Comedian Katherine Ryan questioned Meghan Markle’s authenticity after watching her latest Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan” — despite previously “rooting” for the Duchess of Sussex.
Although the Canadian comedian used to be a big fan of Markle, she has since changed her stance after watching the eight-episode lifestyle series, which has already been renewed for a second season.
Ryan told her podcast listeners that “several things can be true at once,” with some people disliking the duchess due to “internalized racism” while others, like her, feel like she has become “very Hollywood.”
“And I don’t like that about people,” the comedian admitted on Monday’s episode of her “Telling Everybody Everything” podcast.
“I see now, and maybe it’s just the projects she’s choosing, it does feel like she has lied about whether she knew who Prince Harry was, and these details about her childhood change and don’t add up.”
Ryan, 41, pointed out discrepancies in Markle’s stories about her upbringing and the early days of her romance with the red-headed royal.
“She said on her new Netflix show that they ate TV dinners growing up,” she called out — a claim Markle’s estranged brother has since slammed as “malarkey.”
“But then in an old interview, she was like, ‘We would eat farm fresh.’ It’s just the little things,” Ryan continued. “Her whole act just seems very manicured and very forced.”
Ryan, who admittedly “liked” Markle in the past, doesn’t think the duchess is “a bad person” but simply believes “she likes cosying up to celebrities and she wants the hundred million dollar deal and she likes the fact that she’s married to a prince, of course.”
The “Glitter Room” star admitted that most people would feel the same way but wishes Markle, 43, just told it like it is.
“I would rather someone lean into that and be like, ‘Oh my God, I used to be on ‘Suits’ and now I’m married to a prince!’” she explained. “I would rather that than this act of: ‘Oh, I’m just so humble.’”
Ryan is far from the only person to critique the lifestyle series, with some UK critics describing the “pointless” show as “an exercise in narcissism.”
Although the show has been “really revving people up,” Ryan questioned if that was maybe Netflix’s intention.
“People are hate-watching it though,” she said of its success. “Who knows what Netflix are doing? They are smart — whether they love something or hate something, whatever keeps them watching more episodes.”
“If this was Netflix’s intention, to be like, let’s throw Meghan under the bus where even people who really liked her are turning… not against her, but… she just doesn’t seem to be the kind of gal I would want to be friends with. It’s too manicured, it’s too beige.”
While Ryan is no longer a fan of Markle, she defended the As Ever founder in 2022 after she and Harry spoke out about their treatment as working royals.
“I believe that anyone, certainly any woman who deviates from what is expected of them is going to face criticism,” she told the Express. “So I certainly think that I love Meghan Markle’s voice and her confidence to challenge the norm and what’s expected of her in that role.
“But equally anytime that you challenge an idea people are going to come after you.”
At the time, the comedian said she wasn’t sure why Markle was “such a target” and why people felt “so aggravated” by her.
Read the full article here
