Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and a local bike shop owner in Montecito, California. Recently, this shop owner shed light on what he describes as Meghan’s bossy habits, revealing a specific incident that some say showcased her true colors.
As we know, Meghan gained fame as an actress before marrying Prince Harry and entering the British royal family. However, since stepping back from her royal duties last year, she and Harry have made their home in California, continuing to generate headlines through their actions and interviews. While many view Meghan as an ambitious figure, others see her as controversial. Supporters argue she is simply trying to carve out a new path after leaving her Hollywood career behind.
The recent encounter at the bike shop has provided a closer look at how Meghan interacts with those she views as subordinates. The shop owner claims that Meghan was disrespectful, made demands, and quickly became upset when her requests weren’t met.
These allegations have sparked fierce debate online since he went public with his account. I’ll share the details of what supposedly happened, along with perspectives from both sides of this heated discussion. By the end, you can decide for yourself what to think about Meghan’s side of the story regarding this bike shop incident.
Let’s briefly go over some background on Meghan. She is a former actress from Los Angeles who found fame on the USA show *Suits*. In 2016, she began dating Prince Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. Their whirlwind romance culminated in a royal wedding watched by millions around the world in May 2018.
While living in England as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan and Harry welcomed their son, Archie, in 2019. However, they faced intense scrutiny from the tabloid media, which many perceived as unfair and, at times, racist towards Meghan.
Citing this pressure and a desire for financial independence, Meghan and Harry made the surprising announcement in January 2020 that they would step back from royal duties. After spending some time in Canada, they settled in Montecito, a wealthy community near Santa Barbara, California, in mid-2020.
They purchased a luxurious $14 million estate and have been working to rebuild their lives outside the royal spotlight. Since then, they have signed multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify while also giving interviews that have criticized the royal family. Despite their high-profile lives, they claim to seek privacy for their family while engaging in philanthropic efforts.
Settling into their exclusive Montecito neighborhood, Meghan and Harry have encountered challenges that come with fame, such as dealing with paparazzi during public outings. It was during one of these outings that the alleged drama unfolded at a local bike shop.
Tasha’s Bikes is a family-owned store in Montecito that specializes in high-end bicycles and repairs. According to the shop owner, Ben, who chose to go by only his first name, Meghan entered the store one day with her security team to browse for bikes. Dressed casually in jeans, sunglasses, and a baseball cap in an apparent attempt to blend in, Ben recognized her immediately due to her entourage.
He was initially happy to assist Meghan, but it soon became clear that she had specific expectations that didn’t align with the shop’s offerings. Ben claims she insisted on seeing only custom-designed bikes starting at $10,000, disregarding his suggestions for quality models at lower price points.
When Ben explained that custom orders would require advanced notice due to parts availability and scheduling, Meghan reportedly became upset, asking, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Duchess of Sussex.”
According to Ben, she acted as though her status entitled her to special treatment. He further claims that Meghan loudly criticized the workmanship of the bikes on display, stating they looked shoddy and cheaply made. When he explained that they could not meet her demands immediately, she expressed her intent to take her business elsewhere.
This reaction offended Ben, who takes pride in his shop. He attempted to calmly explain the need for time with custom orders, but Meghan allegedly continued to push for immediate satisfaction, seemingly used to getting her way.
Ben described how her security team contributed to the tension by hovering intimidatingly nearby. Ultimately, Meghan is said to have stormed out, declaring the entire experience a waste of time before speeding away in her SUV, leaving the shop staff stunned. Ben decided then that he no longer wanted her business due to her attitude.
While he expressed admiration for the royal family, he felt Meghan’s behavior was spoiled and disrespectful, suggesting she abused her status as a public figure.
Feeling compelled to share his experience, Ben’s claims ignited fierce debate online. Meghan’s supporters rushed to her defense, labeling the accusations as ridiculous. They argued that a woman advocating for empowerment and compassion could not possibly behave in such an entitled manner. Supporters speculated that Ben might have been lying or exaggerating Meghan’s demeanor to gain notoriety.
They pointed out that his story lacked concrete evidence, such as security footage, and only represented one side of the narrative, without input from Meghan or her team. Defenders argued that Meghan’s attempts to browse privately indicated her desire for privacy, not rudeness.
They noted her experience in the public eye would make her cautious about jeopardizing her reputation.
Critics of the story raised questions about why Ben waited months to share the incident. Some viewed the portrayal of Meghan as perpetuating stereotypes about wealthy socialites, especially considering her advocacy for compassion.
Fans of Meghan rejected the notion that she could treat others poorly, asserting that jealousy may have motivated negative views about her success as a biracial American woman entering the royal family.
On the other hand, critics of Meghan readily accepted Ben’s account of her alleged behavior in the shop. They argued that his story fit with their preconceived notions of her as a manipulative social climber.
Skeptics pointed out that the incident followed closely after Meghan’s controversial interview in which she criticized the royal family. They suggested she might have been feeling resentful and reacted negatively because of underlying tensions.
Critics also questioned the timing of Ben’s story, wondering why he would wait so long to share it publicly. They imagined a scenario in which Meghan, after her rapid rise from television star to royalty, could lash out when her needs weren’t met during an ordinary errand. Many of them believed that her demand for special treatment was typical of celebrity behavior.
As the debate continued, some critics felt validated by Ben’s account, which seemed to confirm their long-held suspicions about Meghan’s character. They argued that individuals should be held accountable for how they treat others, regardless of their status.