Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been the target of relentless misinformation and smear campaigns since joining the British royal family. These baseless rumors—like the so-called “yacht girl” narrative—have circulated in fringe corners of the internet without ever being substantiated. They are rooted in sexism, racism, and an intent to discredit her public image.
Colin Jost, best known as a comedian and co-anchor of Saturday Night Live’s "Weekend Update," has never made any public statement about Meghan Markle in this context. There are no confirmed records, interviews, or social media activity tying him to this rumor. The association between the two is entirely speculative and manufactured.
The Reality of Disinformation
Rumors like these thrive in the digital age due to the speed of social media and the lack of gatekeeping on certain platforms. Falsehoods spread far faster than facts. Public figures—especially women who disrupt traditional power structures, like Meghan—are disproportionately affected.
In 2021, a coordinated bot and troll campaign targeting Meghan and Prince Harry was exposed by Bot Sentinel, a watchdog group that monitors social media disinformation. It revealed that a small number of accounts were responsible for a majority of the toxic content about Meghan, many using racist and misogynistic tropes to smear her name—including the “yacht girl” claim, which has been widely debunked.
The Legal Context
Meghan Markle has taken a firm stance against misinformation. She won a high-profile privacy case against the Mail on Sunday in 2021 for publishing a private letter she wrote to her estranged father. This win reaffirmed her right to privacy and set a precedent for how tabloids should handle personal information about public figures.
Had the scenario involving Jost and any so-called "leaked photos" been real, it would have likely resulted in legal action—both for defamation and invasion of privacy. No such case has occurred, because the story itself is fictitious.
Responsible Reporting
It’s important to approach sensational claims with skepticism and demand credible sourcing. Articles, videos, or headlines that use terms like “unhinged,” “leaked,” or “exposed” often rely on emotional manipulation and clickbait tactics rather than journalism. Repeating or resharing such stories—without checking facts—helps amplify falsehoods and harms real people.