Meghan Markle’s ‘As Ever’ Candle Goes Viral After TikToker Finds it Wickless

MAGA-aligned TikTok influencer Link Lauren sparked a wave of online mockery on November 10, 2025, after claiming he received a defective $64 Signature Candle No. 084 from Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever, complete with the signature scent but conspicuously missing a wick. In a viral X post viewed over 100,000 times, the 26-year-old Texas native—who rose to fame during the pandemic with pop culture commentary and gained notoriety at a White House "influencer briefing"—unboxed the product on his podcast "Spot On with Link Lauren", quipping, "I got Markled! I unboxed Meghan Markle’s new $65 candle on my show today. There’s no wick! Kind of a metaphor for her career. Nothing’s lighting." The candle, hand-poured in California with notes of white lotus, sandalwood, and California poppy, is marketed as evoking "the warm welcome of As Ever" and the ambiance of Markle's family home, with its numbering nodding to her August 4 birthday. Lauren's video, showing the pristine jar sans wick, amplified his jest, tying into broader criticisms of the Duchess of Sussex's entrepreneurial ventures post-royal exit.

The unboxing clip, shared alongside a static photo of the wickless candle, quickly amassed 1,250 likes and 153 reposts on X, drawing sharp-witted responses that leaned into anti-Markle sentiment prevalent among conservative online circles. One user quipped, "It’s so Meghan Wick sold separately," while another speculated, "I’d like to think she punked you... but more likely it’s just cheap garbage made in China. Toxic emissions!" A third echoed Lauren's disdain for As Ever's preserves, stating, "LMAO! I tasted her apricot spread and wine. Both are horrible!" During the podcast episode, Lauren sampled the brand's orange marmalade trio, reacting viscerally with, "I actually feel sick... that's really not good," before pivoting to the candle fiasco. This incident unfolds amid As Ever's rapid ascent since its April 2025 launch, where initial drops sold out in under an hour, though the holiday collection—including this candle and an $89 sparkling wine—has faced scrutiny for premium pricing amid whispers of quality inconsistencies.

As ever, Markle's foray into lifestyle goods emphasising intentional, family-inspired items positions the candle as a sensory extension of her Montecito home, described on the brand's site as curated "with love, intention, and care". Yet Lauren's claim—potentially a manufacturing oversight or shipping mishap, as no widespread reports of wickless units have surfaced—has ignited debates on authenticity, with some X users like @Ida_Eng suggesting the wick was deliberately removed post-production for comedic effect. The brand, which debuted with pantry staples like raspberry spread and shortbread before expanding into candles and wine, draws subtle nods to Markle's past: a companion Signature Candle No. 519 evokes her May 19, 2018, wedding to Prince Harry with Moroccan mint, white tea, and cardamom notes. Despite the buzz, As Ever's products remain unavailable on the official site due to high demand, underscoring the polarised reception to Markle's post-royal branding—celebrated by supporters for empowerment, derided by detractors as opportunistic.

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Lauren, a 2022 New York University graduate with a music business degree, has built a 1 million-follower TikTok empire blending political satire and celebrity takedowns, often targeting figures like Markle, whom he portrays as emblematic of liberal excess. His podcast, produced by MK Media and updated semiweekly, frequently features "Royal Roundups" dissecting Sussex family moves, aligning with MAGA narratives that frame Markle's ventures as tone-deaf amid economic pressures. This episode's unboxing segment, teasing a full YouTube breakdown, exemplifies his style: unfiltered, humorous, and primed for virality, much like his White House appearance that catapulted him into conservative influencer status. As As Ever eyes further 2025 drops—including a Netflix-tied holiday special for Markle's "With Love, Meghan" series—the wickless candle tale risks becoming a punchline, potentially deterring impulse buyers while fuelling free publicity in echo chambers.

The episode highlights the double-edged sword of celebrity branding in the social media age, where a single influencer's critique can eclipse product merits, especially for polarising figures like Markle, whose tenth publicist reportedly departed after mere months amid internal turbulence. While Lauren demands a refund in jest, the incident invites scrutiny of As Ever's supply chain—hand-poured claims notwithstanding—and echoes past royal-adjacent product flubs, like the 2019 H&M controversy. Supporters on X counter with defences of the brand's ethos, but the narrative, amplified by shares from accounts like @XOQueenEsther ("Couldn’t be more poetic"), cements Markle as a lightning rod. As the holiday rush intensifies, whether this sparks returns or curiosity sales remains to be seen, but it undeniably spotlights the high-stakes gamble of turning personal nostalgia into commerce.

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