'It wasn’t fulfilling for her': Howie Mandel backs Meghan Markle’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ comments
Howie Mandel doesn't understand why Meghan Markle received so much backlash for claiming that she was reduced to a "bimbo" when participating in 'Deal or No Deal'. The Duchess of Sussex was defended by the former game show host, who said that she wasn't criticizing the program but simply sharing how it made her feel.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, recalled what it was like to be one of the 'briefcase girls' on the NBC sitcom on an episode of her podcast 'Archetypes' earlier this month, stating that she felt like the job reduced her to a "bimbo." "I didn’t like feeling forced to be all looks and little substance, and that’s how it felt for me at the time being reduced to this specific archetype: the word 'bimbo,'" she said. Following her controversial remarks, social media users, former show staff members, and even Whoopi Goldberg criticized her claims.
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Mandel came to her defense. "I get it because- I’ve never said this before- but they had this pyramid of 26 beautiful, intelligent women standing there just staring at me like I was a piece of meat," the game show host, 66, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, October 27, while promoting his partnership with the ISSA Foundation. "I was in the center, just dressed up in a suit and I felt like I am more than this. And they would just look at me and I had to do nothing."
The TV personality, who earlier admitted he didn't recall Markle being on the game show, went on to say that he could relate to her because he had experienced similar emotions while working on the show for four years. "I've never really heard anybody complain and I don’t think Meghan is complaining," Mandel continued. "I think Meghan just said she wanted to do more. It wasn’t fulfilling for her. So I don’t know why there is a big hoopla, except I have to say that me standing there with 26 women staring at me made me feel like a bimbo," he added.
"This negative backlash is extremely disappointing to Meghan, but she’s learned a long time ago not to get too cut up or demotivated by those who wish to dwell in negativity, especially over something so trivial as a job she left many years ago," a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly amid the drama. "She knows that there are certain critics who will go to great lengths to stir the pot and call her out as a hypocrite in any way possible."
Mandel assured that despite feeling like "nothing" while working on the renowned game show, it "was a great workplace environment."