’Misogyny’: Meghan Markle blames sexism for bad reputation

Meghan Markle has hit back at her critics in her latest podcast, revealing what she thinks makes her a “target”.

A US TV star has defended Meghan Markle against the “unfathomable sh**” levelled at her by critics on the latest episode of the Duchess’ Spotify podcast, Archetypes.

The Good Place actor, Jameela Jamil, 36, joined American-Iranian X-Men star Shohreh Aghdashloo and the Duchess of Sussex, 41, for a conversation titled The Audacity of the Activist, released on Tuesday.

Meghan Markle’s latest Archetypes podcast episode is titled The Audacity of the Activist.

Jameela Jamil. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy.

“In this thought provoking and energising episode, Meghan explores the stereotypes and judgments women face in the world of activism,” the description reads.

“In her no-holds-barred conversations with actors and activists Jameela Jamil and Shohreh Aghdashloo, Meghan deep dives into why activism in women is often deemed audacious, and the effect this has on many of the causes that matter most.”

On the podcast Markle - who has become one of the most polarising personalities on the planet since stepping down as a senior royal with her husband Prince Harry - told her guests that to “stand for something” is to “stand for something good”, but “not everyone sees it that way, especially when it comes to women”.

Ms Jamil noted that she has been criticised for speaking out on issues such as reproductive rights, eating disorder culture, mental health and feminism — and suggested Markle could relate.

Meghan Markle has become one of the most polarising personalities on the planet. Picture: Angela Weiss / AFP

“It’s just it’s an unfathomable amount of s — that you take, Meghan. I can’t believe it,” she said.

“And I fought back on your behalf of years before I’d ever met you because I was so outraged by the twisting of this, very normal, very kind, very civilised woman. That demonisation just shows how afraid they are of you.

“I’m so sorry you’ve had to withstand it. It has highlighted for us the intense and unkindness and, and bigotry and misogyny of our media. And I, I think and I hope and I feel faith that the tides are changing because so many of us are fighting back.”

Markle thanked the TV star for leaping to her defence.

At the start of the episode, Markle says: “Why is it perceived as: ‘how dare she’ and why do some feel the need to make a woman with big opinions feel small?

“I started to notice this, almost default eye roll, when someone would mention a woman fighting for a cause, and almost, ‘here she goes again’, or maybe it was more: ‘Why can’t she just sit down’.

Meghan Markle with Prince Harry at the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony last July. Picture: Timothy A. Clary / AFP

“The unspoken annoyance that seem to swirl around women in activism was astounding to me and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. I still can’t.”

In last week’s podcast, Markle appeared to hit back at her “Duchess Difficult” nickname - slamming it as a “codeword for b***h”.

At the beginning of her latest podcast episode, she revisited the issue.

“What these people are implying when they use that very charged word, is that this woman: ‘Oh, she’s difficult’,” she said.

“Which is really just a euphemism or is probably not even a euphemism. It’s really a codeword for the B-word.”

Markle said that women who speak out are often targeted by sexists, who say: “Here she goes again.”

She claimed that women with “big ideas” are sometimes seen as “audacious” and often “get no credit and all the blame”.

The “Duchess Difficult” label stretches back to 2018 following rumours about her “dictatorial” behaviour and 5am emails to staff - which led to an aide quitting.

Samantha Cohen, nicknamed “Samantha the Panther” for her feisty attitude, left her role after the birth of Prince Harry and Markle’s son Archie in 2019.