‘Satan’ and an ‘Ugly Heart’: Meghan Markle Fans ‘Terrorize’ British Priests Over Chocolate Advent Calendar

Meghan Markle’s fans have launched a vicious online backlash against two British priests after they criticized the Duchess of Sussex’s expensive Christmas advent calendar and suggested a more affordable alternative.

The 45-year-old Meghan released a festive advent calendar through her As Ever brand, featuring 24 chocolate treats. The luxury version, created in collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, costs $148.

Daniel French, an Anglican priest and university chaplain in London, decided to compare Meghan’s offering with a much more budget-friendly option. He encouraged his followers to consider a Christmas calendar from the Meaningful Chocolate Company, which costs around $8.

The inexpensive set includes Fairtrade chocolate, a Christmas story and an activity book for children, with part of the proceeds going toward the charity Leprosy Mission.

French’s post sparked a furious reaction from Meghan’s supporters, who are known online as the Sussex Squad. Some users lashed out at the priest with personal insults, calling him “evil,” “an offspring of Satan” and someone with an “ugly heart for a so-called Christian.”

Another priest, Chris Phillips from southwest London, came to his colleague’s defense. He wrote on X that he had already “run into the Sussex Squad here.”

Phillips was then targeted by a wave of criticism as well. According to the Daily Mail, the priest eventually shut down his account and blocked some of Meghan’s most aggressive supporters.

“You use your platforms to attack Meghan,” one user accused the priests. Another called them a “pathetic excuse for Christianity.”

The controversy erupted as Meghan has been actively promoting her festive As Ever collection. Alongside the chocolate advent calendar, the range includes a Hostess Basket containing tea, fruit preserves, edible flower petals and scented candles.

Some users have already pointed out similarities between several of As Ever’s holiday offerings and the Christmas collection being sold this year by the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom.