
Podcaster reveals truth behind handwritten note she received from Meghan Markle after 'concerns' for her Netflix show.. and why she was 'genuinely scared'
A podcaster who received a letter from Meghan Markle after expressing fears for her Netflix show has praised the handwritten note after her initial shock upon opening it.
Amanda Hirsch, who runs the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, also revealed people who know the Duchess of Sussex told her that the letter was Meghan's idea.
She added that it was a 'good moment' for Meghan, urged her to do more 'casual stuff' and invited her onto her own podcast to ask her about the Royal Family.
Hirsch had said in January that she was 'scared for Meghan' about the reception to With Love, Meghan - before the Duchess sent her the surprise letter in March.
The letter, written in elaborate calligraphy below the 'M' monogram, said: 'Dear Amanda, I heard you were feeling scared. Don't be, this is the fun part. Let's enjoy it!'
Then in April, Hirsch was signed up by talent agency William Morris Endeavor, which also represents Meghan, and received jam and tea from the Duchess two days later.
Hirsch has now spoken to Page Six Radio about receiving the letter, saying her husband gave it to her before she read it twice and her reaction was: 'Oh my God'.
The influencer insisted that her original opinion in January 'wasn't like super positive, but it wasn't negative', adding: 'It was sincere in that I'm concerned, this trailer came out, I know how people come for her.
'I'm genuinely scared she'll be ripped to shreds, though I was like making cringing faces at the trailer, which like I didn't watch it again because I couldn't watch myself on a green screen f***ing do this.'
She also said Meghan received a positive reaction to the letter, saying: 'She got good press out of it, people loved it, people thought it was like 'she's being snarky, she has a sense of humour, she gets it, she's zoned in, she tuned in, she's on the beat'.
'I think it was genuine from her, I think she was like 'don't be scared, Amanda'. That's what I think. I talked to some people that know her, and they confirmed, they said 'Yeah, she, it was her idea to write you the note after she saw this'.
'She said 'we should start sending notes', that's what I was told. And then I got the jam.'
Hirsch went on to say she was hoping to get Meghan on her own podcast, saying: 'I would love to have her on the pod. I do feel like, obviously it's a huge, I'm humble as f*** like don't think she would ever.
'But I do have the confidence that we could maybe get a different side of her and I would be so excited for that.'
Hirsch also encouraged Meghan to do more 'casual stuff', adding: 'I feel like it was a good moment, and I saw she did another pod and I was happy to see it received well.
'Because I genuinely am like, I want to see people like her. I don't get why people are so hard on her. But that's why I'm like, come on my pod, I want to ask you about the royals. Swearsies. I don't know about it.'
In her initial video showing her watching the trailer, Hirsch cringed as she watched Meghan bake a cake.
She said at the time: 'Oh guys I'm genuinely concerned for Meghan. I'm not a Meghan hater at all. It feels like a Blake Lively situation. I understand that some people think she's inauthentic. I get that.
'I'm so scared for her that this Netflix show will make those claims stronger. From the trailer, it looks like it might.
'In the trailer at least, she doesn't come across as relatable. I'm just scared for you Meghan. Why did you have to do that? Consult with me, I would have told you!'
But Hirsch was left 'absolutely flabbergasted and obsessed ' when a card topped with Meghan's logo arrived, and said she had become a 'fan' of Meghan 'for life', adding that she would be 'obviously framing this'.
In April, the podcaster said their relationship had reached the 'next step' after she received a gift from Meghan's new lifestyle brand As Ever including her jam in keepsake packaging.
Taking to Instagram to express her delight, Amanda gushed: 'First a letter now her jam!!! Are we gonna be bffs? Should I buy a one way to Montecito???'
Showing off the wooden box and handwritten card from the Duchess, she continued: 'Guess - if you had to guess - what package I just got! I cannot believe it. Why am I so excited? Like, this is the next step in our relationship. First a letter, then I suppose, a jam?'
Meghan's TV series was slammed by reviewers as 'gormless lifestyle filler' with a 'tangible desperation' following its release on March 4.
Others said it shows the Duchess is 'attempting to cling to fame by any means possible', while another described how she was 'joylessly filling kids' party bags with seeds'.
But despite being mocked, the series was renewed for a second season.
Meghan's second podcast, the eight-part series Confessions of a Female Founder, is currentrly releasing a new episode each Tuesday – with five having come out so far.
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