What Meghan Markle Podcast Guest Jameela Jamil Said About 'Pedo Andrew'

Meghan Markle podcast guest Jameela Jamil, who once caused a media furor over her comments about Prince Andrew, defended the duchess during a lengthy discussion on the show's latest episode.

The Good Place actress made headlines in the summer of 2020 by defending Markle against accusations in the media that she was embarrassing the royal family. Jamil caused some controversy with her choice of words, saying the royal family "may be more embarrassed by their alleged resident pedo Andrew."

Prince Andrew, who is Prince Harry's uncle, has been accused by Virginia Giuffre of raping her when she was 17 and a sex trafficking victim of the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was a convicted sex offender.

Markle and Jamil skirted the matter, making only a subtle reference to it, during the conversation on the duchess's Archetypes podcast on Spotify.

Jamil Defends the Duchess

Jamil was discussing the support she gets from her partner, James Blake, when she said: "I know you have a very similar dynamic with Harry, and actually, when the four of us met that one time, it was a really sweet dynamic of two very like, sort of, similar relationships.

"It was very nice for me to see that you have that in your home, because you need it, because it's just it's an unfathomable amount of s*** that you take, Meghan. I can't believe it."

Jamil continued: "And I fought back on your behalf years before I'd ever met you because I was so outraged by it. So outraged with the twisting of this very normal, very kind, very civilized woman. That demonization just shows how afraid they are of you.

"The treatment of you," Jamil, who is British, added. "And I'm so sorry you've had to withstand, it has re-highlighted for us the intense unkindness and bigotry and misogyny of our media.

"And I think and I hope and I feel faith that tides are changing, because so many of us are fighting back," she said.

Markle replied: "Well, thank you for fighting back. When all of that criticism can feel really attacking or really uncomfortable or scary, is there ever that moment where you go, 'No, I just can't put myself in this position anymore. It's not, it's not good for me, even if it's good for the greater good.'"

Jamil said she had felt suicidal during a backlash against her in which she felt her words were being twisted and taken out of context.

Jamil on Prince Andrew

Jamil spoke out during a debate about Markle's comments on the upcoming U.S. presidential election in the summer of 2020.

The duchess had encouraged Americans to go out and vote but also made a series of comments that were interpreted in the media as veiled criticisms of President Donald Trump.

Markle called for "the change we all need and deserve" and added that she was "happy to be here for my friend Michelle Obama's When We All Vote" organization.

The comments brought a backlash in which Markle was accused of embarrassing the monarchy by delving into politics, triggering Jamil's intervention.

Jamil wrote on Twitter: "I think they may be more embarrassed by their alleged resident pedo Andrew who was besties with a sex trafficker, than an American supporting women voting in her own country and loosely referencing the importance of democracy."

The actress was then pictured in Montecito, California, with Blake on a beach in the community, where Markle and Prince Harry's home is based.

The images gave rise to a headline in The Sun which read: "'RESIDENT PAEDO' Meghan Markle 'invites new pal Jameela Jamil to her mansion' a day after actress called Prince Andrew a paedophile."

Jamil later wrote on Twitter: "LOL. Went to a hotel in SB [Santa Barbara] for a romantic getaway with my boyfriend... and have seen 8 days of articles with increasingly ridiculous stories, none of which are consistent, none of which make sense... (all to now create the lie that she controls me and coordinates my every move.)

"I've met this woman once. Ever. #BestFriends These articles are a strategy to now blame her for MY every word and move. And to attempt to discredit my calling them out as if it isn't a *FACT* that they bully and harass her for clicks, to feed Britain's already sturdy xenophobia."

Markle appeared to subtly reference Jamil's past statement during their Archetypes conversation when she said: "I haven't seen you in what a year? Maybe now we've seen each other twice ever, three times ever."