Meghan Markle's appearance on the popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was expected to be a simple, routine event.
However, what began as an ordinary television moment quickly spiraled into a dramatic episode that highlighted a powerful message: no one, not even royalty, is above the rules. The chaos reportedly began last month when Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, allegedly attempted to secure a spot on the show by unconventional means.
Eyewitnesses claim that Meghan tried to bribe the show's host, Jimmy Kimmel, by slipping him an envelope stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash, seeking a guaranteed position in the contestant's chair. "She just walked in, asked the producers if she could play, and when they said no, Meghan started waving around this huge wad of bills," one audience member recalled. "I couldn’t believe my eyes—she was really going for it!"
Jimmy Kimmel, known for his straightforward and no-nonsense demeanor, was reportedly unimpressed by Meghan’s alleged bribery attempt. "I looked at her and said, 'Do you think you can just buy your way onto this show? This isn’t some back-room casino; this is Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The only way you’re getting on this stage is if you earn it like everyone else,'" Kimmel recounted during a recent monologue. When Meghan allegedly refused to back down, Kimmel took drastic action by calling the police. "I told them, 'Get this woman out of my studio before I have her arrested for attempted bribery,'" Kimmel said. "There’s no way I’m letting royalty or anyone else think they can just flash some cash and get special treatment—not on my watch."
The situation escalated rapidly when the police arrived. Eyewitnesses described the confrontation as intense, with Meghan becoming increasingly agitated and making a scene. "She was red in the face, yelling, and insisting that she should be allowed to play," one source reported. Despite efforts by the police to calm her down, Meghan allegedly became more frantic, ultimately collapsing to the ground in a fit of coughing, shockingly coughing up blood. "It was crazy—absolutely crazy," the source continued. "One minute she’s trying to bribe her way onto the show, the next she’s on the ground coughing up blood." Paramedics were called to the scene, and Meghan was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, where doctors treated her for severe stress-induced hemorrhaging. She remained under observation for several hours before being released.
In the aftermath of the incident, Meghan's team released a statement condemning Kimmel's actions and accusing him of abusing his power as the show's host. "The Duchess of Sussex went to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in good faith with the intention of participating as a regular contestant," the statement read. "Mr. Kimmel’s decision to call the police and have her arrested was an extreme overreaction and a clear abuse of his position of authority." The statement also suggested that Meghan’s medical emergency was a direct result of Kimmel’s alleged bullying behavior, portraying his actions as an attempt to humiliate and intimidate her.
However, Kimmel did not take these accusations lightly. On his show the following night, he delivered a scathing rebuttal to Meghan’s team. "Look, I’m sorry the Duchess had a health scare, but that doesn’t change the fact that she tried to bribe her way onto my show," Kimmel stated. "I’m not going to let someone just waltz in here and think they can buy their way to the million-dollar question—that’s not how this works, and it’s not how I run my show." Kimmel went on to defend his decision to involve the authorities, emphasizing that he was upholding the integrity of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. "I’m not going to be bullied or intimidated—not by royalty or anyone else," he declared. "If you want to be on this show, you have to earn it fair and square, just like everyone else. No exceptions, no special treatment—that’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it’s going to stay."
As for Meghan's chances of appearing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in the future, the outlook appears grim. According to the show's producers, her actions have likely burned any bridges she had with the program. "I think it’s safe to say Meghan Markle is persona non grata as far as Millionaire is concerned," one producer told reporters. "Jimmy made it very clear that he doesn’t tolerate that kind of behavior, and the network is fully backing him on that. She’s burned that bridge, and I don’t think she’s getting another chance anytime soon."
In the end, Meghan's dream of winning big on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire will have to remain just that—a dream. The episode serves as a stark reminder that attempting to buy one’s way to the top can have serious consequences, even for royalty. If you try, you might just end up losing more than you bargained for.
