Lily & Jack Sullivan: The Blame That Buried the Truth

SNL Joke Sparks Media Storm: Meghan Markle Roasted, Public Reaction Divides Audiences

In a moment that lit up social media and left Hollywood abuzz, Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost delivered a biting one-liner about Meghan Markle that quickly turned into a full-blown media firestorm. During the show’s “Weekend Update” segment, Jost compared Markle to a “mini Brigitte Macron” — a jab many interpreted as mocking her political ambitions and public image.

The remark immediately went viral, with reactions ranging from uproarious laughter to stunned disbelief. Jost quipped:
“Meghan Markle unveiled a new political podcast this week. Because what the world really needs right now is a mini Brigitte Macron with a royal title and no clue how actual politics work.”

The audience’s laughter was swift, but the aftermath was anything but comedic. Sources close to Meghan say she was “absolutely furious,” viewing the segment as xenophobic and misogynistic. Her PR team reportedly made urgent calls to NBC demanding an apology and retraction — a request NBC declined.

Inside Hollywood, opinions are split. Some producers and insiders claim Meghan’s response only validated the satire, exposing her as overly sensitive and image-obsessed. One anonymous Netflix executive told Variety:
“If she can’t take a harmless SNL joke without erupting, imagine her on a global press tour. That’s not a partner — that’s a walking HR complaint.”

Adding fuel to the fire, rumors out of France suggest that Brigitte Macron herself was less than amused by the comparison. According to several French media outlets, the French First Lady allegedly confronted President Emmanuel Macron over the association. Though the Élysée Palace denied reports of any dramatic confrontation, insiders claim tensions behind the scenes were very real.

The broader fallout from the SNL sketch has hit Meghan’s brand hard. A Morning Consult survey found that 63% of American respondents found the SNL joke “accurate and funny,” while only 19% viewed Markle as a serious political figure. Meanwhile, TikTok and social media exploded with parody videos, memes, and mock perfume ads labeled “Mini by Meghan,” poking fun at her perceived obsession with branding and elitism.

Even traditional media, including former allies, have grown quiet. Outlets like The Guardian and The Atlantic remained noticeably silent. Vanity Fair, typically sympathetic to Markle, rejected her narrative and noted that SNL regularly roasts public figures of all stripes — from Biden to Beyoncé.

Industry insiders suggest Meghan’s image is in freefall. With her Spotify deal scrapped, her Netflix projects in limbo, and dwindling support from key Hollywood figures like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, some executives have labeled her a “PR liability.”

The core issue? Meghan’s reaction to satire. As one D.C. political insider put it:
“You can’t demand the respect of a stateswoman when your résumé reads like a failed influencer’s LinkedIn page.”

Perhaps most damning was the social media consensus that the SNL joke didn’t create new criticism — it simply held up a mirror.
“She wanted to be admired like Eleanor Roosevelt,” one user commented. “Instead, she’s being compared to Sarah Palin — without the voter base.”

The phrase “Mini Macron” has since evolved into a viral shorthand for perceived pretentiousness and lack of substance. In political and media circles, the term now encapsulates Markle’s struggle to transition from royal celebrity to global figure.

For now, Meghan remains largely silent, but insiders say her team is scrambling to regain control of the narrative. Yet the damage appears done. The public’s appetite for royal reinvention has waned, and Meghan Markle’s once-carefully curated brand may never fully recover.

As one observer succinctly put it:
“She wanted power and prestige. What she got was a punchline.”