“I don’t think Meghan is complaining”: Meghan Markle Gets Rare Ally in Howie Mandel After Bashing ‘Deal or No Deal’ For Sexualizing Her, Mandel Believes Show Wasn’t Fulfilling For Her
After Meghan Markle revealed how she felt like a “bimbo” in the popular game show Deal or No Deal, the Duchess of Sussex received backlash from everywhere. But apparently, the former game show host Howie Mandel doesn’t understand why Meghan Markle got so much backlash for expressing her opinion while on Deal or No Deal.
The 66-year-old star was the host of the NBC game show when the Duchess of Sussex— who was an actress, before marrying Prince Harry in 2018 — appeared as a suitcase girl. Mandel explained how he can resonate with her recent claims that she was meant to feel like a “bimbo” throughout the modeling job because he himself “felt like nothing” during his presenting tenure.
Meghan Markle says she quit the TV show Deal Or No Deal after feeling objectified
The royal family member got into controversies earlier this month after saying on her podcast, “Archetypes,” that she quit the US TV game show Deal or No Deal show because she was “so much more than what was being objectified on the stage.” Meghan Markle detailed how she shared the stage with 25 other women and they were given spray tan vouchers each week. She also recalled a woman, who she says ran the show, telling her to “suck it in”.
“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,’” Markle’s reasons were explained as she recalled her time on the program during the latest episode of her podcast, titled ‘breaking down the bimbo‘, which featured American media personality, Paris Hilton. She reflected on her time working on the game show back in 2006 while the pair spoke about labels “- including bimbo” and “dumb blonde”.
Howie Mandel doesn’t understand why there is so much fuss behind Meghan Markle’s comments
The former game show host, 66, defended Meghan Markle by clearing out how she wasn’t bashing the show, but rather expressing how it made her feel. “I don’t think she’s maligning ‘Deal or No Deal.’ I don’t think there weren’t ever [any] complaints from any of the women. And unlike most shows up until that point, the ladies had more to do. They weren’t just pointing out gifts and opening [cases], a lot of times they were mic’d and they had their input,” Mandel told Us Weekly in an article published on Thursday.
The 66-year-old later continued, “ 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”. The comedian also struck a sympathetic note, saying he didn’t believe the dutchess was complaining— “I think Meghan just said she wanted to do more. It wasn’t fulfilling for her,” he said.
His comments come just weeks after the former Suits actress – who has children Archie, three, and 16-month-old Lili with Prince Harry – alleged that the game show job was about “beauty” and wants her daughter to “aspire higher” in life.
Howie Mandel said he also felt like a “bimbo” on the show
The comedian, who previously said he didn’t remember Markle on the game show — went on to say he could understand where the 41-year-old was coming from after having similar feelings during his tenure on the show. “I get it,” he told US Weekly, “I felt like nothing and that’s why I’ve moved on and become a judge on America’s Got Talent. I just needed more than to be a Deal or No Deal host.”
The comedian also mentioned how he too felt like a “bimbo” on the show. Mandel added, “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. I was in the center, just dressed up in a suit and I felt like I am more than this.” The 66-year-old took sides with Meghan Markle, saying his role was to just tell the women to open briefcases,—he too wanted to do more in life, and that is when he got to be a judge on the TV show, America’s Got Talent.
Source: Page Six
