Meghan Markle is Reportedly Eyeing a Return to Acting in the UK: Why Critics Are Pushing Back

On Thursday, Aug. 20, news broke that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be moving back to the United Kingdom after six years in the United States, leaving Black folks online wondering why the couple would make such a move. Now, we might have just discovered the reason—and even more, how the entire plan just got completely derailed

According to a report by former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Tina Brown in her Substack newsletter, Fresh Hell: Tina Brown’s Diary, the move back to England was driven by the Duchess’s desire to return to her acting roots. Brown was told by a former staff member that the couple was unhappy in California, with Markle struggling through days when negative press made it hard to even get out of bed.

However, according to Brown’s report, Markle’s mood lifted after she appeared as a celebrity judge on “MasterChef Australia” last month, which helped inspire her decision to return to the screen. The report did not specify the exact project, but multiple publications have rumored that she was eyeing a role in season three of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama “The Gentlemen,” which is filmed in London.

While the former TV star, who previously starred on the hit legal drama “Suits,” might have flourished in another high-profile acting role, the opportunity was apparently taken away as quickly as it was presented.

Related: Prince Harry and Meghan Head Back to the UK, But Black TikTok Has Some Thoughts

After news spread on social media that Markle was being considered for the project, critics rushed to share their outrage.

“Markle is the Kiss of Death to anything she attempts to do,” wrote one user on X.

“Well, I love The Gentleman but I won’t be watching it if they ever decide to cast her in it,” added another.

“Go ahead and hire her, Guy, if you want to destroy your show,” posted a third.

Following the intense backlash, Tina Brown wrote in a follow-up report that any potential offer for Markle on the series was rescinded due to the wave of incessant hate.

“I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series ‘The Gentlemen’ has been withdrawn. The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward. This does not bode well for Meghan’s acting comeback in the UK. More to come,” the journalist wrote in her Substack newsletter.

There is no confirmation from Markle or Ritchie on whether the news about the Duchess resuming her acting career is true. But on Instagram, Markle has teased an upcoming project for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, posting a video of herself picking apples alongside the caption, “A little hint of what’s coming.”