Comedian Tim Dillon launched a blistering critique of Meghan Markle, accusing the Duchess of Sussex of cultivating a "victim" narrative despite living "in a castle," as new polling data reveals her favorability ratings in both the U.S. and U.K. continue to slide. Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital, Dillon said, "She became a victim living in a castle married to a prince with the royal wedding, and I thought that was very funny."
Markle, 43, and her husband Prince Harry, stepped back from their roles as working royals in 2020, later relocating to Montecito, California. While they cited media scrutiny and lack of institutional support as reasons for the departure, Dillon contended that Meghan capitalized on a cultural moment. "I think that there was real currency in being a victim when she rose to prominence," he said. "It's hard to pull it off. She did it, to her credit."
Dillon went further, suggesting that Markle's attempts to appear relatable have largely backfired. "Harry seems like he's kind of been led around and he kind of doesn't know what's going on," he added. Representatives for the Sussexes declined to comment.
His criticisms follow a similar line to branding expert Doug Eldridge, who told Fox News: "You can't fake authenticity. You either have it or you don't. This has been an ongoing struggle for her." Eldridge also noted that Meghan's public strategy, including discussing her "guilt mentality" around wealth on her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, had alienated segments of her audience.
Recent polling shows a steep drop in public sentiment. According to YouGov, only 20% of U.K. adults now hold a favorable opinion of Meghan, down from 55% in 2019, while 65% view her unfavorably. In the U.S., 41% of respondents have a positive view, with 25% viewing her negatively.
The pair's transition to private life was marked by a series of high-profile interviews and media projects, including their 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, where Meghan disclosed mental health struggles and made allegations of racism within the royal family. The revelations stirred international attention and deepened divisions within the monarchy.
Markle has since launched her lifestyle brand "As Ever," formerly named "American Riviera Orchard." Its products, including a $28 wildflower honey, sold out in minutes. Her latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, received poor reviews but still made it into the platform's Top 10 and was renewed for a second season.
Despite backlash, Dillon suggested Markle remains unfazed. "I don't think she really cares. She doesn't seem to care," he said. He even speculated on her reaction to his own commentary: "If somebody showed her a clip of me probably, and she goes, 'Who cares? F------ fat idiots.'"
Markle's early enthusiasm for royal duties was evident, Dillon added, but she appeared unprepared for the trade-offs. "The deal with the British royal family is that the people pay for their lifestyles... But the payment for that is that they get to know everything about your life," he said. "She had to know that. You can't not know that going in."
Dillon's podcast, The Tim Dillon Show, draws more than 1 million viewers weekly and has become a platform for his commentary on pop culture and politics. His latest Netflix comedy special, I'm Your Mother, debuted in April, following his 2022 special This Is Your Country. When asked what's next, Dillon quipped, "A defamation suit from Meghan Markle, perhaps."
