She’s had a rough few weeks, after being forced to apologise for unintentionally“misleading”the court in her ongoing privacy case with the Mail on Sunday and also being slammed for “getting political” in her campaign for paid parental leave. But Meghan Markle looked like the cat that got the cream – literally – last week as she made a surprise appearance on her good friend Ellen DeGeneres’ talk-show.
Sitting down with the problematic host, who last year was accused of fostering a “bullying” environment on set, Meghan regaled the audience with memories of being a jobbing actress and snippets of her and Harry’s “happy” family life in LA, before taking part in an interesting skit, which saw her pranking a load of unsuspecting street vendors and dropping to a squat in the middle of the street.
Needless to say, it was a very different Meghan to the woman who sat across from Oprah Winfrey eight months ago and detailed the misery and lack of support she’d allegedly experienced while serving as a senior member of the royal family.
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But while some praised this more upbeat and comedic side to her, others found it all a bit cringe-inducing…especially the part where she guzzled milk from a baby bottle, saying, “Mommy needs some milk” and nibbled cookies and crisps “like a chipmunk”.
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1 of 3'We'd often have to repeat things'
If the camera operator didn't get the right shot, we'd have to do it again. For example, I walked down the staircase in my wedding dress four times!
2 of 3‘It wasn’t all drama’
It appeared that Alexis and I hated each other, but we really didn't. We got on really well – she spent so much time in my apartment with me. She's a total queen!
3 of 3‘It takes hours to film’
It was endless! Filming could go into the early hours of the morning. But there were lots of breaks throughout the day and it was really fun.
What’s more, many questioned why Meghan would choose to sit down with a TV host who has been effectively “cancelled” following repeated allegations that she fostered a toxic on-set atmosphere, and has since decided to make this current season her last. Meghan and Harry are vocally anti-bullying and have also spoken out about the “lack of support” they received from the royal family, and their resultant struggles with poor mental health.
Why then, fans asked, did Meghan feel it was wise to endorse Ellen in such a public, playful way?
It was certainly an about-turn for the Duchess of Sussex, who has sustained a more serious side to her public image since retiring from acting when she married Harry in 2018. Sitting down with Ellen, Meghan beamed as she told how she used to drive to auditions in her “very old Ford Explore Seat” and would climb into the driver’s seat from the car boot, after the main door stopped working. She said that Harry “loves it” in LA and that “we’re just happy”, before giving a glimpse of their son Archie, two, feeding the chickens at their Montecito mansion, and talking about their five-month-old daughter Lilibet, who recently started teething.
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But the segment which really divided opinion involved Meghan stepping outside the studio and, wearing an earpiece, engaging in a series of stunts as directed by Ellen. As well as squatting, she was instructed to sample the street vendors’ food, telling one confused seller, “Let mommy have a taste…my boo loves hot sauce.” She also sang, “I’m a kitten, mew, mew, mew.”
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Some people praised her appearance, with one fan saying Meghan was “hilarious and inspirational… what a woman!” But others weren’t so convinced, as one commentator said, “Quitting the Royal Family because they wanted a quiet, private life and not be in the public eye...how's that working out?” and another weighed in, “There is nothing this woman won’t do to be in the spotlight! Toe-curlingly embarrassing.”
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