What was meant to be a light and playful Thanksgiving moment from Meghan Markle ended up stirring a wave of criticism online. In an Instagram Stories clip shared before the holiday, she was seen seasoning a turkey while Bob Dylan’s Turkey Chase played in the background. She captioned it jokingly with “Let the ‘game’ begin” and a simple mom joke. It looked harmless, yet viewers immediately zoomed in on a detail that set the internet buzzing.

Several people noticed that she was wearing a bracelet and a ring while handling the raw turkey. What followed was a flood of comments across Reddit and social platforms, with some users mocking her kitchen habits and others claiming her technique was unsafe. Insults popped up quickly and one nickname in particular, “Salmonella Sussex,” spread fast among critics. Others complained about her jewelry touching the meat or speculated that she had poor food hygiene. Even her cooking skills were questioned by some who insisted she had no idea what she was doing.

That’s about to be the driest turkey ever made. No olive oil? No butter between the skin and meat? No butter BBL? No brine? I’m not sure if that’s #MeghanMarkle’s attempt at a dry brine, but that’s not it. Nowhere NEAR enough salt, and you need to do the inside as well.
Just… pic.twitter.com/KocHckjSKt

— Princess CarParkle 👑 (@unreMARKLEble) November 26, 2025

Why the jewelry detail sparked such a reaction

Although some comments were exaggerated, food safety specialists often warn that raw poultry carries bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter. Rings and bracelets can trap microorganisms in tiny crevices, making them difficult to remove with regular handwashing. When preparing raw poultry, this can increase the chance of cross-contamination. Metal jewelry can also accidentally tear the skin of the turkey, affecting the way it cooks. So while much of the online criticism was harsh or unnecessarily personal, the core concern about kitchen hygiene does have scientific backing.

Despite the uproar over the turkey video, Meghan shared a more reflective Thanksgiving newsletter the same week. She wrote about the joy and chaos of hosting friends at her Montecito home, describing the familiar mix of family noise, timing the meal, and the warmth that comes with gathering people around a holiday table. She added that as she looked around her home at Harry, Archie, Lilibet, and her close friends, she felt grateful. She closed her message by wishing everyone a Thanksgiving filled with good food and full hearts.