An ESPN producer recently made a bizarre claim about Meghan Markle, suggesting she was “obtainable” back in 2014—like a rare collector’s item you might stumble upon if you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. This comment came to light during a conversation on *The Bill Simmons Podcast*, where former ESPN host Ryan Rillo shared an amusing story about crossing paths with Meghan at a celebrity flag football game that year.
The event, packed with stunning women such as Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal, and Hannah Davis, apparently didn’t faze Rillo. Instead of being starstruck by the models, he looked at Meghan and thought, “Yeah, I can do this. She’s definitely in my lane.” That’s right—amid a crowd of supermodels, Rillo viewed Meghan as the more “obtainable” option.
However, he didn’t rush in right away. Instead, Rillo played it cool, waiting until later to slide into Meghan’s DMs with a message about having her appear on his show to promote the new season of *Suits*. He emphasized that it was a “professional” invitation, although he admitted it had an ulterior motive. Unsurprisingly, Meghan wasn’t interested. Rillo described her response as "ice cold," saying, “Oh, I don’t know anything about sports, but thanks for the offer."
To make his comments sound less offensive, Rillo tried to justify his viewpoint by claiming he was just being pragmatic. Since Meghan was surrounded by stunning women, he suggested she might have been doubting herself a little bit, making her “obtainable.” Essentially, Rillo was saying that while he had no shot with the supermodels, he saw Meghan as a more realistic match for someone like him.
For context, Meghan was attending the 2014 DirecTV Beach Bowl in New York City, a Super Bowl pregame event featuring celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and Aaron Paul. Meghan was in great company, posing for photos with Serena Williams and even celebrating with Michael B. Jordan. The claim that Meghan was “obtainable” feels particularly off when you consider her high-profile presence at such an event.
In fact, the whole story paints Rillo in an unflattering light, making him seem out of touch. A video from that event shows Meghan throwing herself at Michael B. Jordan, arms flailing as he barely reacts, pushing her off with one hand. The moment is awkward, and it raises questions about boundaries and appropriateness. Was this behavior just a friendly hug, or was it out of line? If it wasn’t her husband or a close relative, it certainly seems inappropriate.
As for Meghan, it's clear she wasn’t lacking in confidence at the time. She likely wasn’t doubting herself as Rillo assumed, especially given the high-profile people she was surrounded by. It's possible she was simply caught up in the excitement of the moment, wanting to engage with someone as famous as Michael B. Jordan.
It’s also ironic that Meghan supposedly didn’t know much about sports but still managed to involve herself in events like the Invictus Games—further proof she was anything but out of place. The whole situation highlights how bizarre and problematic Rillo's comments are, and why Meghan probably wouldn’t appreciate being reduced to an “obtainable” option among a crowd of supermodels.
