I’ve said this for months, but it’s practically a mantra at this point: the British press has set it up so that they can criticize the Duchess of Sussex coming or going. If she – and she alone! – had decided to raise Archie as Prince Archie, there would have been cries of “she doesn’t know her place!” and “the Cambridge kids are more important!” If she chose to stay at home with Archie for three months of maternity leave with no public appearances, that would have been criticized too, because how dare she NOT work, the taxpayers, etc. And on and on. Of course it wears on her. The system has been designed to wear on her. But if she ever admits that it wears on her, lord help us. Well, she admitted it in an oblique way, while she briefly spoke to Pharrell Williams on the red carpet of The Lion King:
Life in the public eye isn’t always easy for Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry met a number of celebrities on Sunday night during their appearance at The Lion King premiere in London, including Grammy winner Pharrell Williams, who produced many of the songs on the live-action remake’s soundtrack. Williams took the opportunity to congratulate the royal couple on their relationship.
“So happy for your union,” the 46-year-old musician and producer is heard saying in a video of the exchange from ITV. “Love is amazing. It’s wonderful. Don’t ever take that for granted, but what it means in today’s climate, I just wanted to tell you, it’s so significant for so many of us. Seriously. It’s significant. We cheer you guys on.”
“Thank you,” Meghan responded. “They don’t make it easy” — a possible reference to the criticism the couple has faced in the U.K. media about their decision to raise their two-month-old son Archie as a “private citizen.”
In another video of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greeting members of the movie’s cast — including Billy Eichner, who was spotted hilariously preparing his greeting to the royal couple — Meghan was heard saying, “It’s a date night for us,” while smiling up at her husband.
“I just wanted to tell you, it’s so significant for so many of us. Seriously. It’s significant. We cheer you guys on.” And the reply: “They don’t make it easy.” That’s not about Archie. Or should I say, it’s not JUST about Archie. It’s mostly about how she and Harry are treated as white man and a black woman, because that’s what Pharrell was saying to her: in the community, we love seeing a beautiful and proud black woman as a duchess, we love that you’re not part of the white establishment, the colonizers. And Meghan’s response was basically “they don’t make it easy to be black in this country.” That’s my interpretation anyway, I’m sure a lot of people are about to shout at me.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Getty.
I don’t think it’s cryptic…that’s pretty plain. The media treat meghan like garbage
Yep. People are so dismissive and mad about her saying this too- which makes them part of the problem.
They have been picking her apart since day one. I mean that’s what she signed up for in the RF, but it’s honest. They don’t actually make it easy.
MTE, not cryptic at all. He said something really sweet and encouraging – and she acknowledged that there are external forces working against them. In fact, I love that she didn’t say something like “it can be tough,” which would’ve created speculation on (non existent) relationship troubles.
Bettyrose…happy she made a noncryptic message about the way she and the Duke are treated. The good news is that more people appear to be coming to their defense, which is wonderful.
I definitely thought she was talking about the tabloid press and the smear campaign she has experienced over the past year. That’s what makes the most sense to me in that context – Williams is telling her how they are cheering on her and Harry, and she is acknowledging that there is a group out there that doesn’t cheer them on, and doesn’t want their marriage to succeed, and doesn’t want her to succeed.
Yep – not sure any other meaning could be taken from it, really. It’s not at ALL cryptic – it’s just a sort of polite diplomatic response given the circumstances.
I’ll play devils advocate, it could be a lot of people. First did we hear it right and in full context. Who knows? Second the “they” could also be the inside monarchy people, the courtiers, maybe some of Harry’s close family, some well to do white British socialites who were Harry’s friends, maybe some not so close Harry’s family, maybe her half siblings, her father, just to name a few or all of the above. My reasoning for not thinking it’s as much of the tabloid press is, I think she was prepared for those stories. She was an actress and used to that part of life. My guess is it was a bit closer than the tabloid press.
@noway – I think that could be it too, which is why I referenced the smear campaign and there being a large group that is NOT cheering them on. But all of that ugly stuff comes out in the tabloid press. Like her father being a jackass probably wouldn’t be such an issue if the tabloids didn’t exploit it.
Agreed to all you said. There is no way that is cryptic. That was not about Archie. If that was about the baby she would have said something like: it’s not easy or more to the point using a singular pronoun. That was THEY and it was the press. She is a smart cookie.
And the press doesn’t get it. The more they target her for her race, the more people will rally behind her.
Yes, Seraphina! It’s ok not to care for someone, but to 24/7 harass and bully them is not acceptable.
And, shout out to Pharrell for being so honest and kind in his comments to H + M. I appreciated Pharrell acknowledging a more global view of the situation. The British media HAVE been hideous, but H + M also appeal to a global audience. I think this was a great reminder of the larger picture.
No matter how much Harry and Meghan (particularly Meghan) ignores what’s said about them, their situation has to get to them at times.
So true.
Yes, PlainJane, I agree with you. It allowed Meghan to know that people are cheering her and Harry on despite their foul press treatment.
Co-sign.
Yes, I think you got it right. I rolled my eyes at People’s interpretation of her statement because it ignores the context in which she said it.
Not so sure it’s (only) about the press. “They” could also be the BRF. Or everybody.
I think her father was included also.
Agreed. I think “they” extends to far beyond the British tabloids.
Yup.
Yes. I took “they” as the world in which we now find ourselves living.
I feel bad for her because she does get a lot of unfair press, even if most of it is recycled from the Diana-Fergie playbook and not exclusive to Meg (look it up if you don’t believe me). BUT I don’t want to hear someone who’s decked in designer gear at a glamorous movie premiere complaining about press. I just don’t. There are people in the U.K. who can’t afford food. That is far more serious than getting bad press, esp when you consider the royals can all retreat into luxurious bubbles whenever they need.
People decked in expensive clothes are not human, so therefore no feelings.
Of course people in nice clothes can and should have feelings. I think you know that’s know what I meant. I simply don’t want to hear complaints of how hard it is from someone for whom work is being dressed for a glamorous night out. I’m sure people who are working three jobs to get food on the table or clothes on their kids’ backs would agree. There are problems (bad press amid a sea of luxury and privilege) and then there are PROBLEMS (food insecurity, homelessness, inability to earn a living wage, lack of safe childcare). Meg’s lower-case problems should not be discussed while she is working to represent those who are struggling with actual problems.
Meghan & Harry get death threats just for being together. The British Press is trash & have been hounding her for months since she announced her pregnancy & went on the Australian tour. The bashing is unrelenting. Pears Morgan us another problem. He goes on unhinged rants against Meghan so often that I fear for her safety. Nutjobs are listening. Just because she’s perceived as wealthy doesn’t mean she isn’t in danger
While I understand @A random commenters sentiment, I get where Meghan and pretty much everyone on here is coming from. I hate the privilege and falseness of Royalty, I really do but I also think that things have gone further with Meghan in terms of her treatment by the press.
I don’t entirely agree with Kaisers opinion. I think that’s just the way they want to interpret it. As a mixed race British woman, I completely disagree that this country makes it hard to be black (or mixed race). I would love to hear what other British POC think though? I’ve experienced nothing much that I consider particularly racist as an adult here. Considerably less than when I lived in the US for a year, where it felt like a completely different world.
However that’s not to minimise Meghan’s experience and I think she has had it rough. I’m not going to argue that this is not due to race because I’m sure it partly is but I think there are many other factors too. I really think Americans are seeing this through an American lens.
As for being a black woman who is a “duchess and not part of the white establishment – the colonizers” I felt proud until I realised that she had actually just joined the white colonizers. Isn’t that exactly what Royalty is about and she chose to become one .
I don’t think anything is wrong with a wealthy person acknowledging difficult moments in his or her life. We all suffer in this life. The biggest issue to me is that the press is so focused on the royals and celebrities while mostly ignoring the stories of the sick, homeless, etc. Meghan does not need to be a headline everyday. The media is too fixated on her.
@Random Commenter Calling what Meghan goes through “unfair press” and criticizing her reaction is a weird way to downplay the death threats, packages of white powder, and racist abuse hurled at Meghan, her mother, and her son largely fueled by the British media. Sounds pretty serious to me, and treatment and representation of POC in our culture and media is an important topic to a large portion of POC. So POC who are rich and have nice clothes don’t go through hardship? Serena went through therapy and Michelle Obama has spoken about how racist abuse negatively affected her. Did you tell them to suck it up because they’re multimillionaires? We can care about multiple things at once and as a POC I find Meghan’s treatment very troubling and an important topic given what it says about our society and it’s treatment of POC as a whole
“…and as a POC I find Meghan’s treatment very troubling and an important topic given what it says about our society and it’s treatment of POC as a whole.”
Cosigned. I don’t know the woman and I am not a royalist. But as a black British woman who has watched the unrelenting hate campaign that has been mounted against her by the British press, I feel deeply troubled by the obviously racially motivated vitriol that is directed at her constantly. It is abusive and seems intended to incite racist readers.
Also, if she were being physically battered no one would say that she is not entitled to complain because she is rich and dressed in designer clothes.
It’s interesting how some people go out of their way to minimize the deliberate campaign being waged to literally drive the Duchess of Sussex out of the country. Because isn’t that what these people want? They want her and her mixed race baby gone. And for anyone to think that fancy dresses and nice houses mitigates the abuse Meghan endures is proof that they’ve never been bullied or endured ugly, virulent racism.
I think that’s why so many people of colour, especially women are in Meghan’s corner. We’ve ALL gone experienced what Meghan’s going through to some extent. And we’ve ALL been told that what we see with our own eyes and experience with our own eyes isn’t REALLY what we see and feel.
Piers Morgan told the Duchess of Sussex to go back where she came from days before Donald Trump told the congresswomen. Trump probably got the idea from his buddy Piers. But some people insist that race has nothing to do with it.
@randomcommenter, I agree with you. The press has been hard on her & Harry BUT I do not think this is a comment that should have been made in public let alone at a film premier which was a Royal event or semi-royal event. Everything Meghan said is true but the optics on this is very bad IMHO. Many people would put up with almost anything to have the type of economic security being a member of the BRF provides.
The optics are only bad to the people who make a habit out of criticizing Harry and Meghan. The truth is most people don’t give a crap about the royal family. This is just another overreaction from the press to try to rile up social media trolls and tabloid readers.
Also, racism, death threats, family issues, bullying, and constant criticism hurts whether you are rich or poor. Meghan is human being with feelings. Stop trying to strip her of her humanity.
At this point, everything according to the press that Meghan does is “bad optics.” The woman cant even go to a sporting event with her friends or hold her baby without the media and online trolls coming out for blood. The statement she made is absolutely true, and it was mild. At what point do we expect people to just “sit down and bear it” just because of their tax bracket? It’s true that she is privileged as a member of the BRF. But let’s not forget she worked her way up to become an actress and is a biracial woman in a world that has shown itself to be extremely racist to her and her family, not born in to wealth and aristocracy. The press surrounding her will always take a negative racial tone and no amount of money and wealth will stop that from affecting her and her son as KP has already shown it will take no action against racism towards meg.
The statement she made is true and quite mild. Making it in a formal receiving line in front of cameras was not the time or place, not matter how true or heartfelt or deserved.
@TampaBay I guess Harry should have married a mannequin instead of a human being, since it is all about “optics”. No nasty feelings or emotions to get in the way. But I will say this, you try walking a mile in her shoes and absorbing all of this abuse and see if the fact that they are expensive shoes makes it all better.
@MsIam, I think I did not properly state how I felt. Meghan has been harassed and treated like shit because she is a WOC (and also from Hollywood, USA) by most of the tabloid press.
Piers Morgan is another case altogether because his beef with Meghan is personal because she supposedly “Ghosted” him for no reason. IMPO, Meghan “Ghosted” Piers Morgan person because he is the recruiting poster boy for a First Class Oxford Honors Degree in Assholeology.
There is nothing wrong with Meghan’s statement whatsoever and the comment needed to be made. The point I was trying to make is that I would not have made this statement in a receiving line at a movie premier that appears to me to be an official Royal Event.
I hope this clarifies my point.
@BTB, Maybe Meghan is referring to the Royal family:)
@BTB, you have no clue what you would have said or done in this situation. I’m surprised Meghan didn’t burst into tears. Again, Harry should have married a mannequin. Then the mannequin would have kept on a pasted on smile and shuffled down the receiving line. I’m sure everyone would have been happy then.
Screw the optics.
The Duchess of Sussex could turn water into wine and the only OPTICS certain people would care about is the colour of her skin. That’s the OPTICS that matter in this story and the Duchess knows it. She just had a HUMAN moment when somebody, a Black man from home, treated her with kindness and sympathy.
She made one statement, which was absolutely true, but she has it better than you and is a public figure so how dare she not just grin and bear it???????
This abuse has been on a whole nother wave length and I’m sure it was a comfort for someone like Pharrell to say that to her. Like oh, they see it too.
Just because people have it worse doesn’t mean people who have privilege can’t acknowledge that things get hard.
By the logic of some of these posters, why are y’all here complaining about royals on your smart phones and over your internet connections when there are people who don’t have such privilege????
Pharrell wasn’t saying anything about the abuse or treatment of them, just that their relationship was significant and there were people rooting for them.
But your last point is a great one. There are people starving and homeless, how can these people be so petty as to discuss celebrities at all???
@a random commenter So how would you solve the issue of food security? Take the money allotted to the Royal family and distribute it to families? Or increase the middle class by developing programs and services to assist low income families. It’s convenient to say “but the poor” to criticize the Royal Family’s lifestyle but what are you doing to alleviate the financial pressures on struggling families. Do you host food drives? Volunteer at a food bank, homeless shelter, a mentoring program for youth? Donate your gently used clothing to a social enterprise or program for low income families. What do you do?
The Duchess is working with a number of groups dedicated to empowering women and girls, empowerment opens doors to educational/educational opportunities Empowering women is a step towards alleviating poverty.
Cue the greatly exaggerated claims of personal charity…
The #DearMuslimah is strong in this thread.
I looked your hashtag up. Richard Dawkins is beyond revolting.
Being rich does not shield you from the dehumanization of racism. People who are rich can be abused as well. If you think Meghan comment is just about press, you’ve missed the whole entire point.
Yes, by marrying into the BRF she now has more economic privilege (as long as she remains married to Harry) , but she didn’t suddenly gain white privilege, she’s still seen as black. She didn’t gain the privilege of being a natural born British citizen, she’s still seen as an alien outsider. She didn’t gain the type of privilege that comes with being a “princess of the blood” or being born into an aristocratic family, she’s still seen as a commoner. Her career as an actress (when up until just very recently actress was thought to equal prostitute, and is still looked down upon by some aristocrats and courtiers as a tacky way to draw attention to one’s self and where celebrities=the embarrassing nouveau riche) wasn’t erased. She didn’t gain the privilege of coming from “the right type of family” one that is supportive and won’t sell her out at any price and embarrass her at every turn, she’s still seen as coming from a “bad family.” She didn’t gain the privilege of being seen as an innocent, virginal, “unsullied” “girl” when she married, she’s very much seen as a calculating divorcee with a questionable past.
So yeah, she gained one type of privilege, economic privilege that comes with being married to a royal, but she didn’t lose all the qualities that people look down on her for. And that’s what she’s talking about when she says “they don’t make it easy.” She’s still a member of a few marginalized groups (she’s black, she’s an immigrant) and is still experiencing the same racism and xenophobia that they experience, no matter how expensive their clothes may be, or how well liked and connected their spouse may be. And her identity is intersectional. So being a black person, who is also an immigrant, who is also a woman, who is also a commoner, who is also divorced, compounds everything. You can’t erase all those othering layers just by owning expensive clothes.
@amytoo – very well put…
You are justifying bullying because someone has nice things. That is shameful.
There’s always one of you on these threads. One who wants to minimize a very real discussion about race by making it about something else. I am a black woman so I can spot distraction tactics a mile away.
The topic if homelessness and poverty are important. And so is racism. And you don’t get to dictate to someone – regardless of their socio economic status that they don’t get have feelings or discuss the very real racism they experience.
What valiantlyvarnished said. Hard pass on this faux allyship.
Thanks for your comment which eloquently stated what I had trouble summarizing. The press has savaged her because she’s a woman of color, and some people criticize her for not being stoic enough to deal with racism GRACEFULLY?? (i.e.: because she’s a royal, it’s beneath her station to mention the rampant racism in the reporting of every single thing she does??) Wonder if these same fault finders thought Princess Diana was absolutely disgraceful for her famous “There were 3 people in this marriage” comment?! To me, this was an extremely circumspect comment, and natural in response to Pharrell.
@Valiantly varnished
Well said!
Well said. Poverty and racism go hand in hand. It may not apply in her case but I applaud her for acknowledging the underlying racism in a subtle graceful way. An honest comment doesn’t belong in a royal receiving line? Well in many people’s opinions, neither does she!
Well put, ValiantlyVarnished. Oh, Meghan has received racist abuse, white powder, and death threats but I don’t care because she’s rich…oh, and what about the poor??!! NO. That sort of whataboutism combined with a complete lack of empathy is absolutely disgusting and sadly, not at all surprising, even on this site. You don’t have to support the BRF to have some damned empathy for a human being that has been targeted they way she has, for the reason she’s being targeted.
Well said. I’ll bet folding money that the people who insist that Meghan’s position and wealth make her immune to the bullying she receives and…WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!!?!?! don’t do a single, solitary thing to make the world a better place.
On the other hand, the Duchess of Sussex DOES.
As I understand your comment, Meg has first world problems and there are bigger fish to fry. Fine. Except that this goes far beyond the Diana-Fergie playbook (I was around for that too). This is racism and racial gaslighting on a near constant basis. YOU try living through that all day every day and see what your response is. POC deal with this crap all the time and it is fucking exhausting. I don’t blame her one bit for saying something about the truly awful way she has been treated in the UK. Y’all need to get over the fact that you have a black princess, because she’s not going anywhere. Focus on calling out the press instead.
Do you think living in a racist fish bowl but getting to wear fancy clothes at a premiere is a fair trade off? Yikes
Retreating into luxurious bubbles solves racism and will protect her son from the onslaught? Who knew???!?!?
God, so obvious! Why didn’t we think of that?
so all the other royal ladies who are decked out in expensive dresses sd just keep quiet ? when they are getting bashed non stop 24/7 for years then maybe you cd understand but only meghan is being criticized by you?
.
All of a sudden members of the British Media are calling for Harry and Meghan to meet with them and clear the air.
Calling the birth and christening of Archie, media disasters for the Sussexes, why? because the media couldn’t call the shots and make a profit off of Archie, Meghan is making them rich on her own.
These reporters think they own Harry, and it’s Meghan’s fault, that he is not taking them to the Pub, because he was a nice guy before he met Meghan, who is making him think he is important (6 in line).
What exactly do they think needs ‘clearing’? Its clear that the UK press/RR’s have been behaving in a very open racist way – they have been attacking them because they have not been kissing their asses like W&K have done. Its worth remembering that we know that in the past year or so the Cambridges have met in private TWICE with the RR’s/UK tabloids. W&K courted the press to big themselves up at the expense of the Sussex’s, they owe the press/RR’s NOTHING. Lastly, the RR’s will always kiss the Cambridges asses regardless of how what kind of relationship they have with the Sussex’s.
To get respect you have to give it and the Sussex’s have made it clear that they have their own idea’s of what they want to do and how the want to manage and communicate their brand. The RR’s are a bunch of old dinosaurs who refuse to move with the times – with SM they are becoming obsolete.
The British media are bullies using classic bullying tactics. They throw their stones and then ask the victims to clear the air. The victims haven’t done anything wrong. Harry and Meghan have done no wrong either and I see no reason why they need to explain anything to anyone. I recall worse being done by others, far far worse.
Neither Meghan, Harry or anyone from their office should meet with the tabloid press (read Daily Fail) and I would suggest not meeting with the mainstream press (read Tatler).
I unfollowed Richard Palmer because he was pouting about not having access and then allowing all the nutters with their conspiracy theories about Baby Archie to thrive in his feed. Not what responsible journos do.
Which reporters are asking to meet with them?
You’re nicer than me, Deedee. You just unfollowed. I told him off in a tweet, telling him was a racist SOB, and then I unfollowed and blocked. Such an arse!
The media can F off. H&M are doing their jobs as royals, but that job does not mean bowing to the media and letting the media know every, single detail of their lives (as much as I’d love to know those details, it’s none of my business).
What is there to clear the air about? They’ve trashed this man’s wife for no apparent reason, bullied and harassed her. Maybe they are trying to save face because celeb’s, ordinary citizens are calling them out on their bs. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan need to continue on their course when dealing with these lowlifes.
I definitely think she was talking about the press and shes 100% right. She has been treated unfairly, the racists have come out in droves for her.
Yeah, it’s not about Archie. The bile started long before Archie came along. Plus contextually that just doesn’t make sense.
Never complain, never explain.
These royals are so extremely privileged. Living in taxpayer funded homes, having people curtsy to you, household staff, chauffeur driven cars, nannies. There are lots of people to feel sorry for who are poor & being discriminated against, but they don’t have the privileges & access that Meghan has.
I hope you never complain about anything in your life because there are people worse off than you too.
My life is not being funded by taxpayers. Having the royals complain about things not ‘being easy’ while benefitting immensely from an out of date institution just seems very disingenuous. Meghan chose to marry into an institution with a history of colonization, inequality, racism, and nepotism. Her own husband has said & done some shady things about race. Did she not also see the way the press hounded Diana?
You learn something new every day, privilege people should be abuse, because they’re privilege.
Harry has learned from his mistakes apparently so until he f up again I’m not going to hold that over his head. So because her husband said some idiotic things in the past she deserves to be abused? She deserves to get death threats?
She married the man she loved. That doesn’t mean she should just take the abuse because she married into a wealthy family.
Regardless of you not living off tax money you’re still doing better than many others so you don’t deserve to complain about your life according to your own logic from your previous comment @ DUEBERRYGAL
Meghan did not just marry a man she also married into an institution. If you willingly choose to join an institution whose ethos is about inequality then complain that people are not treating you fairly, that just shows a complete lack of awareness.
@Dueberrygal, You make an excellent point. Meghan married a job and the man she loved.
Its not that people aren’t treating her “fairly.” Come on now. Its that she has been subjected to a racist smear campaign for years now, starting with the “straight out of Compton” bit.
@Becks1, I agree with you 100%, Meghan has not been treated fairly at all. My comments are related to how she is reacting and/or fighting all the unfair treatment and outright lies. I would love to read the PR game plan on how this problem is being dealt with. It appears to me that is no “game plan” and Meghan (with Harry) is on her own which is not a recipe for PR success in the UK.
I’m with you. 🤷🏼♀️
Of course you are.
Why, because I don’t stan? Never complain, never explain. Or as my mom taught me, “never let them see you sweat or cry.” The BRF is built on ridiculous principles rooted in white supremacy and Meghan married into it.
Did you guys think racism would be over once the wedding happened? It’s kind of how people thought Obama being elected meant we were in a post-racial society but then…the opposite happened.
No, it’s the victim -shaming and conflating strength with ignoring crappy, abusive behavior. Doesn’t take a stan to notice that.
@Enn.
Right. Marrying into the BRF means racist abuse, death threats, etc. are par for the course and she should just shut up about it. Yeah, that sounds suspiciously like “if you minorities don’t keep talking about it, racism will just go away!” And criticizing this approach is “stanning”? I’ve had enough of this thread and the low-key white supremacy that’s coming through in these comments.
@Otaku and @Maria – you don’t know me. I’m a username on the internet, don’t get it twisted.
The BRF survives because of some notion of God-given supremacy to this inbred white family. If it’s surprising to anyone that a biracial woman who married in is being attacked on the daily by both people from within the institution and the tabloids that make their money off of the royal show ponies, I don’t know what to tell them.
That being said, when you marry in, you follow the unspoken motto and you don’t let them see you sweat. The entire notion of royalty is that they’re above the rest of us. Chelsy knew she didn’t want to deal with the BS and she’s white. It’s a golden cage. Do you think anything Meghan does will change the racist narratives? It just gives them more fuel to make asides like this. She’s damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t. Maybe if her in laws would worry less about shielding Pedo Andy from the press and more about protecting her, things would change.
But he’s Liz’s golden child and Meg is just a married in. Look at the whole narrative. Connect the dots. Understand that the game was rigged against her from the jump.
Nah, gtfo with that bullshit. Wealth doesn’t protect someone against racism and death threats – which she has received (so has Harry for being a “race traitor”). That’s some garbage saying she should just take the abuse because people have it worse. Don’t you ever complain about anything ever since someone in the world has it worse than you.
@Dueberry: So you’re saying that because of her status Meghan should just shrug off all the hatred, death threats and a constant stream of viscous, racially motivated invective? How does being married to a member of the BRF play into this? She’s allowed to have an opinion, and a very appropriate opinion for that matter. I’m surprised she hasn’t spoken out on this issue in a more strident way. The press didn’t harass Diana because of the colour of her skin and racial background, they hounded her because she courted them, she used them and curried favour with them, something Meghan refuses to do and they resent it.
Dueberrygal, according to you, because she married into the royal family, she should have known what to expect, she doesn’t have to worry about material comforts, so she should shut her gobber up. You DO know that plenty of rich, famous people have committed suicide, right? Do you honestly think that privileged people are immune to feeling pain? Or are you just so hard hearted that you don’t care? Imagine for one moment that you are a happy young newlywed, but any time you do ANYTHING, you are roundly criticized. Criticized despite working hard, and you see that you alone are a special target for this, only because of your race. Is this scenario ACCEPTABLE to you, because she’s privileged? She’s still being bullied unmercifully due to her race, and I (and many others) would like to create a world where racism and bullying are called out and seen for what they are. The bullying and racism are what’s not acceptable, NOT her mild comment referring to it.
@dueberrygal, she dared to marry, and thereby challenge, an institution with a history of colonialism, inequality, racism, and nepotism. That sounds to me like a person of colour going to college and university! How dare they complain that people don’t treat them fairly, they should know their place and it is not in higher education. Eye roll. The status quo can, and has to be, challenged from within.
Wow that’s a leap you really are comparing marrying a Prince from a archaic classist racist and sexist institution to a person of color be allowed to go to college. Sorry one of these things is far more important than the other, and it’s not Meghan. Sure she doesn’t deserve it, but that’s a grand canyon leap of a comparison.
@Kaiser. I think you pretty much nailed. It’s not just about the media, but ALL of the crap M&H have to contend with from all sources. M&H know what they’re up against and seem united as a team to deal with it. Pray they stay strong and make it through.
“you’re not part of the white establishment, the colonizers” – If you are part of the British Royal Family you are the colonizers and support what they stand for, which fundamentally is social inequality. Meghan is experiencing alot of racist crap but let’s not forget what the family she joined symbolizes – extreme privilege at the expense of others.
Good point @originallala
Yes, I’ve always found this aspect unsettling. I believe in true love and the strength of H&M’s relationship, but she made a decision to join a family and monarchy that came to power and continues to thrive off colonialism and institutional racism. It’s an institution that she can reform in some areas and do good work and shine a light on causes. But if we were really to live in a ‘decolonised’ society, there would be no such thing as a Royal Family
Yes!! I agree she is treated appallingly and it must be awful and hurt but for so many Brits and citizens of the commonwealth we just despise the RF and all it stands for. Well before Meghan came along. I want all royalty to go away.
@Brunswickstoval, is the tabloid press part of the commonwealth too? What does “inequality” have to do with them? If you have an ax to grind about the royals because of history, then fine. But don’t pretend like that excuses what is going on with the media. Not to mention her own family and the other members of the BRF too.
YUP!!
THIS! I hope the BRF falls apart after the Queen dies…
As I said above, the white establishment created by the colonizers is often the status quo. Institutions like the government and education are governed and monopolized by the same colonizers. Are we, people of colour, to bow out of everything and just stay in our lane? Sure we can circumvent the status quo, but we sometimes get results by playing the game and challenging it from within.
Is it really that much of a big deal? Or are the RR getting their panties in a twist because they’re mad Meghan probably “called them out”?
Nope, another manufactured controversy from a fairly mild comment. The normal reaction to watching the video is to feel sympathy for her, I hope this all doesn’t break her. The media of course has to characterize her as Duchess Difficult Diva and ignore the context of her comment.
It’s all about race. Always
If it was all about race why have Diana and Kate been attacked by the press?
Don’t compare the things they went through with what she’s going through. Meghan got called ghetto basically because she’s “ straight out of Compton” according to the British press and no before you even ask she didn’t grow up in the hood and Archie got called a monkey. Please go dumb somewhere else @ BILLBOP.
I’ll address Kate. There have been times she has been unfairly criticized yet she has been notoriously lazy /workshy and dressed/or not dressed at all in a manner that left her open to criticism.
Meghan has endured wave after wave of abuse IN ONE YEAR and has done nothing wrong. In fact has done lots of things really well. So yeah it’s all about race.
Diana courted the press relentlessly. She used them for her own personal agenda and created the monster that eventually killed her. Kate has proven time and again that she’s not willing/able to take on the role she chased after for 10 years. Both women DID things that brought on negative criticism. Meghan, on the other hand, has been nothing but gracious, she has done NOTHING to deserve the BS she’s had to put up with other than being born half black.
I was wondering when the first ‘what about Kate?’ would appear.
Kate hasn’t experienced a fraction of the abuse Meghan OR Diana Spencer endured. Kate gets criticized for her laziness, her thirsty as hell family and her willingness to sit around for TEN years to finally wear a man down into marrying her. Nobody has ever said a word about the colour of her skin, called her children ANIMALS or threatened her life.
Did 2 day old Archie deserve to be compared to a monkey by a member of the British Press?
I see alot of remarks about privilege, but this in no way detracts from the mistreatment she is subjected to.
Someone in her position is having her basic human rights questioned, as IF it were a lofty privilege when her basic human rights are NOT privileges: respect, autonomy, privacy, personality etc. Her right to chose her fashion is also treated like its some lavish, exquisite waste when the prices of every other royals wardrobe is never disputed.
I think this basic social and racial argument can be tackled fully separate of the debate about the use/need of the royal family. There is major double standards WITHIN the family at the moment, lets not even other to mention whether the family is appreciated as a whole. Throwing out the family will do nothing to address the social discrepancies we are witnessing.
It’s like people (especially on the internet) are allergic to acknowledging the fact that you can be privileged in some area AND be a victim of oppression, abuse, and bigotry in other ways. People also don’t want to acknowledge the fact that it’s not just about one individual, even though it may seem that way on the surface. When a person from oppressed group(s) comes into the public eye, she (or he, etc.) is used as a tool for people with unresolved prejudices and fears. Mistreatment directed at her is used to teach bigoted and harmful ‘lessons’ to less privileged members of those groups, adding to less privileged people’s abuse, discrimination, dehumanization, or overall trauma.
@OTAKU FAIRY, 👍🏾 to everything you said!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Exactly.
I’m not black but I’m a minority and yes, Meghan being a working royal made me beam. It is a difference to me so I root for her unless she gives me a reason not to. Yes she is not the first black European royalty but she still made an impact on me.
I’m a visible minority and love her marriage as much as I loved Obama becoming president, and I’m not American or British. When people of colour don’t stay in their lane it scares some white people. They often don’t want to admit to racist feelings so they grasp for anything to criticize.
Exactly
No the press don’t make it easy because they are out of pocket and relentless with their racism and ridiculousness thinking the pressure will give them access. It’s won’t.
I agree with your thoughts x
I still don’t see the racism. Diana, Fergie, and Kate were/are constantly attacked by the media. Kate is still constantly getting attacked for how she dresses, how much she works, her marriage, her family, etc.
And Meghan is an American actress, a “commoner” also. Why assume they are attacking her because she is biracial? Diana and Kate couldn’t be whiter and the media has tried to destroy them both.
Honestly, it is all gossip and mean gossip sells. Look at this site! If the press only said nice things about Meghan, who would want to read it? Celebitchy itself wouldn’t be a site if it wasn’t constantly trashing celebrities…
This site profits on Meghan gossip, so does it make Celebitchy racist?
Kate does not get anywhere near the amount of criticism from the press that Meghan does. And Meghan’s is far more vicious than anything they’ve thrown at Kate. It’s disingenuous to claim that these situations are comparable.
If you can’t “see” the racism I don’t know what to tell you. Plenty of us do see it.
I followed both Diana and Kate very closely and they got nowhere near the amount of negative press Megan gets-especially during & after having a child. People don’t have to burn crosses on your lawn before treatment is racist, racism is much more nuanced than that. She’s a biracial woman who married into the establishment in a country with a long history of colonialism. Those attitudes don’t vanish overnight. While it’s not the only issue it’s the main one. We don’t live in a vacuum, open your eyes.
Seriously about Diana? The press is literally the reason why she is dead.
She’s dead because there was a drunk behind the wheel and she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. They made life a living hell for her, they tore her apart on a daily basis, but they weren’t behind the wheel.
Diana, Fergie and Kate got mountains of bad press. Meghan gets it, plus the bonus angle of racism. I’m not into this competitive either/or, who had it worse?nonsense.
Diana and Fergie courted the press relentlessly. They both behaved in a distinctly “un-royal” manner at times and played favourites with the media constantly. For god’s sake Diana went on national television to talk about Charles’s affair with Camilla and her affair with James Hewitt. Fergie got caught topless getting her toes sucked in public. But they never suffered the outright racism, death threats and hatred that Meghan has been put through, despite her having done nothing to deserve it other than being half-black.
Furthermore, Diana’s death was not caused by the press, it was because Dodi Al-Fayed insisted on changing hotels and forcing Henri Paul to drive wayyyy over the speed limit despite him being drunk.
I’ll just say, “Straight Out Of Compton!” Not, Straight Out Of NorthWestern University With A Dual Major!” Or “Straight Out Of A Comfortable Background With An Expensive Private School Education!”
That’s just a kickoff to the racist smear campaign the press hurled at Meghan.
So because other women were attacked by the media, it is ok? No one should be treated this way, like they are nothing. Someone needs to call the press on this, period.
You still don’t see the blatant and silent racism she faces from the press compared to Kate/Diana? This isn’t normal gossiping, this has been a complete smear campaign because she is mixed race. I’m guessing you also think “go back to where they came from” wasn’t a racist statement either, since everyone comes from somewhere.
Billbop, I was around for the Diana years. The press scrutiny of her was relentless, but it did not have this level of vitriol, which, in my view, is racially inflected. Why is it so hard to see how race has shaped this narrative? She came into the family, immediately posted a very successful cookbook project, worked all through her pregnancy, and really didn’t put a foot wrong. And she’s been pilloried. For everything. She’s been castigated for wearing a one-shoulder dress, while Kate does the same thing and is praised as a goddess. Hard not to spot the difference. Can we please stop gaslighting this issue?
Sometimes, on social media, I come upon comments that genuine startle me. I think most of us who follow royal news have had this experience.
Makes you question people, doesn’t it?
For me, it has cast the praise lavished on Kate in a new, sinister light, as I’ve noticed that those who are most vile towards Meghan tend to be especially generous towards Kate.
Meghan HAS carried herself beautifully, throughout it all. I hope she has support.
Of course you don’t see the racism. You don’t want to. Inconvenient, racism is? Or at least, the accusation of it. Bet it ruins your day.
None of the other royal babies were compared to primates.
This idea that you can’t complain because your life is “good” isn’t right. If you got a roof over your head, food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and time to spend on the internet commenting on gossip sites there is somebody doing worse than you so you shouldn’t complain either.
Just because she’s wealthy doesn’t mean she can’t comment on the racist unfair treatment she has gotten all because she wanted to marry the man she loved.
All of this.
I think this is a topic a lot of posters struggle with. Wealth and influence DEFINITELY helps and it’s definitely a huge privilege. But that doesn’t shield people from mental illness, harassment, assault, addiction, etc.
I think this is something we ALL need to take into account when posting – and not just in regards to our favorites.
Yeah, that’s two people of colour talking about what the Harry and Meghan represent as a mixed race couple. There has never been a couple like them – so visible, bucking against tradition in so many ways. Its not just that he married her – and seriously many of us thought it would never happen – but they are now fleshing out what it means to be a modern couple in a super traditional and historically protocol based environment. White people unfortunately do not easily see their privilege and i can imagine that in these royal corridors that Meghan has to navigate this is even more the case. Don’t get me wrong there are many many celebrity mixed race couples but the history this couple is up against is not to be scoffed at. It’s not the media alone they are talking about, it’s everyone who is unwilling to accept that Harry has married a woman of mixed ethnicity.
Date night = Lion King Baby
LOL can you imagine the headlines ‘Queen Bey bestows fertility on the royal family with just one hug’.
Thanks for that ray of sunshine! Simba Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor!
I’m hoping their second child is a girl named Alexandra. The children will be known as Archie and Alex.
@Citresse, My prediction is that the second and final child is another boy.
Totally off-topic, but I LOVE how happy Pharrell is to meet Meghan in that top picture. For as much as she is shat on by the British media, we all seem to adore her in the U.S.
I loved that, too. What Pharrell said was so genuine and true.
I hope you guys can help me w a situation at work. I started a new job and this other girl and I hit it off. We go to lunch together and hang out after work. Now I figure out that there’s 2 women who hate her there. So they keep trying to get her in trouble. Well I stuck up for her when they were trying to make her look bad. I told what really happened when I was there and now they’re coming for me. My friend is going to transfer, she’s tired of it. But how can I handle this so I don’t get shit like they give her? My husband said to stay out of it but I stuck up for her so now they see me as being on her side. What do I do? This job is close to my house and I don’t want to leave. One of the mean girls is tight w the boss, they used to work together at another branch.i don’t think the boss realizes what they are doing to my friend. Should I stop going to lunch w her? I don’t think she will be there much longer, she’s applying for jobs. I don’t want to stop my friendship but I also have to work w these other women after she’s gone
I would document everything that happens, just in case. Write down details and dates and who might have seen what happened. Keep copies of documents that show the pattern. I hope it all works out okay.
Co-sign what deedee said – track everything. You said there was another branch, so I’m assuming there’s a head office of sorts. Check what HR rules they have against bullying/harassment. Most companies have pretty strong regulations (enforcing them is another question).
In the immediate moment, though, I’d say don’t let the mean girls win. I know it’s so hard, and that your friend is likely leaving, but there is already too much unkindness in the world. You were probably a bright spot in a really dark time for her. Withdrawal of your friendship at this juncture, without good reason, seems unnecessarily cruel. That said, you have to do what’s right for you.
Thanks guys. Yeah I will stick up for her if I know they are lying on her, like they did in one instance. I’ve been in her situation and it’s no fun. Have a great day!
The boss doesn’t care what they are doing to your friend. Not her problem.
2, you need to document everything that happens.
3, you need to dust off your resume and start looking for another job ASAP. Because the badly kept secret about bullies, whether they’re school bullies or work bullies, is that everyone looks the other way. Nobody wants to get involved and everyone (including those in authority) will side with the bully so the bully doesn’t come after them.
Take care and good luck.
I co-sign everything the others said and keep that documentation at home. If you keep it on your phone, make sure it’s not a work phone. Keep paper documentation at home. If you ever lose your job or it becomes in jeopardy and you have to defend yourself, you have your documentation and proof of the harassment / bullying. This happened to a friend of mine, she kept her stuff on work phone and work computer. When it came time for her to use it, it was too late, she was locked out of her computer and then escorted off the premises. Even though she tried to fight her termination and failed all because all her ammo was on work property. Also sounds like your HR dept should be made aware of what’s going on. Especially if people are leaving because of the harassment & bullying. I wouldn’t go out of my way to flaunt my friendship with this coworker but I also wouldn’t drop her because of what’s happening either. It would just prove that bullies win. Goes without saying I’d watch my back. Best of luck. 🙂
I agree with you Kaiser. It’s clear that it was a reference to British press.
The most beautiful thing about that night was how much Harry and Meghan were happy and in love. Tabloid and haters must be so pressed.
Regarding comments above, Meghan is relentlessly publicly emotionally abused and no amount of economic privilege is worth that. Her access to nice clothes and houses does not protect her from emotional pain.
So yes, I do feel for her. And with photos like these, it makes me happy to see how genuinely thrilled people are to meet her. I hope she experiences lots of love and positivity in her daily life. That will protect her against the unhinged hate of the British press.
Seems they’re all mad cause Meghan got showered with black love and support at the Lion King premiere. It was wonderful seeing how everyone embraced M&H and let them know we see what’s happening and we support you.
They hate that prominent AND not so prominent Black people support the Duchess of Sussex. They really thought that we would sit by and let them savage this woman and her child. We’ve been here before. We saw what they did to the Obamas and we aren’t going to let that happen again. At least not without saying something. LOUDLY.
Then you have people like Laurence Fox who legitimises Meghan’s awful treatment from the press by publicly agreeing with them during an episode from Gogglebox which makes the public feel that those kind of sentiments/attitude/abuse are okay. Geeez.
Is that the same Laurence Fox who was married to Billy Piper? I googled Gogglebox. Is it worth watching?
“It’s mostly about how she and Harry are treated as white man and a black woman, because that’s what Pharrell was saying to her: in the community, we love seeing a beautiful and proud black woman as a duchess, we love that you’re not part of the white establishment, the colonizers. And Meghan’s response was basically “they don’t make it easy to be black in this country.””
@Kaiser — your analysis is spot on. 100% agree.
In the words of the Queen – “Don’t complaint, and never explain.”
I’ll probably be attacked for saying this, but I don’t think any of the problems they have faced have been due to her being mixed race.
Writing messages on bananas for sex workers, the deception with Archie’s birth, her over the top baby shower, clutching Harry during their work events (not being professional), making a huge to do about Archie privacy (does anyone care who the grandparents are? – I don’t remember who they are for George, Charlotte, or Louis) etc.
Deception over Archie’s birth? They didn’t share the exact place and time. Other than that they announced he was born and did a photo call. What did you want? Updates on her cervix dilation?
Also his grandparents are well known as most people can read a family tree. His god parents aren’t.
Maybe check your temperature accuracy before the drive by hot takes.
“What did you want? Updates on her cervix dilation?”
I’m dying. That was the perfect response.
Again with the made up grievances? Again with the baby shower (that tax payers did not pay for since that seems to be the other complaint)? Holding her husbands hand (or her husband holding her hand)? For all of this Meghan should be vilified?
I agree with you Kim.
And don’t forget her odd behaviour at Wimbleton.
She’s made it clear she’s in it for the money and status.
She has no interest in following Royal Protocol
What was odd about her “behavior”@ Wimbledon? She was not in the Royal Box, so she could wear whatever she wanted. Serena was playing on court 1, which isn’t the fancy one.
Did you see the guy crouching in front of her with his camera about 3 feet from her face? I’d have asked for help to get rid of him too. He later claimed he was just “taking a selfie.” BS. There’s a very clear picture taken from farther away & he was not going for any selfie – his back was to the side aisle & his camera was in her face.
@Peanuts,
Could you please explain what specific aspects of Royal Protocol you are referring to?
There was NO odd behavior by Meghan at Wimbledon! The whole Wimbledon story was 100% manufactured by The Daily Fail. IMPO, Meghan has made some mistakes in the past but nothing that happened at Wimbledon, as reported by The Daily Fail, contains any grain of truth whatsoever!
She broke no protocol at Wimbledon. We hear this over and over; please show us what rules she broke. I’ll help: the first day, she was not in the Royal Box and was in a box with no dress code.
Okay, next. Show us proof of other protocol that she’s violated.
What royal protocol has she broken? Be specific, with citations that something is actually “protocol.”
did you not see the “Straight Outta Compton!” article by the daily mail just after their relationship was revealed? the racism has ALWAYS been there from the very start, even if you don’t see it.
The people who don’t “see racism” must not want to see it. Because it is blatantly clear to many of us. It started in 2016 and never stopped.
People calling bullshit on the dismissive things you have to say is not you ‘being attacked’. Sheesh.
You should be attacked. You are willfully ignoring the racism that happened since day one by the UK media and either you are incredibly stupid or trolling. Take your ignorance back to tumblr.
I admit the optics of the shower were a bit too “Hollywood” for the royal family, but even then, Meghan broke no rules. In fact, she has broken no rules at all, and there was no “deception” around her own baby’s birth (the public does not own Archie, you know). So, Meghan has not done anything wrong, so it’s logical to say that the criticism is based on 1) the need for clicks on websites, and 2) racism. And I say this as a white woman from the American South.
Can you imagine if she didn’t have an American shower? There would have been a story about that, about how she abandoned her friends or how they weren’t close enough to host one. She can do no right to people who don’t like her. Just the same if she had sat in the Royal box with her American friends; she would have been criticized for thinking herself worthy and taking advantage.
@Kim/Peanuts: What on earth are you talking about? Meghan has broken no “protocols”, she attended Wimbledon as a friend of Serena Williams, not as a royal, and there was no “deception” over Archie’s birth. I don’t know what cloud-cuckoo-land you’re living in but it’s clearly racist.
I’m sure that Kate would ‘clutch’ William, if he let her get near him.
Rose, who?
I’m sure the guys who threatened Harry’s life for being a race traitor (and who are now sitting in jail for their threats) would wholeheartedly agree with you!
You are the typical no critical thinking type of person……..you just regurgitated what you read online with absolutely no thinking of your own……..intellectual laziness; that’s how Trump got elected..
I won’t bother addressing your warped view; nothing could change a human unable to think
It doesn’t seem to me that it’s about race… It seems more about the fact that since she’s an outsider she can never win with the press.
Is outsider code for black.
Apparently.
Not always, but in Meghan’s case, her race is a large part of the media’s problem – and they’re going to have to get over it.
An outsider whose baby was compared to a primate by many.
Meghan could walk on water and the British Press and British people would complain about the cost of her shoes. She could find the cure for cancer and the British Press and British People would say she spent to much tax payer money in the process. They will always look for anything to criticize her so Meghan needs to stay true to Meghan. If in that moment she made that comment good for her. Those of us that like Meghan, like her for that reason. Don’t compromise who you are for a group of people that will criticize you for breathing the nasty British air. Didn’t Piers tell her to “Go Back to America”… do you Meghan!!!
Piers failed in America, just saying.
Is this Casey 2.0? The British people do not hate Meghan nor do we complain about her (any more than the rest of the royals, anyway). But Meghan is absolutely right, it is not easy to be black in the UK. I don’t imagine it’s easy to be black in the US either, but the US has 12.6% black people and the UK only 3.4%.
Tina the biggest difference is POC have a voice in the US. Yes there is racism but there is absolutely NO way a WOC who has the position of Meghan would be abused daily by the media. BBC, Times, Telegraph, SKY News etc have all participants in some level of abuse toward Meghan, Harry and Archie. British people do not speak up against this abuse which means they co-sign the abuse.
Myra, have you read the news lately? Are you aware of the abuse that is heaped on four of your prominent PoC congresswomen by your president and many in your media? By your standards, you are complicit in that. (And British people do object to it, which you continue to ignore).
Tina have you watched the news today. The POTUS for the first time in American History was condemned by the House of Representatives for his racist tweets…this is a huge deal. If the media you’re focused on is Fox, I would encourage you to do more research on that outlet. Action was taken against Trump, not to mention articles of impeachment will be considered for his tweet as well. Although I don’t think a vote will go to the floor ACTIONS have been taken. So I will say it again…Considering the position Meghan holds in the Royal Fami!y the British Media and it’s people continue to abuse her, Harry and Archie and there is NO ONE taking action against that abuse!
One more point…in an unprecedented move The Speaker of the House of Representatives took to the floor and called Trumps tweet out as racist. I watched with pride as Nancy Pelosi stood her ground. Yes we have our issues in the states but we fight hard and loud to call out racism…what say you my British friend?
I say read Hadley Freeman, Caitlin Moran, Marina Hyde, Zoe Williams, Suzanne Moore and the many others in the Guardian, Times etc who have condemned the way Meghan has been treated. Just because it is not in the Daily Mail or you haven’t read it does not mean it is not in the British media. As for the US, you say it’s just Fox, it’s not just Fox. But it is also true that Meghan is not a politician so the coverage will be different. But both countries are racist, both countries treat their women appallingly, especially their women of colour. But I promise you, my country is no worse than yours. It’s just different.
You know, Kate having a life of extreme privilege as a rich white royal didn’t prevent people from having sympathy for her about William’s affair. I never saw comments here saying that because she’s rich it’s okay. Yet the only person in the BRF who’s ever experienced some form of hardship and worked for a living, the only one who’s experienced racism and is not white privileged is the one called out by middle class white people as “privileged”? Real interesting. Just say Meghan’s uppity with your whole chest.
Don’t act like their treatment in any way compares. That’s like saying George W and Obama went through the same thing. I mean, you had ONE op-Ed non-tabloid newspaper criticizing not Kate but the role she’s compelled to play as “plastic princess” and the damn prime minister intercedes like it’s a matter of national security. While the Telegraph ties Meghan and the brown women she works with to terrorists, she’s racially attacked by U.K. politicians and prominent respected BBC figures; and the times had an entire front page about Meghan the Angry Black Woman just this past week. All without a prominent word or gesture of support. Guess they’re too busy guarding the true priorities of the BRF like denying Kate uses hair extensions.
You’re right that Meghan is treated much worse in the press than Kate, Diana, Fergie or anyone else, but which UK politician racially attacked her? And Danny Baker is not a prominent respected BBC figure, he’s a shock jock who’s been sacked by the BBC a number of times. And Meghan does have support in the media, from pretty much every woman Guardian columnist.
@Tina There was a UKIP politician’s girlfriend, who was a member of that party, whose racist texts about Meghan were published, then she was given a national platform afterwards to garner sympathy. I’ve seen at least one MP criticize her on Twitter. There was that woman who was part of a British reality show who was also I believe was a former politician. Also, there was a US politician who tweeted that racist picture of Meghan when she go engaged. I consider Danny Baker prominent because he worked for BBC and people knew him. Verifieds and journos on Twitter responded to his racist act because they knew him. Didn’t know he wasn’t respected because he has loads of fans and several verifieds seems surprised at his actions.
But the point I was trying to make with the examples was that, tabloid nonsense is one thing. But there was one prominent MAINSTREAM “attack” (that wasn’t an attack) on kate received with much outrage. Yet I n comparison several troubling attacks and racist criticisms of Meghan have become mainstream. You have people from the BBC (including the BBC itself which aired a cartoon depicting Meghan as violent, angry trailer trash), established mainstream media absolutely comfortable treating Meghan this way. She doesn’t need to be revered (imo the BRF shouldn’t be either) but she’s been treated like scum.
MA: none of these people are mainstream. You cannot claim that these randos represent the broadsheet press, the BBC or the overall way people think here.
@Tina The front page of the Telegraph linked Meghan to terrorists. The front page of the Times smeared her as the Angry Black Diva. Someone who works for the BBC made international headlines for his racist tweet. etc etc
I never said this is representative of the British people. As I took pains to say, this shows that Meghan’s abuse is being tolerated and perpetrated in the mainstream media and that no prominent UK figures have publicly defended her. If we were talking about crazies on Tumblr, RD alone this would all be less concerning.
MA: it wasn’t “the front page of the Times,” it was a columnist writing in the Sunday Times. And she has been defended by prominent figures: Jeremy Vine, Lorraine Kelly, Holly Willoughby to name a few and in addition to the columnists I mentioned above (you may not know who they are, but I promise you that everyone in the UK does). No politicians have defended her because this is a low-level campaign of abuse largely being conducted in the gutter press. If Boris Johnson, for example, attacked her, other politicians would defend her.
So many people on here telling Meghan to suck it all up because she’s rich. Nevermind the racism, death threats, and bullying. She’s wealthy, so to you she has no business complaining. You lot can piss right the hell off. You’re showing your asses with that thinly veiled bullshit.
Exactly. They’re also proving the point they’re trying to dismiss with all the trivializing, the red herring attempts, and the attempts to shame her for acknowledging that the way she’s being treated is not ok. I fully expect Piers Morgan to flap his gums too about how other people have it worse because that’s how white men feel entitled to respond to situations like this. Nowhere in her valid complaint did Meghan ever claim to be the most persecuted or aggrieved person in either country, let alone the world.
Yes, exactly!
It’s always amazes me how people say “I don’t think it’s about race or I don’t see it as racism” . Of course you don’t, cause you never have to live with racism every single second of every single day. Don’t dismiss what those of us who do live with it and recognize it for what it is, say about it.
I can’t believe that after the past year people are still insisting the criticism towards Meghan is not about race.
Amazing the blinders people wear. What’s interesting to me is that the majority of the Commonwealth countries are people of color. I guess the colonizer mentality fails to grasp how the treatment of Meghan is viewed throughout the Commonwealth. I think there won’t be a Commonwealth for big Willy to be preside over.
Gee, she is human after all. She made an off-the-cuff remark to a friend, that’s all. Yes, she is immensely privileged with a free house, servants, designer clothes, etc. but she can be still overwhelmed by all the attacks against her.
The press and her detractors are trash. The woman can’t breathe for people criticizing her. All the ones who can’t see racism when it’s plain as day have their head buried in the sand. Diana wasn’t treated like this. Nor was Fergie. And especially not Kate. Meghan has married into a Lily white institution. No one believed it would ever happen, but it did and the press has been relentless in reminding Meghan she doesn’t belong. The emotional toll of being a black woman and having to constantly be on guard against micro aggressions and out right racism is exhausting. The Lion King cast did what so many of us wanted to do: support & shower Meghan with love and respect because she deserves it.
I watched the video and was really impressed by the fact that she didn’t break down in tears from the overwhelming relief (and safety) she must have felt by being understood. As a new mother with scattered hormones, it was doubly impressive. She is very strong.
Nope. You got the interpretation perfectly right. She’s not just talking about the press – although they are a huge part of it. But all you have to do is look at the comments sections on the Daily Fail or even the comments on Meghan’s hair on this site yesterday to see what she is talking about. It’s never easy for black women – especially successful or famous black women. Everything about us is policed: our hair, out bodies, our emotions.
@VV, 👏🏽. Well said.
Agree with you @VV. My first thought was to include all of the haters in that statement, including the ones from her family, the BRF (the alleged “senior royal” who called her the degree wife because the marriage will only last 3 years) and the social media trolls. Although believe it or not, I think the trolls may be the least worrisome because you have to expect nutcases on there. I think the family, the ones with the personal connections probably hurt the most.
I’m just going to park this here.
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-emotion
Your interpretation is correct, Kaiser. The thing is she’s doing a great job and that’s the problem. Despite the trashy press and trolls, she’s excelling. It must frustrate them that she’s successful in the role.
Exactly right. Despite everything that is being thrown at her she keeps excelling and that makes people all the more mad. Paradoxically the press can’t get enough of her, in terms of headlines and pictures, she is the new Diana. Kate pictures and stories were big news, but Meghan is in a totally different league.
PrincessK, You said it all. The Daily Fail commentariat cannot get enough of Meghan. A typical article on Meghan will have 3-4K comments in two hours. The Daily Fail is only printing what whips up readers into a frenzy and generates the resulting clicks for $$$$.
Is she doing a great job? I haven’t really seen that. She only chooses glamorous outings during her maternity leave.
She hit the ground running after her marriage. She worked throughout her pregnancy. She’s on maternity leave now, and like her sister-in-law, has turned up for a handful of occasions–some that are non-negotiable (TTC) and others that are more fun (The Lion King). Bottle up your faux outrage and count the number of engagements Kate did whilst pregnant and during her maternity leave. I’ll wait.
For the love of god(dess) she has a 2-month old at home. She’s breast-feeding. She’s already getting her agenda ready for a trip to S. Africa after working through most of her pregnancy. Kate just disappears for months on end with nary an appearance, not even a glamour one. Meghan is outstripping Kate by a country mile as far as meaningful work is concerned, not just faffing around with some yet-to-be-defined mental health role or creating a garden. You’re going to have to eat your words soon.
Seriously? She’s on maternity leave. You said that in your comment. You’re criticizing her for choosing to do fun stuff when she’s on her own time?
@jaded Kate has done a tour while she was heavily pregnant,stopping to make appearances around the same stage as Meghan. And she has made all the appearances she was expected to make during her maternity leave. I don’t get your complaints abour her pregnancies. I also doubt the comments would have been kind from some people if she had made “glamorous appearances” and attended movie premieres. But it’s another matter. Meghan isn’t doing anything different, and it’s fine for her too.
The cookbook alone is more than K&W, combined, have ever accomplished in 8-9 years since they got married…..
Kate first solo project is a garden; a freaking garden! you can’t make those things up
Keep talking……1 yr vs 8-9 yrs….she worked through almost her entire pregnancy. You have the audacity to compare her to Kate.
Mediocrity at its best……
Nope they do not make it easy at all.
Shes 100% right. They arent making it easy. She does something nice with a group of women that had an impact and still is but she(and the women) were linked to terrorism.If other royals had done the same,it would be full on praise.
Meghan was never given a chance to settle in or given space to make mistakes like other royals.
Turn on the morning TV and either Piers at GMB is having a go at her or some other shows.
Just before Archie’s christening,there was a debate on This Morning (a british daytime show) about the christening and if it should be public.When the royal foundation split was announced,another debate on TV with the headline “Is Meghan breaking up the royal family” Its just constant.
Shes trashed for the most mundane things; holding Archie wrong,dressing wrong,duchessing wrong,basically doing everything wrong.
I know shes said she doesnt read any press about her but girl isnt living under a rock. She has tv,has internet,she defintely sees and hears whats being said about her so yeah it has to get to her at some point.Cant imagine how it wouldn’t
Question – how manufactured was the Fergie / Diana drama? Was their friendship really just the media’s playground like they’ve tried with Kate and Meghan? Or was the tension organic? How about Fergie’s current public perception? Was it due to the firm’s smear campaign upon her exit, or was she always quite disliked?
They were real friends during the early 1980s and Diana helped bring her into Andrew’s dating orbit by bringing her to Royal Ascot during 1985. By the next summer Fergie and Andrew were married. When she joined the Royal Family she was portrayed as a breath of fresh air, she seemed more easy going than Diana, she wasn’t stick thin, her and Andrew actually seemed into each other. Reportedly the whole family thought she was the cat’s meow at first. But during her first pregnancy she gained a lot of weight and then the Duchess of Pork stuff started with the press, she started to get a reputation as a loose cannon and a big spender, and Diana who had her own major problems started distancing herself. Andrew and Fergie were separated in 1992 less than 6 years after their wedding.
The whole toe-sucking pap photos of Fergie with John Bryan really sealed the deal and she was sort of persona non grata ever after.
A rather juicy book written at the time about the whole Fergie era is Fergie Confidential, I think its available still as an e-book.
Also, QEII was really close to Fergie because they both rode horses and loved Scotland. The good relationship between QEII and Fergie got Diana’s goat and gave Diana more fuel for the fire of her unhappiness. This and many other examples of Diana’s and Fergie’s very complicated relationship appear in Lady Colin Campbell’s second book on Diana.
Diana decided Fergie was bad news in terms of image. Diana didn’t want to lose public support by maintaining an ongoing friendship with Fergie but she was also annoyed by Fergie’s book especially Fergie claiming she had caught warts from borrowing Diana’s shoes.
Fergie kept attempting a reconciliation but Diana, it seemed, had decided to freeze her out forever.
l salute Farrell, l listened to that video clip, and oh boy he had really been saving up those words of support, he deeply meant every word and it was so heartfelt. The whole world knows what Meghan and Harry are going through, and times have changed, people are bolder and will stick up for these two lovely people. Well done Farrell! 👏🏽
I refuse to reply to the same people who always have the negative slant on Meghan’s posts. Even as a mild commenter, I know their names by now. The fact that racism is so obvious against someone with her wealth and privilege is the point. It makes you mad for how bad it obviously is for those without both.
No amount of wealth and privilege has ever shielded a person of color from racism. At times, the wealth and privilege make the racism worse…cause how dare you exist in this space and sphere.
I think the situation has been exacerbated by William – if he had (at least been seen to have) accepted Meghan into the fold, things could’ve been very different – the “Fab Four” could’ve been a real thing. Imagine the star power of the 4 of them working together? Instead he’s helped to make it a contest between the couples – and has driven the “Diva Duchess” narrative which is really stupid tbh because Harry and Meghan out-glam and out-work him and Kate hands down. He has made a massive error of judgement IMO because of his huffy petulant egotistical and selfish personality and the press are all over it because its a real story pitting them against one another. And Meghan is paying the real price of it because she’s the new member of the BRf trying to pick her way through the minefield that is the BRF with all the racism, classism and snobbery that entails. Instead of helping her through it William’s tripping her and his brother up at every turn. Dreadful. She’s managed to conduct herself with great dignity IMO – Harry is obviously her no.1 fan and supporter. I wish them well and i dont think it’ll take too many years for them to outshine William and kate – despite Williams best efforts to discredit them.
No doubt the UK Tabloid press is using Meghan’s mixed race background to stir the racist in to a frenzy generating clicks for $$$$. THEY ARE GUILTY AS CHARGED.
However, no matter who Harry married, even someone REALLY Royal such as the hypothetical HRH, Princess of Andorwherever, the Fab Four were not going to last because:
1) Bill Cambridge is not a leader, does not want to be a leader and resents anyone who tries to lead him,
2) Cathy will always follow Bill’s lead and carry the Cambridge party line line as Bill has determined it to be,
3) Harry & wife (referring hypothetically to HRH Princess of Andorwherever) would have easily out shone Bill & Cathy and generated much more interest because Bill & Cathy are nothing special and really are not very interesting thereby eclipsing the D&D of Cambridge,
4) Harry & wife (referring hypothetically to HRH Princess of Andorwherever) really would have no problem being in the spotlight if there is a benefit of some sort to what they want to achieve; this is especially true of Meghan as she has been trained for this by the school of Hard Knocks of Hollywood. Cathy & Bill really do not want to generate the spotlight at all whether it is on them personally or on one of their patronages/charities. They are not really keen on anything except being left alone.
5) Harry & wife (referring hypothetically to HRH Princess of Andorwherever) would want to see and travel the Commonwealth. Bill & Cathy would never leave Anmer Hall if not forced to do so except for shopping & Mystique vacations.
Disclaimer: I do not think Cathy really has anything to do with actively exhibiting this behavior and I believe it all being decided and directed by by Bill Cambridge. Cathy just falls in line.
They are mot the first mixed race royal couple, honestly…
Yes, l was an early supporter of the Fab Four. The silly Cambridge’s, instead of feeling put out, could have benefited enormously.
The Daily Mail would be equivalent to Fox News Tabloid TMZ in the US otherwise known as GARBAGE
I see the commenters from DM like to pop over to CB whenever there is a post about H&M.
Also, DataLounge people pop over to CB too but they are superior posters (can string word together to make a complete sentence) compared to the commentariat, trolls, paid trolls and bots at the Daily Fail.
I think people are making a lot of something that she most likely meant as a throw-away, small-talk comment. It probably slipped off her tongue without even thinking. I’d hate to be taken to task for the mindless chatter of professional niceties!
The Duchess’s comment, if accurately quoted, was polite & responsive to the kindness & support she was receiving at that moment from Pharrell. He was telling H&M they are a symbol & to know they have support around the world. Why do they need support? Because, as he said, in these contentious times, being a symbol of hope for racial & international partnership to millions of people is a huge (and in my words, risky) deal. M’s response simply acknowledged Pharrell’s thoughtful and sensitive observation. M was authentic & diplomatic, instead of being dismissive of the importance of the hand he was extending. This exchange had everything to do with recognizing that H&M must work at minimizing the drain the relentless attacks have on the energy they need to succeed in their humanitarian work and in their family. A beautiful moment really. Their commitment despite the abuse is inspiring. Thanks Pharrell.
@LRob EXACTLY. All this fake outrage from the UK press when Meghan’s comments were fairly mild and diplomatic. I’m also glad that she was able to receive an outpouring of love and support that night. I think it’s hard for other celebrities not to notice the crazy press treatment.
Meghan has been treated horribly by the British press she has been meet with nothing but racist hatefulness throughout her pregnancy and it continues to this day. The British press has successfully dehumanizing Meghan in such a way that people honestly think because she married Harry she deserves this treatment when she doesn’t. It’s sickening to see some people on here trying to justify the way the British media has gone after Meghan .
Hahaha. Nothing coded about that. I hope Meghan said it on purpose knowing people will hear. The truth offends only those who take pleasure in abusing her.
“It’s a date night for us.” Awwwww. I’m just picturing her looking up at him as she says this. That’s really cute, I’m not going to lie.
I don’t know. I don’t want to speculate. I know that’s the whole point, but I feel like there’s a chunk of the conversation missing here. It goes straight from “Thank you” to “They don’t make it easy.” I’ll bet that there was at least a little bit of exposition as to who she was talking about in between, but of course, that stuff got cut out.
It was nice of Pharell to say this. I think it meant a lot to Meghan and Harry to see that they’re supported. I don’t think that the Queen’s staffers over at Buckingham Palace are really out here having it in for her as people claim (unlike the folks over at KP), but I don’t think they fully understand the situation either. I don’t think they have the capacity to. I’ve said before that I don’t think anyone in the RF ever expected the extent of the vitriol that Meghan has been getting. I bet the racism has been a huge wake up call to a lot of them, especially the grey suits. Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I can’t imagine that they don’t go home at night genuinely having learned something about what it means to be a black woman, not just in the UK, but also the world. Who knows.
What Pharrell said was sweet and kind. He was reaching out to a woman who had endured incredible abuse and has kept a radiant smile on her face and her head held high.
One of the things that enrage so many people is the support the Duchess of Sussex has and the type of support. Some of the most powerful women in the world are firmly in her corner. Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Michelle Obama. Beyonce. Oh, and then there’s OPRAH. They might want to claim that she’s some girl from the ghetto but Meghan walked into her marriage with those connections. Marrying Harry might have given her some nice jewelry, but she was already well connected BEFORE she married him.
And let’s talk about family, shall we? Why is it that we never hear from her mother’s side of the family? Is it because they aren’t disgusting trash that would sell the Duchess out for cab fare? I’m sure it drives some people crazy that the ‘Compton’ side of Meghan’s family conducts themselves with class and grace. That her mother still lives a quiet life and hasn’t tried to use her daughter’s connection to the royal family to line her pockets and help improve her social status. Not every woman who’s married to one of Diana Spencer’s sons can say that.
Take a look at the pictures of Meghan and Harry when they’re together. HE ADORES HER. Kate would sell her fanciest tiara to get one look like that from Normal Bill.
People all over the world support Meghan because we know what she’s been through. From the very beginning this woman has worked hard for a family that has given her little to no support. The media has been harder on her for wearing jeans at Wimbledon than they have on a man accused of being a pedophile.
The word is that the majority of the online hatred for Meghan is coming from middle-aged, White, American women. Women who think they KNOW how royalty in Britain behave because they have the boxed set of Downton Abbey. Women who see Meghan as an attack to their White privilege. How DARE that mixed-race bitch steal THEIR prince. As if he’d ever give them a passing glance. Women who voted for Donald Trump.
The royal family had better pull it’s socks up and realize what a gift they’ve been given in Meghan. If she were to pack her baby up and throw deuces, the uproar would be deafening. I admire the Queen but she better spend a little less time protecting her good for nothing son and little more time protecting her great-grandson’s wife who is actually WORTH something.
“The word is that the majority of the online hatred for Meghan is coming from middle-aged, White, American women.”
Like her father’s other daughter.
So it sounds like Meghan knows what’s being written about her then? I thought she said in her engagement interview that she doesn’t read press about herself? Mmmmm
I like Meghan a lot but thought that comment was BS the moment I heard it
I agree the press is awful to her no doubt it’s tough but there’s got to be a way to not lie about reading press about yourself without sounding full of yourself or something, because I think that’s what Meghan was trying to avoid
I am not sure if she reads it herself or is just briefed by staff about certain things being said that they may or may not want to address.
Where in her comment did she say that she’s read what’s been said about her? You think she hasn’t heard about the people who are threatening her and her child’s life? You think NOBODY told her that some piece of shit compared her baby to a gorilla?
I don’t think you like Meghan one bit. That’s the standard remark someone makes just before they start in on her. Olga Korbut couldn’t perform the gymnastic routine you’re doing to try and justify the treatment that Meghan is receiving. But nice try.
SMH at all these disingenuous people claiming to “like Meghan a lot” before launching an attack on her.
Before you shout GOTCHA at her, consider that she doesn’t have to actually read her own press to be aware that negative things are being said about her. You don’t think there’s at least one staffer who is tasked with gauging her social influence to better serve the Sussexes’ causes? Or that they receive updates from their security people?
Meghan’s hot mic moment just shows she’s human. The Sussexes put on a brave front but it must get to them at times. It just makes me root for them more. TIME’s list of 25 influential people on the internet shows what a global powerhouse brand Sussex is. Did you see the Cambridges on that list? Making it on Tatler’s social influence list – big whoop. Being king and queen bee in the aristo set is such an accomplishment. As a future monarch and consort the embiggening by the British press makes them and the press provincial.
This is absolutely ridiculous. It’s not like she said, “Yes, the Queen is a crusty, old hag or Yes, the U.K. is shit.” No one has made this easier for her. Her family, her in-laws, the press, the lunatics posting on the internet, straight up nobody. I read somewhere that people are mad because she married the internet’s boyfriend and that is the perfect way to describe it. Even if Harry didn’t marry her, he wasn’t going to marry any of the people commenting on Meghan. People are bitter that they see pictures of her in designer clothing and hobnobbing with the rich and famous. They ask themselves, What’s so great about her? I’m prettier, smarter, etc. than her. They think she used some trick to get where she is, somewhere they think she doesn’t belong. And it’s all wrapped up with a big, racist ribbon. Anyone who doesn’t see the racism at play is just willfully ignorant. It’s all so gross.
Poor Meghan, her life is so hard.
You’re obvious.
It’s very obvious when you watch the video that Pharrell was talking about Meghan and Harry’s interracial relationship(he even introduces his wife who is of a different race) and that Meghan’s response was in regards to racist attacks her and Harry like that white supremacist who circulated an image calling for Harry to be shot for being a “race traitor”
I’m sure she doesn’t read every two bit article that comes out. But some of this stuff is in the mainstream media and the morning talk shows so it’s not like it’s completely unavoidable. Plus while Meghan may avoid looking at the press who is to say Harry does the same? We already know that he clapped back at the press once, so I imagine he is probably having fits right about now.
They don’t make it easy means anyone/anything that tries to lie or discredit the Sussexes especially Meghan that statement is meant for you. These are human beings first no matter how much money they have. Anybody who says they should just ignore it because they are rich will do anything for money no matter if it is true or not. Well-known people in the US have been reading the constant attacks on this woman. They couldn’t give her peace when she was pregnant or after having given birth. A philistine is a philistine. If they would treat them as human beings maybe they would get a little inside info with them.
Fox news’s take on the comment is that she was talking about the Public….not the press. Yea, right.
Almost 300 posts, many of them folks addressing comments by people who deny the racism behind the abuse of the DOS. Although this discourages me I am also heartened by the many people who see this abuse of Meghan exactly for what it is and it is an outrage. The fact that she’s royal, rich and privileged doesn’t make it any less so. I can’t imagine having to endure a public character assassination like she has and I wouldn’t trade places with her even if I could. No amount of wealth and privilege would be worth having to endure such blind hatred.
I honestly hope her wealth and her family give her solace in the face of it and help her to carry on with dignity and grace.
Wow, they are such a beautiful couple!!!! Swoon!! The love vibes I get off these two…I LOVE it!
True words have not been spoken. Bishop Curry has been prophetic.
I am truly impressed by this relationship because it seems like a mature and healthy by any standards.
Who could forget their wedding day? There is envy and entitlement caused by whiteness and greed on the part of the British media.
It is apparent from the beginning that the Duchess has been “othered”.
Prince Harry had to issue a statement like Prince Edward and Prince William before him, based on the entitlement and greed on the media, but the rancor stuck with him. Followed by protocol-gate increased by a few successful tours and heightened by the pregnancy. The duchess was derided because her love narrative has been the antithesis of the idea of whiteness.
For those people who need it as a crutch the Sussexes union has to be dissolve so with their delusional sense of importance ,they will be bullies and generally nasty to Meghan in particular. She is not a stereotype so she has to go.
I hope her self-confidence and healthy autonomy endures.
I agree with Pharrell in the sense that we
are rooting for her success with love, family and royal duties.
Even in a fishbowl, one can dare to be oneself. I pray that the Sussexes move from strength to strength in all their endeavours. In the dark times they have each other.
Peace.