What began as a seemingly lighthearted clip has snowballed into a viral phenomenon, transforming Meghan Markle’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show into a source of ongoing mockery and online parody. The clip that sparked this wave of spoofing is Meghan’s interview with Drew Barrymore, which aired in March 2024. Since then, TikTok influencer Michael Pavano has gained millions of views with his playful imitations of the interview, often sending up the Duchess of Sussex’s behavior and comments during her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.
Pavano’s TikTok videos have quickly gone viral, with one clip reaching over 1.1 million views and 66,000 likes. In the video, Pavano mimics Meghan as she presents Barrymore with a jar of “Montecito rainwater”—only to reveal it’s just water being poured from a tap. In another viral clip, Pavano parodies an interaction where Barrymore gifts Meghan flowers, only for Meghan to humorously pretend to eat them. This gag appears to poke fun at Meghan’s penchant for edible flowers, which she sells on her lifestyle website, As Ever.
Pavano’s mockery has sparked significant traction on social media, and it isn’t just limited to the Drew Barrymore Show. An older post from September, showing Meghan struggling to open a sea urchin before serving store-bought sushi as “hand-rolled garden sushi,” has amassed millions of views and thousands of likes. Pavano’s impersonations riff on perceptions of Meghan’s lifestyle, with some of his content targeting her love for lavish, yet “authentically simple” elements of her life, a concept that seems to be an easy target for parody.
While Meghan Markle is no stranger to social media criticism, much of it coming in the form of gossip, conspiracy theories, and negative opinions about her, Pavano’s parodies delve into perceptions of inauthenticity rather than falsehoods or scandals. This type of parody, while lighthearted, could become harder for the duchess to handle if it continues to gain momentum. Unlike negative commentary or misinformation, these mockery videos don’t directly challenge facts but instead focus on Meghan’s public persona, poking fun at her perceived pretensions.
Despite the criticism, Meghan’s influence remains undeniable. Earlier this month, Netflix’s co-chief executive, Ted Sarandos, praised her remarkable power and influence in a podcast interview. He recalled how a trailer for their 2022 documentary on Meghan and Harry led to global sales surges for the items featured, including a $20 pair of shoes from a small village and a $1,500 blanket. Sarandos noted that this influence is a key part of the partnership between Netflix and the Sussexes, highlighting how their relationship is about more than just media content; it’s about capitalizing on Meghan’s broad appeal.
Nevertheless, the mockery continues. Fans of Pavano’s videos have left comments like “literally thought I was watching The Drew Barrymore Show 😂😂” and “You are a better Drew and Meghan than they are.” These reactions show how his impressions resonate with the online community, as they find humor in the exaggerated versions of Meghan’s public persona.
Looking ahead, Meghan’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan will return with a holiday special in December, offering more content from the Duchess of Sussex. However, in the meantime, her lifestyle website As Ever continues to feature her products, and it’s clear that while the duchess is a figure of public fascination—both admired and mocked—her influence and ability to capture attention remain as strong as ever. Whether through viral parodies or her entrepreneurial pursuits, Meghan Markle continues to shape her narrative in ways that transcend traditional media.
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