Mindy Kaling Defends Megan Markle Amid ‘Unnecessary’ Backlash for Upcoming Netflix Cooking Series
- The Indian American, who is one of the guests on the show, said the Duchess of Sussex is “a thoughtful, creative person who can do anything.”
Mindy Kaling has defended Meghan Markle amid the backlash she has been facing on her new Netflix series “With Love, Meghan.” Since the trailer released last week, the the Duchess of Sussex is facing criticism, with many going after the show for being out-of-touch. The show debuts on Jan. 15.
Kaling, who is one of the guests on the show, called the backlash unnecessary. “I just feel like people get mad about stuff … that feels unnecessary. And a waste of time, maybe,” she said during a red carpet interview at the 2025 Golden Globes on Jan. 5.
Speaking with Variety, Kaling praised Markle and said she “can do anything,” and described her as “such a thoughtful, creative person with stuff at the home.” She didn’t hold back when praising Markle’s cooking skills, despite her background and luxurious lifestyle. “Unsurprisingly, she kind of blew me out of the water,” Kaling said, mentioning Markle’s “flourishing garden and chickens.” She continued: “She has a garden from scratch, which I could never do, and chickens,” Kaling noted. “They would all die if I tried to take care of chickens,” she joked.
Kaling told Deadline she was on maternity leave after having her third child last year when Markel asked her if she wanted to come out to Montecito, California, and have her cook for the Indian American actress, director, writer and producer. She called her involvement with Markle’s project as “probably one of the most glamorous moments of my life.” She also addressed Prince Harry’s cooking skills, adding: “I heard he’s actually a pretty good cook. He knows his way around a kitchen.”
In October, Kaling humorously channeled Meghan in an Instagram post while cooking, saying, “I’m freaking Meghan Markle over here.”
Variety points out that this isn’t the first time Kaling has publicly supported Markle as she collaborated with her back in 2022 on the “Archetypes” podcast. The pair discussed being “latchkey kids” and found common ground over not always feeling beautiful, with Markle describing herself as an “ugly duckling” in high school.
Kaling also teased the film “Anuja,” which she produced. It was recently shortlisted in the best live-action short category and tells the story of a nine-year-old girl forced to make a difficult decision after being offered a rare opportunity to attend school. “It’s a beautiful short starring these two amazing actresses in very challenging circumstances,” Kaling explained. “But it’s so joyful, I just love it. It’s exactly the kind of project that Kaling International is excited to be a part of.”