The Duke and Duchess of Sussex found themselves once again at the center of mockery—this time on Saturday Night Live. You’d think that after trading palace life for podcast ventures, Harry and Meghan might have developed a thicker skin. But apparently, a single joke was all it took to stir up fresh outrage.
During the "Weekend Update" segment, SNL’s Colin Jost delivered what’s being called a savage one-liner. He joked that the U.S. and U.K. had struck a trade deal, where “all Britain demands in return is that we keep these two,” as a photo of Harry and Meghan appeared on screen. The audience erupted in laughter. Jost himself nearly broke into chuckles before finishing the punchline, joking that the gag landed harder than the couple’s failed Spotify deal.
This well-timed jab came just hours after Meghan had posted meticulously curated selfies from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter concert, projecting an image of effortless glamour. But the glossy influencer aesthetic quickly clashed with the reality that the public—and now America’s most mainstream comedy show—was laughing at them. Not just British tabloids. Not just Piers Morgan. It’s become clear that Britain isn’t the only one weary of their drama; America is over it too. Even in Hollywood, their star power is fading. Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow are now catching subtle criticism for maintaining ties with them.
Social media erupted in response. Users called the couple "grifters," "losers," and a “sad joke without a punchline.” Some even begged SNL to go further, asking for full-blown parody sketches featuring Meghan in her barefoot, beige, boho era spouting unsolicited affirmations, while Harry crosses his arms, blaming everyone from King Charles to a barista at Erewhon for his lingering trauma. It’s easy to imagine Meghan furiously drafting a new blog post for her lifestyle brand, while Harry pens the opening lines of Spare II.
But here’s the thing—this indignation might actually make sense. Being publicly mocked by SNL, a show that usually handles high-profile figures with kid gloves, sends a clear message: the cultural tide has turned. Rewind to their earlier mentions on the show, and you’ll find far tamer jokes, like Meghan returning to the palace as a maid—subtle and veiled in royal deference. That’s gone. Now, it’s open season. Even South Park got their shots in months ago with zero pushback. No lawsuits. Just silence. It’s possible even Netflix has lost interest. The media isn’t pretending anymore, the public is laughing, and the only ones still acting like this PR machine is cruising are Meghan, Harry, and maybe a few execs like Ted Sarandos.
So, what comes next? Another Oprah sit-down? A Netflix docuseries titled Unconscious Jokes? Perhaps Meghan will pivot again and give a TED Talk about the “dangers of comedy.” Whatever it is, one thing is certain: the once-glossy image is cracking. And the more they try to appear unaffected, the more obvious it becomes—they're the only ones who think this act still plays.
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