours such as strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade, alongside a dark chocolate ganache truffle.
Its design draws on the Duchess’s Montecito home and garden, featuring a festive illustration of the £11million mansion where she and Prince Harry lived for six years.
Countdown numbers were hand-painted in Meghan’s own handwriting using edible gold lustre, while one chocolate is finished with what the brand describes as “Meghan’s own flower sprinkles.”
The limited-edition product is the first major release since the couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, relocated to Britain. It is available for pre-order in the US, with deliveries expected from early November.