Meghan Markle's Aussie Retreat: Business or Empowerment?

0:00On April 8th, Meghan Markle is headlining the first ever, her best life retreat, down under in Australia. It's a three-day women's wellness event from April 17 to 19, run by the company Besties, started by radio star Jackie O'Henderson, and, her manager, Gemma O'Neal, tickets sold out fast, pulling in close to $1 million, with prices from $2,699 of to $3,001. 199, for VIP, perks like photos and front row seats. Word on the street is this girl's getaway might be a front for bigger business. Organizers have deep ties to Soho House that fancy members only club for creatives, born in London, back in 1995. Now with spots worldwide, their Sydney spot opens in 2026, and Gemma O'Neal sits on the advisory committee. Online chatter, especially on Reddit, is buzzing with suspicion. Folks say it's less about empowerment and more about drumming up Soho House hype.

1:01Maybe even recruiting members right from the retreat. Commenters point to Marcus Anderson, Meghan's longtime pal in Soho House exec, who helped set this up from her place. Meghan's history with Soho House runs deep. She had her first date with Prince Harry there in London back in 2016, thanks to Marcus. Gemma admits she almost passed on the idea but trusted his judgment. Meanwhile, Bestie's has baggage. A luxury summit they hyped last year in Fiji got canceled last minute, leaving ticket holders high and dry. As Meghan gears up for this high profile trip, questions linger on whether it's pure vibes or a slick promo play. Either way, Australia is watching close. Entertainment and celebrity news today, powered by AI bringing you was trending. I'm Corey with the story.