Loose Women airs awkward Meghan Markle showdown as guest shuts down Janet

The panel of Loose Women landed themselves in an awkward moment on the ITV show as the topic of Meghan Markles' brand came up. The Duchess has recently released new jams under her lifestyle brand, As Ever - with the panellists sharing their thoughts on the products.

British businesswoman and entrepreneur Emma Grede was on the show as she joined in on the discussion. The founding partner of Skims furiously defended Meghan as Janet Street-Porter ripped into her. Speaking about Meghan's business, Janet suggested: "I think it wasn't as easy as maybe she expected." Emma replied: "I mean, I don't know. I am really interested in what people are doing under the hood. I'm like 'Great, I get it, you made some jam. And you're going to sell that.' Like, what does it take to make a proper business?" Janet then cut in with a scathing remark as she snapped: "Well, Emma, with all due respect, she did not make that jam herself." But Emma was clearly on the ball as she hit back: "She's making a brand. Do I make the knickers myself? No."

The panel and audience then burst into laughter, Janet included, as Emma gave her co-star a sassy shrug.

Fans of the show were very much in Emma's corner. One wrote on X/Twitter: "Hard luck Janet you tried to put Meghan down there but Emma wasn't having it. Emma is just amazing."

Another complained: "God's sake, they are so obsessed with Meghan's jam! It's literally all they talk about. They make out that Meghan is the only businesswoman that outsources stuff. Honestly, it's pathetic."

A third added: "These old women really don't want Meghan to have anything and it burns them to the core that she is succeeding after the hate campaign they all contributed to."

Emma hit headlines recently after speaking to Meghan for her Aspire podcast which came out on Tuesday. The Duchess also used the podcast to deny that her personal Instagram account, where she shares behind the scenes footage of family life, is a tool to promote her business, claiming that everything that she posts is "authentic".

Reflecting on the podcast, Grede said: "When I sat down with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, I expected a great conversation, but what I didn't expect was how much clarity, conviction and honestly genuine wisdom that she brought to the table."

She added: "Meghan doesn't just talk about building a brand - she's building something with purpose, precision and with a lot of heart. And there were a few moments that really stayed with me."