London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026

Idris Elba defends Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview

Idris Elba defends Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview

Idris Elba has shared his thoughts on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s divisive interview with Oprah Winfrey and he’s standing in their corner.

The Luther actor is believed to be good friends with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after attending the Royal wedding with his wife Sabrina Dhowre in 2018.

Meghan and Harry opened a can of worms when they sat down with Oprah earlier this month, detailing their time as working Royals while making claims of racist comments being made towards their son Archie within the family.

Weighing in on the couple’s decision to speak out, Idris told Entertainment Tonight: ‘I will say that everyone has to have their opportunity to speak up about what they feel, you cannot take someone’s voice away, that’s what we have to communicate.’

Several of Meghan’s celebrity pals have weighed in on the controversial interview, with her former Suits co-star DB Woodside urging the Royal family to apologise in the midst of backlash towards the Duchess.

The Lucifer actor said the whole fallout from the Oprah interview is ‘very upsetting’.

‘And just to be direct, it’s bulls**t,’ he added to ET while describing Meghan as ‘strong and resilient’.

Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey receiving a varying response


Woodside continued: ‘It seems to me there are people who are setting her up to be the fall person. There’s people who are setting her up to blame her for something…

‘All I have to say is that she’s one of the most incredible human beings that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with… I wish her nothing but the best. And I just hope people over in Britain, excuse my French, leave her the f**k alone.’

He then warned: ‘If they think that this kind of stuff is going to knock her off her game for very long, they picked the wrong woman to mess with.

‘She is the wrong woman to mess with. They need to back up, back off, apologise because she’s not the one.’

However, Wendell Pierce – who also starred in Suits – was more critical of the interview and said it shifted focus away from the coronavirus pandemic.

It was quite insensitive and offensive that we are all complicit in this sort of palace… gossip in the midst of so much death. I think it is insignificant,’ he said on LBC.

The actor later clarified his comments and said he wished Meghan ‘all the best’.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Russell Brand Trial Begins at Southwark Crown Court
UK Parliament to Debate Climate Risks and Council Tax Following Public Petitions
Department for Transport Demands Safety Audits Following Regional Rail Disruptions
House of Lords Scrutinizes Amendments to Armed Forces Bill
Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales Criticize Post-Brexit Funding Framework
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Middle East Military Support Under Parliamentary Scrutiny
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Pressure on Hospitals from Winter Virus Outbreaks
Retailers and Business Groups Lobby Chancellor for Relief from Rising Employment Taxes
City of London Taskforce Urges Radical Reform to Prevent UK From Becoming "Incubator Nation"
Bank of England Officials Signal Potential November Interest Rate Hike
Institute for Fiscal Studies Warns of £35 Billion Funding Gap in Upcoming Autumn Budget
IMF Upgrades UK Growth Forecast to 1.3% for 2026
Former UUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex offences
UK ministers adopt independent commission blueprint to fast-track AI in the NHS
Labour leadership orders local councillors to end power-sharing deals with Green Party
UK government considers regulatory intervention in proposed Sky and ITV merger
Environment Agency declares severe drought across six English regions as reservoirs hit critical lows
NHS England issues new guidance prohibiting transgender women from female-only wards
Norwegian teenager sentenced to 20 years for part of Iran-backed assassination plot in Britain
UK government threatens complete visa ban on Eritrea over refusal to accept deportees
UK Treasury lobbies UBS to move global headquarters to London amid banking sector tax threats
MI5 Warns of Growing Russian Sabotage and Espionage Threats Across Britain
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Plans Brussels Talks to Renegotiate Post-Brexit Trade Deal
MI5 Warns of Rising Russian and Iranian Sabotage Threats to British Military Facilities
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties as MI5 Reveals Russian Brexit Interference
UK Orders Security Review Following Reported Killing of Former Politician Ann Widdecombe
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
×