In a jaw-dropping moment at the 2025 Time 100 Gala, Meghan Markle faced a stunning public slight as Olympic superstar Simone Biles refused to acknowledge her royal title on the red carpet. As press interactions unfolded, Biles was asked about Markle but simply referred to her as “Megan,” a pointed omission that sent shockwaves through the event and highlighted a growing disillusionment with Markle’s self-styled image as a duchess.

This calculated snub is more than a fleeting awkwardness; it’s a bold statement from Biles, one of the most respected athletes of our time, signaling a cultural shift away from the performative royalty Markle has attempted to market. The Olympic champion’s choice of words—or lack thereof—echoed loudly, presenting a stark reality: Meghan Markle is increasingly viewed as a fading celebrity, desperately clinging to a title that no longer holds the weight it once did.

The Time 100 Gala, intended to celebrate global impact and influence, instead showcased Markle’s isolation. No warmth from fellow attendees, no celebratory camaraderie—just a chilling air of detachment. This public rejection reflects a broader trend, with prominent figures distancing themselves from Meghan, who once basked in the glow of fame.

As her media empire crumbles, marked by Spotify’s humiliating cancellation of her podcast after just one season and Netflix’s quiet termination of her animated series, the question arises: Where does Meghan go from here? Biles’s refusal to indulge the duchess fantasy underscores a deeper truth: authenticity is now valued over the hollow branding that Markle has relied upon.

The silence from A-listers like the Obamas and the Beckhams is deafening, signaling that the glamour of royalty has lost its allure. Meghan Markle may still wear the title of duchess, but as powerful women like Simone Biles refuse to recognize it, the distinction between genuine influence and manufactured celebrity becomes painfully clear.