The relationship between the House of Windsor and the American entertainment landscape has shifted dramatically since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made Montecito their home. Once the “darlings” of the Hollywood elite, recent months have seen a noticeable trend toward sharper, more frequent satire from institutions like Saturday Night Live. While late-night comedy is built on the foundation of the “roast,” the recent “American terrorist” quip from Colin Jost has sparked a fierce debate: was this a standard comedic “swing,” or has the show crossed an ethical line from satire into personal character assassination?
Colin Jost speaks about the Sussexes during the ‘Weekend Update’ segment of ‘Saturday Night Live.’
The controversial segment occurred during a Weekend Update sketch focusing on King Charles’s 2026 U.S. state visit. In a classic news-delivery format, Colin Jost quipped that the monarch’s arrival was essentially a mission to “seek the release of a British hostage being held by an American terrorist.”
The visual punchline—a photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—left little to the imagination. To many viewers, the joke tapped into the popular (and often criticized) narrative that Prince Harry is a “captive” in California, isolated from his family and culture by a controlling spouse. By using the term “terrorist,” SNL chose one of the most loaded words in the American lexicon, heightening the shock value and, consequently, the fallout.
According to reports from royal columnist Rob Shuter on his Naughty But Nice Substack, the reaction from the Duchess was swift and severe. Insiders allege that Meghan was “furious,” viewing the remark not as a creative poke but as “deliberate, cheap, and personal.”
The reported response—effectively “blacklisting” NBC—is consistent with what critics describe as the Duchess’s “cut-off” strategy. History shows a pattern where Markle distances herself from publications or networks (such as Vanity Fair) when the narrative turns unfavorable. From Meghan’s perspective, this isn’t just about a thin skin; it’s about a refusal to participate in what she reportedly deems “establishment ridicule dressed up as satire.” When the broadcaster of her once-home (NBC aired Suits via USA Network) turns into a platform for such aggressive labeling, the sense of betrayal is undoubtedly amplified.
The “American terrorist” joke didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was the culmination of a year-long “Sussex Roast” cycle on both sides of the Atlantic:
The May 2025 “Trade Deal” Quip: Jost previously joked that the only thing the UK wanted in return for a trade deal with the U.S. was for America to “keep these two.”
The March 2026 SNL UK Debut: The premiere of the UK version of the show featured Hammed Animashaun joking that Meghan was a woman “98 percent of the UK public find it impossible to have a normal conversation about.”
The MI5 Parody: A sketch portraying agents intentionally trying to make other royals less likable to boost King Charles’s ratings directly targeted the Sussexes’ public image.
These segments suggest a shift in the “Overton Window” of late-night comedy. Where the couple was once treated with a degree of reverence or supportive sympathy, they are now being framed as fair game for the same level of scrutiny applied to politicians and socialites.
Whether one finds the joke “pure gold” or “pure cruelty,” the incident marks a definitive end to the Sussexes’ honeymoon period with American mainstream media. The “American terrorist” label has become a Rorschach test for how the public views the couple: as victims of a relentless media machine or as architects of their own public misfortune.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends day two of the Invictus Games 2020 at Zuiderpark on April 17, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Following the controversial “American Terrorist” quip that reportedly led the Duchess to blacklist NBC, rumors are swirling about a new wave of even more biting sketches currently in development at Studio 8H. Here is how SNL is—and potentially could be—turning the Sussex brand into late-night’s favorite punchline.
The Parody of “American Riviera Orchard”
One of the most anticipated “leaked” concepts involves a brutal parody of Meghan’s new lifestyle brand. In this imagined sketch, a hyper-stylized version of the Duchess is seen wandering through a golden-lit vineyard in a $10,000 gown, attempting to perform mundane tasks with “royal grace.”
The Gag: The sketch features Meghan trying to jump-start a vintage tractor using only a jar of her limited-edition strawberry jam and “positive manifestations.”
The Zinger: Looking directly into the camera, she whispers: “Luxury isn’t about what you own; it’s about the ability to convince your husband that picking artisanal kale is a revolutionary act of self-care.”
The “Privacy Tour” Paradox
SNL writers have reportedly doubled down on the irony of the couple’s quest for privacy. A recurring concept involves a “Weekend Update” segment where a Meghan look-alike appears to discuss the importance of digital boundaries.
Meghan Markle visits the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson)
The Move: While demanding that host Colin Jost stop “invading her space,” the character repeatedly holds up a massive QR code that links directly to a “Pre-Order” page for her upcoming tell-all memoir.
The Punchline: “Colin, I am here to demand total silence regarding my life. To hear more about how much I hate the noise, please download my 12-part podcast, ‘The Sound of My Own Voice,’ available now on all platforms.”
“Suits: The Montecito Edition”
Tapping into her acting roots, SNL is rumored to be drafting a trailer for a fictional reboot of Suits. In this version, the high-stakes legal battles don’t take place in a New York firm, but rather within the confines of her $14 million neighborhood.
The Plot: Meghan uses complex legal jargon and “closing statement” theatrics to sue a local seagull for violating her “emotional airspace” and to subpoena the paparazzi for not using the “correct flattering filters” on their long-lens shots.
The Climax: She stands in a courtroom (her kitchen) and shouts, “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! Unless it’s been edited by my production company and narrated by a celebrity friend!”
Industry analysts suggest that these comedic escalations represent a dangerous shift in the “Overton Window” for the Duchess. For years, the U.S. media generally treated Meghan with a protective reverence, framing her as a survivor of a rigid British establishment.
Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown – WPA Pool
However, by leaning into the “American Terrorist” narrative and lampooning her commercial ventures, SNL is signaling that the “victim” status has expired. In the eyes of Hollywood satire, she has transitioned into a “character”—one defined by perceived contradictions between her desire for privacy and her constant media output.
Whether these sketches are currently airing or merely circulating in the “rumor mill” of the writers’ room, the message is clear: the gloves are off. For a brand built on curated perfection, being turned into a weekly caricature is the ultimate threat. As Meghan allegedly “shuts the door” on NBC, SNL seems more than happy to keep talking through the window.