During an explosive moment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, comedian Chelsea Handler shattered the carefully curated image of Meghan Markle, exposing what she claimed was a manipulative persona hiding behind charm and polished rhetoric.
Airing on February 24, 2025, the episode quickly descended into chaos as Handler, known for her sharp wit and unfiltered commentary, delivered a scathing assessment of the former Duchess of Sussex. With a knowing smirk and a sip of her drink, she stated, “Meghan’s not just playing the game—she’s rewriting it to fleece anyone who falls for the act.” This was no offhand remark but a calculated takedown based on years of observation, and Handler made it clear that the world needed to start paying attention.
Handler’s accusations were far from baseless. She pointed to Meghan’s meticulously crafted public image, one that has faced increasing scrutiny since her departure from royal life in 2020. Recalling a particular incident from 2018, Handler described a Hollywood charity gala where Meghan allegedly worked the room, cornering influential donors with a perfectly rehearsed sob story about her humanitarian vision. “She had tears on command,” Handler quipped, “but those checks cleared faster than her conscience.” According to Handler, this wasn’t philanthropy—it was a well-executed hustle. She also highlighted the questionable financial practices of the Archewell Foundation, the charity Meghan and Prince Harry founded. Reports from 2023 suggested that less than ten percent of donations went to charitable causes, with the majority consumed by operational expenses and luxury travel, including private jet flights.
The critique only escalated from there. Handler accused Meghan of exploiting her royal connections for personal gain while simultaneously condemning the very institution that had given her a global platform. “She’s a grifter with a tiara,” Handler sneered, referencing Meghan’s widely publicized 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which she claimed to have been unaware of royal protocol before marrying Prince Harry. However, later reports surfaced showing evidence of pre-wedding briefings on everything from curtsies to titles, revealing what Handler described as a pattern of deliberate deception—crafting a victim narrative while reaping financial rewards.
Handler also took aim at Meghan’s lucrative Netflix deal, signed in 2020 for a reported $100 million. Despite the eye-watering contract, the couple produced only a handful of projects, including a documentary series that was widely panned as a self-serving vanity project. “Meghan sells relatability but delivers opportunism,” Handler remarked. “And people are finally catching on.” The timing of her comments was particularly striking, coming just weeks after Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in January 2025. The brand, which marketed itself as offering artisanal jams and handcrafted home goods, quickly faced backlash when reports emerged that the products were actually mass-produced in a Chinese factory. Handler wasted no time mocking the contradiction. “She’s not churning butter—she’s churning out lies,” she said, drawing a mix of laughter and discomfort from Fallon’s audience.
Handler connected this latest controversy to what she described as a long-standing pattern of using her Duchess of Sussex title to lend credibility to her ventures, only to cry foul when faced with scrutiny. “It’s a grift so blatant that even her most loyal defenders are starting to waver,” she said. Social media erupted following the broadcast, with hashtags like #MeghanUnmasked trending worldwide. But the most personal blow came when Handler hinted at a past falling-out with Meghan. She claimed that after securing Prince Harry’s ring, Meghan had ghosted her, as she had allegedly done to many others who no longer served her ambitions. “She climbs people like ladders and burns them when she’s done,” Handler said, her voice dripping with disdain.
As Fallon attempted to steer the conversation toward lighter topics, the weight of Handler’s words lingered—a stark warning about a public figure who, according to her, has long avoided true accountability. Whether Meghan will respond to these explosive claims remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Chelsea Handler has pulled back the curtain, and the world is watching.
