Meghan Markle pushed back against claims that her Netflix series promotes the so-called "tradwife" lifestyle, dismissing the criticism as misplaced even as she continues to face questions about how her on-screen persona intersects with domestic ideals.
The Duchess of Sussex addressed the issue on The Circuit podcast with Bloomberg's Emily Chang while promoting season two of With Love, Meghan, which premiered Tuesday. Asked about critics who said the show glorifies traditional homemaking, Markle appeared surprised. "Really? That feels odd to me. I hadn't heard that," she said. "But I am really unapologetic about the fact that... would it be lovely to go and churn your own butter? Sure, maybe, but I don't have time for that. And I don't think you get an extra gold star if you do that."
She added that her approach is about balance, saying, "I don't have time to make dinner every night, I wish I did, but I'm great at ordering takeout and plating it beautifully. I have absolutely no judgment on trad wives, if it works for them then they should do it. But for me I feel like there is an in between, and joy for me comes from finding that sweet spot in the middle."
The "tradwife" term, short for "traditional wife," has gained traction on social media, often referring to women who adhere to conventional domestic roles, sometimes leaving careers to focus exclusively on family life. Markle's series, which blends cooking, entertaining, and conversations with celebrity guests, has fueled debate about whether it embraces or challenges that narrative.
Despite her claim on The Circuit that she had never encountered the label, Markle previously addressed it in an interview with People magazine in March. "I like being able to do a hybrid," she said at the time. "Even when I get takeout, I will try to plate it beautifully." She stressed then that she does not consider herself a "tradwife" but values balance.
The second season of With Love, Meghan features an array of high-profile guests, including Chrissy Teigen, Tan France, Jay Shetty, and chef Clare Smyth of London's three-Michelin-starred Core. World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés also appears in the series.
Markle said the intent of the show was to share "more of myself, to share tips that I love in my life, and to have fun." Responding to online backlash from season one, she said she remained confident in her audience. "I think I know who I was trying to meet, so if you know your audience and you know your demographic, well they love the show, and my partners love the show and that's why we have a season two," she said.
She added that she suspects some critics may secretly be adopting her suggestions. "I often think of the negative voices, are they saying negative things and then secretly going home and making my single skillet spaghetti? Maybe they are," Markle told Chang.
For her, the series is less about ideology and more about making space for joy. "The intention of the show was to show more of myself," she said, "to share tips that I love in my life, and to have fun."
