The Moment
Serena Williams, 44, shared a casual Instagram unboxing of friend Meghan Markle’s new As Ever Mother’s Day edit over the weekend, and the internet did what the internet does: spiral. In the clip, Serena showed chocolates that looked a bit jostled, called the presentation “botched,” then laughed that she doesn’t really like chocolate but had been eating these anyway.
She also admired Meghan’s handwriting on a note (“her penmanship has always been amazing”), stumbled over a couple of fragrance names on the candles (“Neroli,” “Santal”), and wrapped with a warm sign-off: “I love candles, thank you, I love you.”
Fans split into two camps: Was this light shade at a pal’s brand, or just Serena being Serena, no filters, no fuss?
The Take
I watched the clip more than once, and here’s my read: this was low-fi, not low blow. Social media has moved from glossy, studio-perfect hauls to “I opened the box in my kitchen and here’s the mess.” Serena is a GOAT athlete, not a lifestyle influencer. Her vibe is breezy, not meticulously merchandised. She praised the chocolates’ taste and Meghan’s note, and she ended with “I love you.” That’s not a dog whistle; that’s a hug, on camera.
Could the crushed sweets have been staged better? Absolutely. But to me, this felt like the celebrity equivalent of showing up to a black-tie party in pristine sneakers: unexpected, conversational, a little chaotic, but not disrespectful. If anything, it reads as authentic word-of-mouth: “These are good. I’m snacking. Love ya.” The rest is projection from a fandom primed to see feuds in every shadow.
Also worth noting: ribbing a friend’s product happens in real life all the time. Serena’s gentle stumbles over fragrance names were human, not hostile. And please, half of us say ner-OH-lee with a question mark anyway.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- Serena Williams posted an Instagram Story unboxing an As Ever PR box tied to Mother’s Day, showing slightly crushed chocolates and calling the look “botched,” while also saying she’d been eating them despite “not liking chocolate,” and praising Meghan’s penmanship. She closed with “I love candles… I love you.” Source: Serena Williams’ Instagram Stories, April 27, 2026.
- Serena Williams and Meghan Markle have been close since the mid-2010s; Williams attended the royal wedding in 2018 and was part of Meghan’s New York baby shower events in 2019. Sources: Publicly aired royal wedding coverage (May 19, 2018); Serena Williams’ social posts and widely circulated photos from May 2018 and February 2019.
Unverified/Reported:
- Claims that Serena intentionally made the product look bad or that the friendship is “on the rocks” are fan speculation. As of publication, neither woman has suggested a rift on the record.
- Comparisons to other, more polished celebrity promos for As Ever are anecdotal; there’s no public style guide dictating how recipients should present the gifts.
Backstory (for Casual Readers)
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been building out a lifestyle lane, now under the As Ever banner, after stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020. She and Serena Williams, one of the most decorated tennis champions in history, became friends in the early-to-mid 2010s and have appeared at each other’s milestone moments. Serena was at the 2018 royal wedding and has publicly defended Meghan at tense times, including after the 2021 Oprah interview.
What’s Next
Keep an eye on whether Serena reposts the video to her grid (a stronger endorsement signal) or if As Ever shares official campaign assets featuring celebrity friends. With Mother’s Day on the horizon, expect more PR boxes to surface and more commentary. If there’s real friction here, someone will say so directly; until then, this looks like a casual unboxing that met a very online audience.
What do you think: harmless, human moment, or should close friends still keep product promos picture-perfect?
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