Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has found an ally in television host Andy Cohen, who dispelled rumors suggesting that she hadn't conducted interviews for her Spotify podcast, "Archetypes." As a guest on the podcast himself, Cohen rebuked the claims, stating that Markle had indeed interviewed him personally.
Cohen, the popular host of "Watch What Happens Live," branded the rumors that Markle's producers conducted the interviews as "preposterous." Speaking with US Weekly, he clarified, "Yes, Meghan and I had a conversation. It's absurd to suggest otherwise. Her podcast revolves around dialogues with individuals. So, naturally, she conducted the interviews."
The talk show host was featured on "Archetypes" alongside comedians Trevor Noah and Judd Apatow, discussing stereotypes that constrain women, in one of the podcast's latest episodes.
Reflecting on the encounter, Cohen, 55, lauded the Duchess for her meticulous preparation and informed insights. He also shared that Markle had expressed interest in appearing on his show "Watch What Happens Live" back in the early 2010s, being an ardent "Real Housewives" fan. Cohen humorously expressed regret for not having Markle as a guest, labeling it the "biggest oversight in the 13 years of the show's existence."
"Archetypes," Markle's Spotify podcast, debuted in August 2022. Cohen's experience with the Duchess also made it into his book "Daddy Diaries," released earlier this year. Here, he touched upon Markle's critique of his reality TV show, "Real Housewives," for allegedly propagating negative female stereotypes, albeit without explicitly pointing fingers at him.
Quoting Markle's statements about the franchise, featured in Newsweek, he said, "It's not about Cohen's success, which he justifiably deserves, but about the nature of his success in this franchise."
Markle also shared a contentious "Real Housewives of New Jersey" snippet in the podcast, showcasing an infidelity-related dispute, which, as she confessed, left her with ambivalent feelings. She added, "I'm in two minds about it. I want to give Andy a fair hearing as he touts this as a feminist show, but the drama often capitalizes on one aspect of the women featured."
Cohen, in his book, clarified that Markle had never directly expressed her apprehensions about the show to him during the podcast. Prepared to defend his "beloved troop of 'Housewives,'" he said he relished the opportunity to do so.
When quizzed about the prospect of discussing "The Real Housewives" with Markle again, Cohen expressed enthusiasm, inviting the Duchess to "Watch What Happens Live" to carry on the dialogue. Nonetheless, in "Daddy Diaries," he confirmed that his interaction with Markle on "Archetypes" was delightful and that they shared an enjoyable conversation.
