Duchess Meghan’s friend confirms: She tried to ‘warn’ Meghan & Meg didn’t listen

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the WellChild Awards Ceremony in London

During her interview for ITV’s Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Duchess of Sussex spoke about how British friends tried to warn her about what was going to happen when people found out that she was dating Prince Harry, and that she was planning to marry him. Meghan said, in part:

“… I don’t think anybody can understand that, but in all fairness, I had no idea. Which probably sounds difficult to understand here, but when I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy… But my British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life.’ And I very naively — I’m an American we don’t have that there — said, ‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense! I’m not in tabloids!’ I didn’t get it. So, it’s been… yeah, it’s been complicated.”

I said on Twitter and on this site that it’s true that Americans simply don’t comprehend the ruthless way the British tabloids behave, or the presence the tabloids have in British life. Media outlets like the Daily Mail and The Sun – and to a lesser extent, the Daily Mirror and Daily Express – dominate conversations about celebrities and royals and sometimes even politics. That being said, if I was about to marry a British prince, I probably would have listened to all of those British people and used that information to try to understand. Meghan leaves the impression that she truly did walk into this relationship blinded to the realities they would face from the press and from Harry’s family. I’m not blaming her for what has happened, but… clearly, even Harry understood how bad it would get and he tried to protect her from the word go. Maybe “naive” is the right word for her to use there.

Anyway, as soon as the Daily Mail heard Meghan say that British friends tried to warn her, the Mail tracked down one of those friends and confirmed that, yes, Meghan was warned:

A British friend who warned Meghan Markle over marrying Prince Harry because of intense media scrutiny today insisted: ‘I told her she didn’t know what she was letting herself in for.’ Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne says her friend was ‘naive’ about dealing with the UK press and predicted pressures for the duchess if she wed into the Royal Family.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Meghan’s former agent admitted: ‘I knew the documentary was on but I made a decision not to watch it. However I’ve since read that Prince Harry talks about his relationship with his brother and that Meghan discusses her struggles of being in the spotlight with the Press. I did speak to Meghan about the British media and it was clear that she didn’t know what she was letting herself in for. She was naive. I still think that now.’

Ms Nelthorpe-Cowne, 54, was the confidante who had lunch with the then-Suits actress just hours before her first date with the royal in 2016. The two women had been in Delaunay restaurant in London’s Covent Garden when Meghan told Gina: “’I’m going on a date tonight… with Prince Harry!’ She whispered it so quietly I had to ask her to repeat it. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing but I think she could barely believe it either. We were both extremely excited.’

Ms Nelthorpe-Cowne, who is a director at the London-based talent agency Kruger Cowne, said: ‘I looked at how stunning she was and I just thought: ‘There’s no way he’s going to be able to resist her.’

She said as the relationship with Harry blossomed and she could see that it was serious she warned her friend that romance with such a high-profile royal would impact heavily on her life. ‘One day we were having lunch on the Strand in London and it was obvious it was getting very serious with Harry,’ she said. ‘I said, ‘This is serious. This is the end of your normal life, the end of your privacy – everything. But she just held up her hand and said: ‘Stop. I don’t want to hear any negativity. This is a happy time for us.’ She described the 38-year-old as someone who hates ‘negativity’ and is ‘so focused on what she wants’ that she will stop associates in their tracks if they question her decisions.

She accused the mother-of-one of being ‘picky’ and someone who ‘likes to move on’ quickly if she doesn’t see eye-to-eye with them. She revealed the ruthless side of Ms Markle in an interview in which she described Harry’s future bride as ‘difficult’ to work with after travelling the world with the former actress. The entrepreneur however described Ms Markle as ‘delightful, warm, personable – and hugely charismatic’, someone who instantly brings you into their world.

[From The Daily Mail]

Yeah. All of this seems on-brand for Meghan, and I mean that in both a good and bad way. On one side, you can interpret this story as Meghan simply being a positive person and believing in an affirmational life, that if you put out good energy, good energy comes back to you. Meghan doesn’t want to hear the negativity because she doesn’t want that energy. It’s admirable and brave, in a way, to live an optimistic life. On the other side, Meghan comes across as someone willfully blind, to the point where she refuses to hear (much less consider) advice given in good faith. Someone who always thinks she knows best, that her positive perspective will always be right.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the WellChild Awards Ceremony in London

Photos courtesy of WENN and Backgrid.

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205 Responses to “Duchess Meghan’s friend confirms: She tried to ‘warn’ Meghan & Meg didn’t listen”

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  1. Cidy says:

    Her not “taking” or considering advice doesnt excuse how she has been treated.

    However, I feel like this “love blinded” her attitude is the doorway to a dangerous path. I have absolutely decided not to be with people because of their parents. I left someone around the 2016 elections because their family were hardcore trump supporters and closet racists, I was okay to them because I looked bi-racial, I had to leave that. Meghan married into a toxic organization that is under constant press scrutiny, that is something that shouldn’t have been weighed lightly or put in the rearview for love.

    I think the love she and Harry share is beautiful and I have a lot of faith in them as a couple, but he comes from a system, one that he will NEVER leave. Let’s be clear, Harry will never leave the BRF, and he fakes just as much normalcy as his brother, and that should have been considered.

    • DaisySharp says:

      Yes. The family needs to be a huge consideration in a serious relationship. I wonder if this wisdom comes with age? Though Meghan wasn’t that young. I don’t know. But yep, the family can destroy you , and who needs it.

      • KL says:

        When I was a college freshman and both princes were unmarried, a bunch of my classmates and I were talking before class about whether any of us would be willing to marry them. (As you do.) Someone said anyone would, because the princes had everything, and I piped up with “yeah, including a hugely dysfunctional family,” which is why I wouldn’t.

        The class’s TA, a grad student, overhead me and read me the riot act. I mean, she really laid into me: said I had no right to dismiss someone based on their family, no one can help their family and you can’t “abandon” someone based on theirs, that would make ME the dysfunctional one, etc. She called me callous and cruel, and it was humiliating — I was just a teenager talking with friends. Years later I look back and I just hope she got out of whatever relationship she was in where my comments touched a nerve.

      • Nahema says:

        I think you’re both right. I second that none of this excuses how she has been treated but it does seem that she was blinded by love and although I’m sure I’ll be torn to sheds for suggesting such a thing, probably also blinded by the possibility of becoming Royalty. The thing is most people know how poor our judgement can be when we fall in love. To an extent we can’t be trusted with our own mind and need the input of friends and family. I know my friends have saved me from potentially damaging relationships in the past by pointing out negatives that I couldn’t see because I only wanted to see the good.

        I think it’s worth remembering also that although the British tabloids can be cruel and have the ability to make or break some people, they don’t have that power over everyone. It’s only a section of the population who reads that stuff. If a celebrity is a part of that target audience, they’re in more trouble than one who’s not.

        Kaiser stated that tabloids can dominate conversations around celebrities and politics but again thats really only true within a certain demographic. Unfortunately for Meghan, that is the same demographic who have a tendency to hate immigration, push for Brexit and think the result will be an amazing Britain. You can’t reason with them using any kind of logic or rationality.

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        @KL or maybe your friend had a less than functional family and felt sensitive that it might cost their chances in love? The family situation can impact a relationship but you can set up appropriate boundaries.

        It also goes both ways, Meghan’s family seems to have its issues and if Harry had passed her up because of them that would seem harsh to me.

      • Meg says:

        @nahema
        Wow youre probably right about the overreacting

      • Nicole r says:

        This reply is to KL – the ta probably had her own dysfunctional family that she shouldn’t be punished for

    • bananapanda says:

      I’ve always thought that her being American makes it much much harder. I dated a Brit and it’s a weird thing and you can feel ganged up on. Add in the Royal Family and it’s an intense thing. Remember, he picked her. He told all his friends that Rachel was Suits was his ideal woman. They were instantly marching towards marriage unless she turned out to be a psycho or ditz.

      I think she should have done an on air interview or feature before the wedding. UK doesn’t know her – they just know about her, her charity, her acting, etc. but they’ve not really heard her voice – and that left a vaccuum for the tabloids to project onto.

      • Cidy says:

        I agree with all of you above. It’s a very difficult take.

      • Xo says:

        He said in the engagement interview that he had never seen Suits. Who’s your source?

      • Kebbie says:

        That whole thing was made up, he had no idea who she was before he met her. I mean he may have been told she was an actress, but he wasn’t some Suits fan that tracked her down because he was crushing on her.

    • Rhys says:

      The thing with advice is you never know how valid it will be for YOU. We all have different lives and handles things differently, so giving or taking advice is not the ultimate strategy. If Harry’s ex didn’t want to deal with life of a royal, Kate did want to. Meghan might not have known how hard it would be, but if we never took chances because we always followed someone’s warning and advice, we’d never get anywhere in life. If Meghan listeners to people who told her that becoming an actress is a tough job, she would have never known that she personally could handle it. I think Meghan will just ride with it, get used to it and learn to live her life, just like she learnt to live whatever life she had before she became a duchess.

      • ZsaZsa Fierce says:

        I needed to hear this today. I get it. Thank you, @Rhys.

      • Savannah says:

        Exactly @Rhys!
        No one can really live your life but you. And you need to live to learn.

      • bettyrose says:

        I’m not much of a romantic, but I do believe that friendship is the strongest foundation for a relationship, and I genuinely see that with these two. I also don’t agree that family should be a deal breaker – unless your partner allows their family to hurt you (which I don’t see Harry doing?)

        I definitely think Meghan didn’t know how bad it would be, but even if she had, I don’t fault her for choosing her best friend over perceived challenges. Having said that, Harry & Meg were introduced by a common friend who happens to be a British aristo, so I doubt all Brits were warning her away.

      • Abena Asantewaa says:

        Also she wouldn’t have had Archie. Now that she has let it off her chest, I think she would be alright. Afterall she is barely 2 years into this marriage, it is a shock to the system, if you focus too much on the negative, you won’t even get out of bed. Harry loves Meghan, and she loves him, and as Vanessa Feltz said; ‘ Meghan focus on your husband, your baby and your kitchen, and all would be well’. Stiff upper lip, should be consigned to history, where it belongs, it’s no help at all in this day and age.

      • frenchtoast says:

        I don’t think it’s up to someone else to tell her how she should live her life.
        And sometimes ppl need to make mistakes in order to learn. I’ve seen ppl make bad or dumb decisions but that’s life, we can’t always predict the consequences of our actions. All you can do for a friend who’s going through hardship imo is to be suportive. No need to add fuel to the fire by saying “I warned you!” or being condescending.

  2. Christina says:

    Living positively Is not the same as willfully ignoring constructive criticism and warnings. I like her, but that’s waking around with blinders. Women need to be pragmatic to survive, especially a woman on the world stage. This “no-negativity” thing makes sense for an actress going to auditions, but not in the real world.

    • Valiantly Varnished says:

      Willfully ignoring constructive criticism? What other than the advice this “friend” (what friend goes to the press with snarky comments like this?) was “constructive criticism”?

      • Christina says:

        Valiantly Varnished, the story said that the press sought out this person. What the former manager said was that Megan tended to shut down anything that she felt was negative energy when she worked for Megan. We can speculate why. Is this woman no longer a friend of Megan’s?

        When I have a way of dealing with people that they disagree with, friends or not, they have a right to give an opinion about their direct interaction with me. Meg said it to the press, the woman was sought out, and she shared her impression of how being so positive can shut out messages she gave to Megan and it can shut out messages people in general need to hear, and that’s her opinion. If it’s true, I agree with the lady.

        Lots of people just don’t want to hear opinions that don’t mesh with their own because they feel that it will push them off track. We all need to live a life that allows us to sleep at night. Not hearing what people around you think could help or it could cause harm. In my years on the planet, I just try to hear what people are telling me and consider it. If she doesn’t, I think it’s a bad idea.

    • jessica says:

      @Christina – Agreed!

    • jenner says:

      I agree, this reminds me of the New Age movement, where people are all glassy eyed and fake happy. This does not work in the real world.

      • Col says:

        Agree with you and Christina. My bosses went through a “no negativity” thing and it was the worst. Of course it only applied to us and not them. Even constructive feedback in the hope of making things better was considered “to negative.” Anyway, this mindset allows you to write cheesy, patronizing, dumb comments on bananas and no one can raise a contrasting opinion. It’s actually kind of arrogant and myopic.

    • Devon says:

      Or this person wasn’t really a friend. What friend goes the media and dumps a bunch of personal information and passive aggressive nonsense? People need to be more critical of the junk the British media passes off as facts.

      • notasugarhere says:

        This.

      • rmcgrudiva says:

        That’s why I gave that entire quote a side eye. Frenemy, perhaps, but no friend.

      • Abby says:

        Agreed. She does not sound like a friend at all.

      • EbonyS says:

        She was definitely a friend. Look at the Daily Mail story. They went on vacation multiple times. I’m with Christina.

      • Miss America says:

        That’s what I came here to say. Why is this “friend” speaking to Megan’s arch nemesis tabloid? It’s because they’ve either had a falling out or it’s made up or like secondhand info not straight from her friend. But I get the feeling it’s the first thing. Because I wouldn’t really consider this a nice interview about Meghan, saying she’s difficult and stuff. Maybe she is headstrong? Is that a bad thing? Who cares. She’s obviously successful and self-made, she didn’t just stumble into that. Why make it sound like a terrible trait? Like she doesn’t get along with anyone when it’s obviously not true. Her staff are paid to follow her directions not be coddled.

    • Montréalaise says:

      I wonder whether wilfully ignoring advice – taking the “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!” approach, is a pattern for her. She has made some missteps in the past several months and even royal-watchers who love her are questioning whether she is getting bad advice or whether she is simply ignoring good advice.

      • Meg says:

        Which mistakes are you referring to? I’m sure they happened just not remembering many myself right now.
        I think her Vogue editor letter could’ve been better written and her choice not to have it proofread even though yes she was the editor she is not a professional writer and sounded as poor as I would it so that showed a bit of a misjudgement on her part

      • MsIam says:

        I haven’t seen anyone who “loves” Meghan questioning anything. In fact numerous people have spoken up for H&M on the record (see James Blunt today) and those people are promptly trashed by the press and the trolls. Because let’s all believe these anonymous palace sources or people who have an axe to grind like the snake quoted in the article rather than people who have met or know them. And if you are talking about that idiot William or the rest of the BRF they are either silent or trying to push back and call them names.

    • Yzzah says:

      Christina, I completely agree.

    • Elisa says:

      +1, the women he dated before Meghan openly said they didn’t want the royal life. And everyone knows how Diana, Fergie and – Kate to a certain extend – were treated by the media / public. This info was out there, and other friends of Meghan also said they warned her of marrying into the RF.

      • MsIam says:

        You know I find it amazing that knowing how these women have been treated by the press that people still seem to be okay with this. Is this the “progress” that has been made in the last 30 years?

      • Elisa says:

        IMO it’s actually getting worse thanks to social media. And you don’t even know what kind of crap people are posting / writing in closed groups.

    • kerwood says:

      This woman was Meghan’s EMPLOYEE. Meghan was within her rights to dismiss what she said. Meghan’s mistake was to be friendly to this woman in the first place.

    • kerwood says:

      When you walk through the world as a Black woman, you have to wear blinders a LOT, if only to protect yourself from the ugliness that forced on you DAILY.

      Its interesting that Meghan’s being blamed for trying to be positive more than her abusers are being blamed for their abused. If you are held responsible for your own abuse, you BETTER have a positive attitude if you want to SURVIVE. That’s why Black people laugh/sing/dance/LIVE so LOUD.

      • ZsaZsa Fierce says:

        AMEN!

      • Christina says:

        Kerwood, I agree with you. Black folks have had to push through a lot of awful, racist horror to survive. Meg is a public figure with a dysfunction side to her family who married into a royal family with an established history of promoting and/or tolerating racism. I don’t know how close to Meg this employee/advisor was or is. All I know is that Meg is questioning in public whether or not she should have taken that woman’s opinion more seriously. Megan called her a friend. If she was her friend, or manager in England, I think that she should have at least heard the woman out about how bad it could be. She could have still dismissed it, but HEARING it could have helped her be better prepared to deal with how bad we all knew it was going to be.

        As someone who grew up poor, and near where she grew up, it takes a lot to get into the middle class. She had a lot of middle class training at Catholic school and college, but she is a Black woman who has had to navigate and overcome a lot of obstacles. The BRF is different. Andrew is protected and she is routinely tossed to the wolves.

      • Africanbasedintheuk says:

        Isn’t that a b**tch

      • Babs says:

        @ Christina, no, nope Meghan did NOT question whether she should have listened to her friend, please don’t twist stuff around to fit yr narrative. Also, how do you know this woman who the DM spoke to IS IN FACT the friend Meghan was referring to? Meghan never mentioned anyone by name, just the fail chose to seek out this particular woman and have her on record as THE friend but how do we know she was even Meghan’s friend and not just an acquaintance who happened to be her promoter?

  3. DaisySharp says:

    Oh, she couldn’t have known, IMO. What I question is Harry. He knew. Why did he even date someone outside of his circle? Okay so this is totally armchair…I think the way he lost his mom, and how he blamed the press (which I totally understand and they played a role, and the pictures of Diana dying, I can’t even think about that), and that he was 12. A 12 yo boy. I think he has relived that evening his whole life imagining how he could have saved Diana. And somehow he is replaying it, trying to save her this time. He was drawn to Meghan and to this. Just my two cents.

    • Kendra says:

      I get the feeling the women he previously dated didn’t want to marry him since they knew what would happen if they married so he had to date someone outside of the usual circles. Even Kate I’m wasn’t titled and it‘a like William liked she was as “normal” as possible and not really really doing anything so it’s less easy to target her.

      But I still think a biracial once divorced American actress was too risky choice for Harry to date. I mean a couple of those would have been something that would get ignored by press or at least defended by fans enough for it not to matter. But if I was Harry I would have guessed the press would choose to attack at least one of those aspects of Megan even of she was otherwise perfect.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Another poster commented the other day about Jonny Dymond the BBC royal reporter spoke on a BBC podcast a few weeks ago. I heard it and it was interesting about Harry’s relationship with the press and how basically, Harry despises the royal reporters and has long before Meghan entered his life. In that podcast the reporter said part of Harry’s dislike of the press (besides the big major reason, Diana) is that he felt it had destroyed his past relationships, meaning, Chelsy and Cressida.

      • MsIam says:

        Damn, @Tourmaline, the press is really entitled aren’t they? Something is wrong that this dysfunction has been allowed to continue.

      • MsIam says:

        Bullies beat up on everybody @Kendra. Even ‘she who never puts a foot wrong!” was mistreated by the press when it suited their purposes. For the life of me I cannot figure out why it’s tolerated.

    • Derriere says:

      I feel Harry met Meghan and felt that she was well-suited to being his wife and being royal. He also knew that he/they would make an impact on the history of the British Royal family as having a biracial duchess. I don’t think either one could have predicted the vitriol, and honestly, I didn’t realize it either. The micro-aggressions, yes, but all people of color and women have found ways to cope with that.

      But the level of cognitive dissonance, willful ignorance, and plain hate is a lot to take, even for us commentators. Now, we are used to it, but it never gets easier to read or hear.

      • Anners says:

        I agree with Derriere. I think they knew it would be tough, but I don’t think *anyone* could have predicted this level of vitriol.

        With regards to the “no negativity” mindset, it comes across as a defensive shield (to protect people from an inability to cope with the unpleasant sides of life) and doesn’t seem to be a particularly healthy strategy for the longterm. That said, who knows how close this “friend” is (who spilled her guts to the press), or maybe Meghan was hearing awful things from all sides and she was just tired of only getting sh@t on by her supposed friends. I feel for her. No one deserves this relentless, never-ending wave of scorn and humiliation.

    • Christina says:

      She couldn’t have known how bad it would be, but she could have had an idea of she’d of researched his family and what happened to Diana. His other girlfriends where all, “Nope, nope, hell nope” to marriage. It wasn’t a secret.

      I watched Charles marry Diana as a teen. I woke up at, like, 4 am to watch. I cared about it and watched with horror as it all fell apart as the years went by. I’m old. Meg is young and didn’t live the experience of watching it all unfold, like Harry did. Like a bunch of us dreamers who wanted to naively believe in what the BRF could be and represented. If I’d of worked with her, and if she trusted me enough to share that she wanted to marry him, I would have been happy for her love and, at the same time, I’d ask her to review articles from the 1980s and 90s about what REALLY happened to Diana, about the campaign against her, about how disrespectful Queen Elizabeth was about her death. QE ain’t no saint, as we know from her car rides with her disgusting son, Andrew.

    • Abena Asantewaa says:

      All 3 of queen’s children married within their circles, and all ended in divorces, not forgetting Princess Margaret, so what you are saying does not hold water. William married Kate who is middle class just like Meghan, not in Williams circles. Stiff upper lip, desttoyed their marriages. Stiff upper lip, brought bullimia to Diana and a lot of tears. Meghan is a WOC, she will survive, now that she had said her peace, bottling things up, goes against the grain for Meghan’s because she hates bad energy.

  4. Ela says:

    No matter how wilful, naive or optimistic she was, even if she was a scheming social climber, how does this justify racial abuse on this world wide scale? It still comes down on putting the onus on the victim to do something, do more, do less or be something else. The only thing that needs to be done is that the abusers need to be stopped. And to every one who is saying, oh she is a privileged position, she shouldn’t complain, this just further proves to women of color that if even a woman in her position isn’t exempt from racial abuse, what hope is there for the rest of us. This has just been so sad and disheartening on every level.

  5. Maria says:

    This article is silly and her “friend” is awful for going to the press about this too and calling her naive now. How many of us can say we eagerly keep people around who tell us our hopes are garbage anyway?

    • PrincessK says:

      Gina Nelthorpe Cowne is not a friend of Meghan’s, she worked for Meghan as PR. This woman was angry she didn’t get a wedding invitation and then started selling articles about Meghan . The Duchess has excellent judgement when it comes to people she needs to keep her distance from.

      • TheOriginalMia says:

        Thank you, PrincessK! I thought this was the same person who had an ax to grind.

      • Tourmaline says:

        I agree I don’t think this lady was among the “British friends” Meghan was talking about on the ITV special, but nice try, Gina.

      • Abena Asantewaa says:

        Wow, she was not invited to the Wedding, then she is not really in her inner circle of friends.Since when did we believe what The daily mail says!Some of the quotes they got from an old clip before the wedding.

      • Humbugged says:

        The fall out with Gina started when she began dating Harry . Gina was not her agent for her acting work ,Gina was the agent who did her outside work and PA and Meghan started shutting that stuff down quickly (her spon deals and her retail tie ins) as Meghan did not want to be seen making money off of dating Harry so Gina stopped getting her percentage

    • Mousy says:

      This was literally my first thought when I saw the headline. As soon as I saw who was quoted, I knew this story was B.S. This woman clearly has an axe to grind and has given MULTIPLE interviews talking about how opportunistic M.M is. It seems like they were more acquaintances/colleagues and not the friend she was referring to.

      Regurgitating this interview as fact is just as bad as posting quotes from that former friend, Samantha Markle, etc…

      • Humbugged says:

        That’s the thing she claims Meghan was being opportunistic while in reality Meghan could have done a bunch of interviews and PA work during the time between her and Harry dating became public knowledge and the engagement but did the opposite and even stopped doing publicity for Suits {apart from the public table read) during that year

  6. Mtec says:

    It really doesn’t sound like this woman is a friend of Meghan’s. I would take what she says with a grain of salt.

    • Valiantly Varnished says:

      Thank you. What “friend” goes to the press to say “I told you so”?

      • Royalwatcher says:

        Not only the press, but to the Daily Heil. No, no nope. That’s no friend of Meghan. I feel like we’ve heard from this “ex-agent” before and it was also a bunch of snarky digs and ‘Meghan is so stupid’ comments from her. So, I actually don’t believe a word she says. I’ll bet the actual friend who gave Meghan advice is someone else (who will not speak up on the record…because it’s an actual friend) and this “ex-agent” is just trying to get another 15 minutes of fame.

      • windyriver says:

        Yes, we’ve heard from her before, it was possibly around the time of the wedding. I remember specifically the bit about Meghan being someone who likes to move on and thinking, wouldn’t be surprised if she had decided to move on from you!

    • Becks1 says:

      Right?? And then describes her as “difficult” etc. I actually wonder what she did say – because some stuff is in quotes and some isn’t, so I definitely think the Mail is twisting some of what this person said – but, she doesn’t sound like a friend.

      • Lorelei says:

        Maybe she was a real friend at some point, because (and I’m completely speculating) if she was Meghan’s PR rep, she stood to gain a metric shit-ton of money and prestige if one of her clients became a member of the BRF. So for her to discourage the relationship, maybe she did actually have Meghan’s best interests in mind at the time. But then once she was informed that Meghan’s PR would be handled exclusively by the palace and she’d be cut loose, she turned on M and started selling this crap to the Daily Fail. But who knows.

    • Sof says:

      That’s what I said aswell, she is aware of the the negative stories but decided to say that no one can change Meghan’s mind and that she is difficult to work with!

      • Christina says:

        Regardless of whether or not they are still friends, Meghan was brave and wonderful to mention that she was warned by friends, but didn’t understand that it could be that bad. Meghan knows who she spoke to.

        This lady may have an ax to grind, but what she said matches what Meg said. And the “friend” is blunt and unkind, but, save the extra commentary about HER option of HER interactions with Meghan, he story checks with Meghan’s and supports what Meghan told the press herself. And so still think that Meghan should hear what people say to her, but do what is right for her and her family. As a public figure, that’s important. As a woman walking through a world that discounts us, we all need to try to do that if we can. If we have a choice to be informed, I think it’s helpful not to shut out the voices of the people around you, but you still need to maintain your core beliefs.

        Anyhow, what I think isn’t going to stop them from attacking her, even in the US. Andy Williams juts ripped her for no one sympathizing with her plight. I have sympathy for Meghan, but I understand why older women in the US feel that way. It’s not fair, because Meghan is young and didn’t know the history the way a lot of us do, but I think that women of my generation expect the young women to do due diligence, ESPECIALLY when you are knocked out by pheremones.

      • Christina says:

        Sorry. I meant Wendy Williams, not Andy Williams. Yikes!

      • A says:

        @Christina, I mean, I don’t find that stance particularly fair because Meghan is young and didn’t know better. I don’t find that stance fair because it inherently lacks compassion for a person who is going through a difficult time. Saying things like, “You didn’t do your due diligence because you were knocked out by pheremones” is unhelpful in any situation. It serves no purpose other than to make the person saying this feel better by assuming a position they think is superior.

        As for Wendy Williams, homegirl herself was in a sh-tty position not so long ago. She asked for people to be patient with her as she got things sorted out. As many people at the time pointed out, why does she get the right to ask for compassion and patience from other people when she has none of it to extend to others herself? I defended her and continue to defend her because as I said, criticizing someone by saying, “I told you so,” is unhelpful. It ignores the fact that none of us are smart about everything 100% of the time. We all have to deal with the fact that we could be in positions that make us feel vulnerable, whether that’s a romantic situation, or otherwise. People who smugly say, “I told you so,” and “You should have done your homework first,” are also the same people who think that they can protect themselves from situations like this if they do x, y and z. The truth is they can’t. None of us can. That’s just part and parcel of being human. All you can do is be kind to yourself and others.

  7. Valiantly Varnished says:

    …So what?? None of that excuses or explains away the amount of racist abuse she has received. Period.
    This again falls under the idea that a black woman has to change how she lives HER life as opposed to the racist institutions and ideologies themselves being changed.

    • Sarah says:

      A racist institution does not need to change or “modernize”. It needs to disappear. Period. Abolish the monarchy and give some of the hairless royals the privacy they apparently desperately crave.

    • Courtney says:

      If you marry into and work for the royal family, you have to change how you live your life.

      • Ela says:

        But nothing she does is going to change the fact that she is a biracial woman and as much as people want to minize it, that is what is at the root of all of this.

      • Valiantly Varnished says:

        Your comment makes no sense. She HAS changed how she lives her life. That’s not even what we are talking about here. Her changing her life has ZERO to do with her having to take racist hateful vitriol from the press. Period.

  8. Tiffany says:

    The fact the Nina gave a exclusive quote to the Fail and calls herself a ‘confidante’ says all I need to know about her and the high horse she is on right now.

  9. ME says:

    I don’t know. Even those that have never stepped foot into the U.K. know how brutal their media/gossip reporters are. I think she probably thought she’d be able to handle it but now realizes she can’t. I have some sympathy for her but to be honest she knew what she was getting herself in to. The U.K. press are pure scum. But to be honest as a Black woman she’s probably had to deal with racist bullsh*t her whole life, it’s just now on a bigger/global scale…which is horrible. Why hasn’t the Queen stepped up and made a statement? The only one who seems to have Meghan’s back is Harry.

    • Original Jenns says:

      I agree – I think she saw it and thought she’d be going through what Kate went through, and believed she could handle it, that the life she and Harry were building would be worth it. And then it turns out her family and racists everywhere made it many times worse.

      • Original Jenns says:

        I misread the original post – I don’t agree that she knew what she was getting herself into in this respect. I think she knew what Kate had gone through, and what other royal members had gone through. Just because we deal with racism and dog whistles in private life does not mean that what she’s dealing with now is similar. She has my sympathy.

    • Lisa says:

      I agree, I find it really disingenuous her saying she had NO idea. I’m just a regular person in the US and I was well aware how horrible the U.K. press is even as a teen. How could you not when there was so much talk of it after Diana? I was there for a month during college and holy crap you’re just inundated with the rags on every corner and they are everywhere, it is impossible to ignore. There is no way she didn’t know, especially being in the entertainment industry, and she had been to London many, many, many times. Look at what Kate went through, too. She had to have known, and probably thought that the good works and positivity would cut through all that. Not to say this garbage is OK, but to say she had no idea is just not believable. Just like when she said she had no idea who Prince Harry was before her date, come on.

      • yiza says:

        I totally agree, Lisa.

      • yiza says:

        She said she didn’t know who prince harry was before her date? what? Come on for real.

      • Becks1 says:

        No, she said she didn’t know a lot about him, which I think is realistic.

      • Lisa says:

        It was during the engagement interview, she said “Because I’m from the States, you don’t grow up with the same understanding of the royal family. And so while I now understand very clearly there’s a global interest there, I didn’t know much about him.” Then she said all she asked was if he was kind. It’s just impossible for her not to have known his reputation, who he was, a bit about him, that the BRF is a big deal, etc. She had many British friends and spent a ton of time at SoHo House, is friends w Marcus Anderson who is friends with Harry, they were in the same circles, etc. I just don’t like when she makes herself out to be a naive ingenue who had no idea about the ways of the world, she is a very savvy woman and a great networker. I don’t really understand the “not many have asked if I’m ok” thing… what about all her friends? Michelle Obama who faced similar scrutiny? Serena Williams? Her mom? Harry? Who else is supposed to ask? I just wish she was honest and said she didn’t know it would be THIS bad, and now they are sort of trapped which probably feels overwhelming and terrifying. Or not give those interviews, I feel for her but I don’t think it’s helpingc, the press is just feeding it more rabidly.

      • Guest2.0 says:

        I don’t think she was referring to her friends or family when she made the statement about “not many have asked if I’m ok” because I’m sure they have asked and are constantly checking on her. I thought she was just alluding to members of the BRF not being concerned on how she was doing with all the racist hate she’s receiving. And it can be true that she didn’t know much about Harry even though she had British friends. It’s not like she would have known every detail of Harry’s life.

      • MsIam says:

        @Lisa, the “not many have asked’ comment is referring to the press, not her friends and family. Of course people who love her asked, but the bullying press i’m sure have not. They don’t give a damn how she feels, look at how they treated her while she was pregnant. And as far as what she knew about Harry before they got together, that is irrelevant. Harry is not the issue, it’s the press and how they treat her. Stop making excuses for that. They are not investigating some great story or care about journalistic integrity. Look at how they handle that POS Andrew with kid gloves,, that shows how much they care about truth. Pages and pages about Meghan’s dresses and plane rides but barely a peep out the pedo. The press is bullying her for money, period. Stop making like its ok to crucity someone for cash.

      • Abena Asantewaa says:

        First of all, English Comprehension; Meghan said, ‘I never knew much about him’ that statement is different from, I dont know him. The fact that you have seen someone on tv does not mean you know them. Also, believe it or not, not everyone reads the tanloids, or follow the royals. Meghan was 15 years old when Diana died, I doubt, a 15 year old would be preoccupied with a death of a princess from a distant land. Kate did not experience half of the abuse that Meghan endures daily, and none at all from the media after becoming a duchess. The level of hate and untruths from The Media, is unimaginable. Meghan said, I knew it would not be easy, but I thought it would be fair.

      • Col says:

        Exactly. Since when are the tabloids, or the press in general fair? I would say some
        one who thinks that way doesn’t pay much attention to the real world. Very naive.
        And I know Harry warned her to a certain degree. Not blaming her for the what the press are doing, just her naivete. She wasn’t a babe in the woods.

    • Becks1 says:

      I think theres a difference between realizing the tabloids can be nasty, and that they aren’t just the National Enquirer, and then having to experience it personally. What Kate “went through” is nothing compared to what Meghan has experienced. She probably actually saw how Kate was treated and thought she would be treated more like that – some good press, some bad press, but manageable.

      • Lisa says:

        Maybe, I don’t know what she knew or didn’t, but it seemed sadly predictable she would face a ton more BS than Kate. I’m sure it’s much worse than she thought it would be though, and much harder to ignore.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Also it can’t be discounted that a huge tabloid angle on Meghan, starting before the wedding and continuing on, has been: Meghan’s own father. How could she have known that her own father would end up working hand and glove with the Daily Mail etc. to bring her down.

      • Original Jenns says:

        I think this is what she and Harry discussed, and she felt she could take it on. Unfortunately, they were wrong and completely misjudged the rotten people in the world to be better than they are.

      • MsIam says:

        I’m sure Meghan also saw that the BRF stood up for Kate and assumed they would do the same for her. Little did she know that wasn’t going to happen, especially since they were all gushy about the wedding and welcoming her into the family. In fact, the snakes in the family (along with some of the Markles) are probably some of the main perpatraters.

  10. MsIam says:

    The heart wants what it wants I guess. But in fairness, I’m sure PH convinced her that he could protect her from it. And he did try to find someone from (or more familiar with ) his own world and those women said thanks, but no thanks. So what’s he supposed to do? It is still on the press and to a large extent the public to stop this garbage behavior. The press feeds the public what it wants to hear and the public (including myself here too) has an insatiable need for gossip.

    • Becks1 says:

      I agree, but I also think that Harry thought he would protect her from it because he didn’t know how bad it would be. Yes, Harry has often been thrown under the bus to protect various other people, or just because he’s the “spare,” but I still don’t think he was prepared for the full racist onslaught that Meghan has experienced.

      • GM says:

        He probably also thought that his family would have his back. Now it seems they are in this very much alone sadly.

      • swirlmamad says:

        I absolutely think Harry believed they would get more support from the BRF than they have. Hence his comment “She’ll have the family she never really had”…which at the time caused a small uproar because it was seen as insulting her family, but he clearly knew what we didn’t about the Markles at that time. Now on top of that, to realize that your own family has let you down immensely. It’s got to have been utterly heartbreaking for them.

  11. Susannah says:

    I think that Meghan probably thought they would write stories about her but did anyone foresee the avalanche of lies and hatred that would be spewed at her? I agree with Meghan where she expected things to be fair. She didn’t expect tabloids to pay off her father and sister for stories, to skew things like eating an avocado into being about supporting terrorism, to attack her relentlessly for putting her hand on her belly while pregnant. Maybe I’m a naive American regarding UK tabloids, but that all seems so completely abhorrent that I’m shocked by it too.

    • DaisySharp says:

      Lainey was one who was always on that “belly cupping” thing. I think people who obsess over that stuff are mentally ill. It’s not your body, shut up.

    • Becks1 says:

      And also, I think the line about it being fair plays into what this woman said about Meghan focusing on the positive. Meghan probably thought – “well they may attack me, but I’m going to put my head down and work and try to do good so they can only attack me so much and it will be for stupid things that no one believes and the attacks will stop.” I don’t think she could have anticipated the attacks being so unrelenting, no matter what she is actually doing .

      • A says:

        Yes, exactly. I think she thought, well, it can get pretty bad, but it’ll eventually get better and they’ll stop. She didn’t expect all of this. Who would? I certainly didn’t. No one could have.

  12. Dizzy says:

    I’m a Canadian but I lived in the UK 2 years. I was aware of Meghan because she used to live in my city and she did a lot of charity and also was in commercials. She had a great reputation here, Toronto. When i heard she was marrying into the Royal family I just felt so bad for her. It was obvious she didn’t know what she’s was getting into. Sometimes you think it’s all worth it for love, it really isn’t. Unfortunately
    And those Windsor’s really don’t age well either.

    • ME says:

      It’s also hard for her because she doesn’t have the support of her own family other than her mother. When your own blood has no problem selling fake stories about you, it’s got to be infuriating. It would be so hard to hold all that anger in and still smile for the cameras.

    • DaisySharp says:

      TRUTH! thank you. Love wears off, and the Windsor’s hair certainly does! I look at Meghan and I think, so you couldn’t meet Captain America? I would have wrangled that instead. lol I swear I think she could have done better! she really is gorgeous.

      • Aze says:

        “I think she could have done better! She really is gorgeous.”
        It’s not surprising that you assert that love wears off, if it’s based on looks it certainly will!

  13. Vanessa says:

    I can see why Meghan it’s not friends with this woman anymore she sounds jealous and petty This woman went to the same tabloids twice to trashed Meghan .

  14. Sof says:

    ‘so focused on what she wants’ that she will stop associates in their tracks if they question her decisions.
    This comment fits into the negative narrative and this woman knows it, are we sure she is in good terms with Meghan?

    • BayTampaBay says:

      “Someone who always thinks she knows best, that her positive perspective will always be right.”

      I think this is Meghan’s major problem.

      • Maria says:

        Ok so I guess she should lose the positive perspective and just have a nervous breakdown in public?

      • Original Jenns says:

        But when you’ve had to be your own champion for years, it’s an asset. If it weren’t for this attitude (explained by a person who went to the Daily Mail!!!) I think Meghan would have dropped a long time ago.

      • A says:

        Even if it is Meghan’s major problem, what sort of friend goes on and complains about this in such a public way? Especially to the exact tabloids that this lady supposedly warned her from?

        I have a great many faults. My friends would be the first to agree. My family as well. But they address it with me. They don’t discuss my faults with unrelated third parties, because there is an intent and a purpose that is attached to talking about your friends’ bad qualities with someone who doesn’t know them and likely has a vested interest in making them look bad. I’ve dropped those friends before. I’m sure they’d think I was picky and awful and unwilling to countenance different opinions too.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        This quote reminded me of my mother who always thought she was right because she had good and positive intentions. Even when my mother was advised to re-think things or do things differently, she always refused and added in a very stiff and authoritative tone, “But I am right”. Many times decisions my mother made caused many others inconvenience, trouble or downright pain but my mother did not care because “she was in the right”.

        The point I was trying to make is: There are many ways to skin a cat and each way needs to be examined to find the most effective way for a given circumstance. People who refuse to look at all options or listen to differing points of view usually make the wrong decision or wrong choice..

        The more I read about all this from many different sources, the more it appears to me that Meghan & Harry have taken on the whole British establishment in some type of personal scrum. I do not think they can win and if they do win it will be at great personal cost.

      • A says:

        I think there is a world of difference between someone who is failing to take any criticism of their actions because they think their positive intentions always makes them right, and someone who tries earnestly to stay optimistic about their prospects and hope for the best and finds an inherent value in being that way. Frankly, I don’t think Meghan is in the former category. I think her words and her actions say as much, considering she has stated that she’d be okay with press scrutiny provided it was fair, and demonstrated as much with her fashion choices on the South Africa tour that seemed tailored as a direct response to criticisms that she was spending too much money. I think she is perfectly capable of taking criticism, unlike certain other members of the royal family, whose ego prevents them from dealing with anything except constant adulation. And that is the key difference here–ego. If you’re egotistical as an individual, the “””positivity””” that you exhibit is nothing except another effort at manipulating the situation so that you can avoid responsibility for your behaviour. And once again, I do not think that’s what Meghan is doing.

        I think you can be positive and also realistic. And I think that you can be positive, realistic, and still be blind-sided by the sheer intensity of a situation, which is what I think has happened here. And I don’t think this “friend” ever actually predicted the tabloid press would be this bad. I think she’s just capitalizing on the press attention to be smug about it without ever once realizing that she’s contributing to the exact problem that she warned Meghan about. Which makes me find her motivations and her impressions of Meghan even more suspect.

      • 2cents says:

        I think you underestimate Meghan. She is very intelligent and brave to follow her heart . She will rise above the current challenges. Destiny brought H&M together to follow Diana’s path, becoming royal humanitarians on the global stage, and take it a step further. It’s an adventure with an open end. Their catharsis in this documentary is a classic stage in storytelling for the hero in order to grow and move to the next stage of the adventure. As a team they are in a better position than Diana to succeed and make their dreams come true, with or without the royal family, as brand Sussex. They will not repeat Diana’s mistakes regarding the press, and will control their own narrative.

      • Original Jenns says:

        “A” says what I feel in a much more articulate way than I could. I think we’ve also seen that Meghan is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t, so why wouldn’t she continue to do what she feels is best for her and the situation, since it doesn’t matter to the nay-sayers.

      • L4Frimaire says:

        @ A, I agree . She was quoted in the documentary that if she was told she was doing something wrong, she’d apologize and fix it. I don’t think she refuses to listen to sound advice, I just wonder if she’s actually gotten any from the Royal household or courtiers directly. Wasn’t the press patting itself on the back during South Africa tour saying she was finally listening to them with the low key dressing and taking a back seat to Harry’s portion of the tour? So many contradictions. In some ways, they need to stop expecting anything from the British press. If they want positive coverage, talk to US press, and just show up for stuff in England, but issue no comments except for official statements, maintain radio silence beyond pleasantries. The friend definitely is an ” I told you so”, but her advise was to NOT get married. Who wants that?

  15. Angie says:

    I just lost a close friend to leukemia. She also had this very positive perspective on life. She refused ever to let any negativity come around her and all through treatment she believed completely she would heal. Her attitude made her a beautiful person and she fought her disease for almost five years surviving when the odds were almost zero many times. I credit her positive outlook for that survival. The downside of it however was that it was difficult to discuss what would happen if she died and there was sometimes a sort of artificialness that you had to maintain in the last stages. Also even though she’d been sick for five years nothing was that prepared for her death. So it’s a good and bad thing, this outcome. I really admired it though- however she could stay so positive but there are good and some bad things about this type of person. It sounds like Meghan is like this too.

    • Noodle says:

      I’m sorry to hear about your friend. We all have coping mechanisms that serve us when we want them to, but don’t always serve us in the way we need. It sucks to lose a friend after so long a battle.

    • Original Jenns says:

      Agree with this, it’s an asset, but it comes with it’s own cons as every attitude does.

      I’m very sorry about the loss of your friend, she sounds like a beautiful spirit who left everyone with wonderful memories.

    • Montréalaise says:

      I am sorry about your friend. I know someone like that as well. Six years ago he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgins’ lymphoma and given four months to live. He underwent chemo, responded will right away, and has been in complete remission for five years. His doctors attribute his recovery to his extreme positivity and unshakeable belief that he would beat the disease.
      However – the same attitude has gotten him into serious trouble at work. He is firmly convinced that he knows everything better than anyone else and refuses to even consider advice or warnings from other people, especially warnings that he is treading on a dangerous path.

    • Christina says:

      My sympathies, Angie. That’s so hard. Hoping that you are taking care of yourself after being there for your friend.

  16. MrsBanjo says:

    The last comments by the “friend” are very telling – about that person. No matter how much Meghan could have known or taken into account how awful the press is there, to say that she should have or would have known how vile and racist they could be is bullshit victim blaming. I don’t even blame Harry for being a little naive because that particular level of vitriol is not something he had experienced, regardless of what his mom and Fergie went through.

    • swirlmamad says:

      Exactly. How COULD he have truly known? At the end of the day he is a white male who is the epitome of privileged. That was never anywhere near his radar. And to blame Meghan for “not knowing better” is simply vile. It doesn’t sound like this person is a true friend…more an acquaintance who felt the need to put in their two cents. I’d probably have taken the “advice” with a grain of salt too.

  17. greenmonster says:

    This sounds more like a FORMER friendly associate than a friend. The latter would have confirmed that she talked to Meghan about her concerns towards the tabloids but stopped then and there. A friend does not call the other ‘difficult to work with’.

    Meghan could not have known how bad this would go. Harry didn’t know. Harry probably thought that the Queen or Charles or ANYONE would step up and put an end to this.

  18. Snap Happy says:

    I feel like this woman has been used as an unnamed source before. The Meghan putting up her hand thing and saying no negativity sounds very familiar. Like they might have used this woman’s words and attributed it to someone in palace??

    • Kebbie says:

      She wasn’t an unnamed source, she just told this exact same story back before the wedding. They went back to her after Meghan said she’d been warned by her British friends.

  19. Mignionette says:

    Like any public person she expected a certain amount of noise, similar to the crap in the run up to the wedding.
    What I believe she objects to is ‘the destruction of her private life’ i.e. weaponising the Markle’s, her mother having to move out of her home, friends being harassed, not being able to disclose god parents for fear of them being torn apart, not posing for the RR’s hours after Archie’s birth etc etc

    • L4Frimaire says:

      Totally agree with this. The press want her to be this Hollywood diva who dishes with them, and she wouldn’t do that. Just because she did press and networked to promote her show is not the same as letting them into her personal life, especially considering who she married. In that regard, she was following the lead of the Royal family and also decided to keep the birth private to avoid being accused of trying to upstage Cambridge’s. Also, they didn’t expect her to really be results oriented, and intelligent with a strong work ethic. Look at the reaction to sending 5 whole texts a day! She definitely try to has a positive outlook, seize the day, we can do it! energy, sometimes at the expense of listening to some hard truths. The British as a whole are not exactly the type with a positive, up and at ’em outlook. It rubs them the wrong way. They don’t like it when people try too hard and are suspicious of it, which is why they think she’ got some ulterior motive. Plus they’re a bit racist and sexist, about it as well.

      • d says:

        Exactly. And I think Brits have that `hammer the nail that stands out`mentality as well. The press, tabloids in particular, has always been ghoulish while proving controversy sells and they always will be. They photographed Diana while she was dying for God`s sake and might have impeded her survival. Think of the absolute vile terrible things said back then and said STILL TODAY about Barack Obama and his family, including his two young daughters. The vileness on media forums, in gossip sites, and so-called friends…they`re all hounding her to prove she`s unfit and it is bullying. Classism, racism, anti-Americanism, sexism, and just sheer hate. I don`t see what she can do but rise above, and just keep doing her job, maybe hand over the social media to a proper professional, and just pretend all`s well when she had to go out in public and talk to public and media, then only vent in private to counsellors and friends and family. I think actually putting up a front would benefit them, because that doesn`t have to mean keeping things inside. They can maintain a front in public and then deal with whatever pain and concerns in private with a therapist if necessary, because it`s no one`s business anyway. I wish they hadn`t done that documentary; it only continued the cycle. I think they should seek counselling and keep things private and just focus on raising their son and go away for a while. She cannot win against the kind of hatred and criticism that`s being thrown at her and by playing by their rule book. She needs to find another way to win. I don`t mean she should shut down and not be herself, but rather: regroup, observe for a good long while, plan and strategize, and then implement.

  20. TheOriginalMia says:

    Meghan was naive. Newsflash. So were the rest of us. Who knew the tabs would have a dedicated campaign to demean/demonize/otherize her for 3 years? No one. This is unprecedented, which is why the BRF had no plan to handle it and are looking pretty bad right now.

    Wasn’t this woman dropped by Meghan because she talks? I seem to remember an earlier interview in the Fail where she made snide comments about Meghan, all under the guise of being a friend. This woman is no friend.

    I find nothing wrong with Meghan dumping toxic people out of her life. She wants positive influences and positive vibes. There is nothing wrong with that. And seriously…who wants to hear someone tell them they should dump the man they love because of the tabs? Who gives that kind of advice? Let the racists win because life would be easier. Screw that noise. I wouldn’t want to hear it either. Meghan has a husband who loves her deeply. She has a child. She has her mother and her close friends who are there for her. Those are the positive vibes she wants in her life.

    • Susannah says:

      I know it was a long time ago, but when Diana was first pregnant, BP gathered all the press together and asked them to go easy on her because she was having such issues with her adjustment period and BP knew she was just pregnant too although it hadn’t been announced and wanted to try and stop the press obsession.
      I guess they saw the result of that and didn’t bother when it came to the coverage of Meghan but I wish they would have released a statement, in the beginning, asking the press to back off and allow Meghan an adjustment period considering all of the new roles she was taking on.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Yep, I remember reading about this, the Queen gathered the newspaper representatives together and asked them to stop bothering Diana, in late 1981.

        I think a lot of the Diana harassment, then and later in her life, was photographers following her around in public while she was trying to shop or see friends or go on vacation. With Meghan the harassment is different in nature. Maybe the old Queen just doesn’t get it or doesn’t think it is worth her time to stand up to it.

    • Valiantly Varnished says:

      EXACTLY. NONE of us thought that it would be at this level. I certainly didnt. I so maybe we were ALL naive. Because the level of hatred towards this woman for literally no reason other than her being black is STAGGERING. And I say this as a black woman who has experienced racism and bigotry. It’s shocking even to ME. So how could she have possibly known?
      And how could Harry – a rich white man have EVER had the tools to prepare her for it?? He would have told her about the press…sure. But does anyone honestly think that Harry had enough knowledge of institutional racism to prepare her for THAT??

  21. Paige says:

    Yes, this “friend” does not sound like a friend at all. I remember a very difficult work challenge a while back, and a colleague from France told me my approach was “very American” – as in, optimistic in a silly way. Maybe Meghan has miscalculated a few things, and maybe her judgement was not always 100% accurate, but FFS who WOULD get it all right? I’m sure she’s stung by the fact that all her hard work, studying, preparation and perseverance isn’t enough to be accepted. And she bears zero responsibility for the terrible media attacks on her – that’s who they are, not her.

    • A says:

      Moreover, what is wrong with anything being optimistic in a silly way? Like, sorry that all of us aren’t Albert Fcking Camus over here, draped in black, quoting existentialist poetry about how the world inherently sucks. It’s startling to me just how much the world truly despises qualities like earnestness or optimism, or the plain impulse to want better, both for yourself and for other people. Damn.

  22. Betsy says:

    I know people who act how this friend describes Meghan and they are MADDENING people to me. I do not understand not wanting to work through angles or attempting to block reality.

    But really: was Harry not supposed to have gotten married? There is no one who wasn’t born into this who could take it on then, and I think that neither TQ nor Charles grasps how much worse it is just as the TQ didn’t grasp how much it had changed from her time to Diana’s.

  23. Maryam Abbasi says:

    Yes- this is absolutely victim blaming! It’s easy to point the finger. When Kate married William I felt critical of her: who would want that fishbowl life? When Meghan married Harry I thought: Hey maybe marrying a prince is fun! Unfortunately it sounds awful though. No point in blaming the victim and the perpetrators should be called out! Maybe William and Harry should have kept their wives hidden knowing what would happen to them.

  24. Beli says:

    She probably expected some shit, but the level of bile and bullying she’s being put through is unprecedented. No one could have predicted it, least of all her.

    She was going to be given a hard time and I think she was aware of that, but not the seething lies and the volume and relentlessness of it and not that her family would join in.

    I think that’s what she meant when she said “I thought it would be fair”. She didn’t think there would be outright lies constantly.

  25. swirlmamad says:

    I feel like all the comments out there about “willfully ignoring criticism” and saying “well if I was her, I wouldn’t have married him”….is everyone being truthful? Would YOU have so quickly and easily run away from someone you deeply loved? Was Harry supposed to remain a bachelor his entire life and just shut down any chance at a happy, fulfilling marriage because of the vultures that are the British media? Was Meghan just supposed to turn her back on what she felt was real and lasting love just because the media was going to do their best to make their lives miserable? The one thing everyone wants and strives for in life is real and deep love….their version of a soulmate. These two have seem to have found it in each other. All this couple has done was fall in love, albeit moved pretty quickly, but they are both in their mid- to late-thirties. For any other couple that would be a perfectly acceptable reason for dating and marrying relatively quickly.

    • Casey says:

      she didn’t have to date him at all. you don’t ‘deeply love’ someone for a long time. she chose to date him knowing full well the consequences.

      • Piptopher says:

        so what? None of that makes what other people are doing (racist bullying) acceptable. There is no action she could take that would make it acceptable. So whether she went in blind or not, that does not determine anything beyond victim blame, which is an incredibly boorish and tired idiocy. Are you a boor and idiot, Casey?

      • MsIam says:

        Who are you to say how somebody else should feel? Or how long it takes them to feel it? Life is short and tomorrow is not promised. If they felt it was right for them, then they should go for it. It still does not excuse somebody else’s racism and cruelty.

    • Sarah says:

      If I met a man who was part of, not just a racist family, but a racist institution, a racist company (it’s called the firm for a reason), which was built of the pain and stolen labor of my ancestors, then yes I would run away. If said family was made of outrageously racist members who do not even bother to hide their racism in my presence despite being invited to my wedding, then yes I would run away.
      It might seem extreme but the world as it is is hostile enough to me as a black woman. I don’t need to put up with that crap coming from my own in-laws on top of everything. Same reason why I cut off contact with Trump voters. It’s a form of self-care.

      • MsIam says:

        Well that is your choice. Meghan chose differently. Still no excuse for the racist behavior.

      • Sarah says:

        @MsIam, I agree completely, it’s no excuse for the racism both the media and the RF have been displaying. I am used to seeing black women treating like that, but it does not get any less disgusting.

  26. Iamcait says:

    With “friends” like that who go running to tabloids , who needs enemies? Meghan’s real friends such as Jessica Mulroney, Serena Williams and the designer Noonoo(?) wouldn’t dream of selling her out like this and giving away tasty tidbits to rags like the Fail.

  27. Casey says:

    No way she didn’t know. her husband’s mother’s death was largely attributed to being chased by the press but she claims she didnt know what the press was like? oh please.

    • Sarah says:

      Meghan is an intelligent, well-read woman who cares about politics. Surely, she saw the way Michelle Obama, the wife of the first Black president was treated. The only institution which is more “white only” than the US presidency is the British royal family (on the face of it least). The only press which can match the American one in its racism is the British one. Why did anyone expect things to go smoothly? I expect this kind of naive nonsense from a privileged, sheltered prince or from well-meaning white liberals who discovered racism somewhere in 2016 or 2017. But from a biracial woman who was raised by a black woman? My own mother would probably bury me in the garden before letting me marry into this racist “family”, even outside of the British tabloids factor. Racists are always gonna racist.

    • Courtney says:

      Not properly warning her/preparing for this eventuality makes Harry seem dumb or cruel. Or both.

    • MsIam says:

      The press did not gang up and attack Diana for every little thing, try to destroy her character, use her own family and so called friends against her. I don’t recall one story about Diana touching her stomach too much, holding her baby the wrong way, whether or not she wore pantyhose or one-shoulder dresses. And there was no internet where stories come out by the hour. And who in life hasn’t thought they could handle something only to get into it and realize that this sh!t is real? Hindsight is always 20/20. Stop with the victim blaming.

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        @Msiam, I don’t see victim blaming in these comments, nobody is saying Meghan is responsible for the treatment she has received. Debating the extent of naïveté is a different matter.

      • Casey says:

        it’s not victim blaming. nobody is saying shes responsible. what people are saying is that there is no way on earth that she was that naive. it comes across manipulative. claiming that the US doesn’t have tabloids, that she didn’t know anything about the British press. that’s complete BS+

      • MsIam says:

        @Casey and Vinny, when you keep insisting that she “should have known” you are assuming she bears some responsibility. Which is victim blaming. Do you know Meghan to say “what she should have known”? I’m taking her words at face value while you are projecting your own biases. And it is true, the US does not have tabloids like the UK does. The National Enquirer is on the verge of bankruptcy and wishes they had half the readers of the UK tabloids. Who in the US is like Piers Morgan with his constant bashing?

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        @msiam, maybe you are just lumping me in the same category but please go back and read my comment again. I did not insist or assume anything, nor did I project any biases.

        I believe victim blaming would be to say that Meghan deserves the smears and vile treatment for whatever ridiculous reason someone might have. I simply didn’t see that in the comments you responded to.

        Personally I think we are all splitting hairs – no matter what we could expect them to know or anticipate, both Harry and Meghan seemed completely shocked by the level of vitriol that has unfolded. I think they thought the naysayers would be drowned out.

  28. Sam says:

    Why does the press think anyone that has met or worked with Meghan is her friend.Gina isn’t a friend but an ex agent of Meghan who has been selling stories about her to tabloids.The british friends,based on her Instagram are Lucy and Misha.Also,no Meghan friends would be speaking to DF or any British tabloids

  29. Megbot2000 says:

    The woman who spoke to the Mail wasn’t Meghan’s agent, she runs a company that books celebs for public speaking gigs. Meghan was on her books briefly for speaking gigs but she is not an acting agent and never repped Meghan for acting work. She’s pimped Meghan and the royal connection out to the press since day one (her website used to have really tacky Brit and royal imagery all over it).

  30. kerwood says:

    ‘Friend’? No friend of the Duchess of Sussex would race to the paper that’s been abusing her for two years. This woman sounds like she comes from the ‘Piers Morgan School of Friends of the Duchess of Sussex’.

    But this woman did perform one service for her ‘friend’. She proved that everything the Duchess and her supporters have been saying is true.

    I love that people are lining up to try and blame Meghan for the abuse she’s been receiving. ‘She was WARNED’! ‘She should have known!’. Who could be warned about THIS?

    Meghan was in love and she had HOPE. She HOPED that people would see how much she and Harry loved each other and give them a chance. She HOPED that people would see how eager she was to work and make a difference and give HER a chance. Hope is a dangerous thing. That’s one of the biggest tragedies of this whole horrible thing. That there are so many people committed to killing hope. No wonder the world is the way it is.

  31. Brandi says:

    She is not Meghan friend!!!

  32. BC says:

    The victim blaming in some of these comments though, smh.

  33. Sofia says:

    I don’t understand why the blame is fully on Meghan. In fact some of the blame should be on the RF for not doing more and not warning her. Hell Kate should have had a chat with her at the bare minimum.

    It’s always “Meghan should do this” or “Meghan should have known that” but is it possible that no one (from the family) actually sat down and said “This gig isn’t easy and it’s gonna be even worse since you’re half black”

    Meghan even said she wanted fair coverage and yes she probably underestimated things but how on Earth was she going to predict shit like her family turning on her? Up until the wedding, her and Thomas were good with each other till greed got to the better of him

    • A says:

      Thank you! I don’t think Meghan ever thought that the coverage wouldn’t be bad. She was very clear in her comments. She thought the coverage would be “fair.” As in, the criticisms might have a legitimate root behind them. Not just, “She’s a woc and she won’t show us her baby, so off with her fcking head.” The tabloid press straight up lied about her for months. I think it’s this part of things that she didn’t know, that they could just cobble together untruths like that and not get challenged on it.

  34. Le4Frimaire says:

    I don’t know what that woman’s intention was is talking to the Fail, but she does make some interesting points. Maybe Meghan should have stayed in touch with her but I think the palace had her cut a lot of contacts, especially anyone in media. It seems everyone wanted Harry to stay the bachelor prince until well into middle age. One thing people comment on is how hard she hit the ground running and how quickly they Royals put her out there. She was doing walkabouts with the public and events just after engagement. They should have worked with her more and mentored her on the intricacies of how things work. I also think Harry, who is used to being catered to and adored, thought if she just did things his way, everyone else would fall in love with her the way he did. Maybe the palace tried but seems like they briefed her a bit then said , off you go, do the Royal thing, and the decided to ice them out after the Oceania tour and pregnancy announcement, because they didn’t like the limelight on her . Why didn’t they partner her with some creaky old countess or duchess to learn the ropes. I think her and Harry thought if she shows how hard she was willing to work and how well she engages with people, that would be recognized and appreciated, not considered a threat or her wanting attention. Instead they get nothing but negative stories, racist, classist asides and no one from their family reaches out to them. It’s like a hazing process that’s still ongoing. I think trying to communicate through the press isn’t the best move because the press does not support them. That comment about modernizing the monarchy was just said in anger by someone. It’s not their job to do that. They can modernize their specific role so they have a purpose, especially once the Queen dies and Charles/William take over. Official statements and no comments may be the best approach, especially since they have made very clear what’s going on in their lives. They need to deal directly with their family, and yes, use their time off to reassess. Everyone wants some big gesture, like them to leave the Royal family or leave each other. It doesn’t have to be that dramatic. A bit of drudgery and behind the scenes work and quiet diplomacy needs to be done.

  35. A says:

    So…this friend warned Meghan about how the tabloid press would ruin her life, the exact same tabloid press this woman is now contributing to? Are we sure this lady was her friend at all, ever?

    Also, saying things like, “she’s difficult to work with because she knows what she wants” “she doesn’t like any negativity” sounds to me like heavily coded language. I’m picky, and bossy and I know exactly what I want too. I don’t deal with people and their bullshit easily, because I need to get my work done in life, and I need it done well. I’m also a WOC in a STEM field. I’m this way because I have to be this way, and because this gets good results for the work I want to do. It’s an asset to ANYONE to have people who are focused and determined and capable of getting things down. I am so fcking tired of limp white ladies who think it’s oh so threatening that a woman of colour know exactly what she wants, and isn’t afraid to tell people to stop if necessary. God knows this woman should have taken Meghan’s advice as well.

    • HK9 says:

      I don’t think this “woman” is her friend because her actual friends sound a certain way in the press and this is not it. It’s just another hit from the tabloids by another name. And yes-we’re all tired of limp white ladies who feign being ‘threatened” in the presence of a competent WOC. It’s disingenuous and tiring.

      • A says:

        @HK9, for so long I chose to shut up and be nice because I thought being liked would get me more results than being straight forward. It didn’t. I stopped and it’s still a struggle to not be a people pleaser every day, because it’s ingrained into you as a woc that you should play along and be polite to the same people who don’t give you a fraction of the respect you give them.

        GOD I can’t even express how annoyed reading this article made me feel. I feel so bad for Meghan. This lady is the exact press that she warned Meghan about, and now she’s complaining about being dropped for “disagreeing” with her? I think Meghan knew exactly why she dropped her. People keep saying there might be some truth to what she said about Meghan’s “positivity”–well, I know plenty of people who are annoyingly negative and pessimistic about anything good that happens to others, ESPECIALLY if it’s their woc friends and they happen to be white. Oh, you got a promotion? Well that’s just more work for you, less of a work-life balance don’t you think? Oh, you’re in a relationship? Well, I suppose that’s good, you are kind of getting old and want to settle down right. Oh, you’re going to grad school? Are you sure you’re prepared for it, it’s a lot of work, and it’s expensive. I know this type well too. Ugh.

      • HK9 says:

        Being a people pleaser is a double edged sword for us WOC because we end up following a playbook that white people keep moving the ‘goal-posts’ on. I stopped too. Not easy but there’s less stress in the sense that I can use my emotional energy on things that really matter. Hugs to you my friend, I know how it can be.

  36. Linda says:

    What manner of passive aggressive bullshit is this? People like this so called friend of Meghan irritate me immensely. It’s clear as day that this person dislikes Meghan and instead of just owning it, she is couching this whole thing as giving advise to a friend.

  37. kerwood says:

    I’m not surprised by some of these comments. Black people, especially Black women have been blamed for racism for centuries. We’re told that racism would go away if WE changed. If only YOU weren’t so LOUD. If only YOU didn’t dress/wear your hair like THAT. If only you didn’t COMPLAIN so much. If only you didn’t expect to be safe in your own home.

    The only way racism will end is for racists to end it.

    • A says:

      If only YOU would stop wanting better for yourself. If only YOU would stop asking for the world to treat you with fairness. If only YOU would stop being optimistic and start being “realistic” about how the world actually functions. Smfh.

    • Sarah says:

      Racists are never going to stop being racists. Especially not the ones whose entire wealth comes from colonizing, killing and stealing – that would be the Royal family Meghan Markle chose to marry into.
      If I were in her shoes, I would be looking into some good divorce lawyer and document every racist “incidents” behind-the-scenes to argue in front of the judge that the RF should not have access to Archie – besides his father.

    • swirlmamad says:

      Exactly. I’m a WOC myself and I’m at the point where I’ve resigned myself to the fact that if anyone is going to get through to the racists, it’s white allies. I’m not going to change their minds. No matter what we do or say or how we “play the game”, it’s never going to be good enough for them. We won’t be heard or listened to. White people have the best chance of getting through to their skinfolk because the racist ones are the willfully ignorant ones in terms of hearing what POC have to say. As it is they will consider whites who speak against the injustices “traitors” and “mentally off”. It will never be an simple task for anyone who takes it on.

  38. S808 says:

    1. This woman sounds like a bitch and no friend of Meghan’s. What friend runs to the press that’s abusing you to say I told you so?
    2. This all feels very “well girl, you should’ve known!!1!1!” and that’s gross to me. She said in the documentary that she knew it wouldn’t be EASY but she thought it’d be fair. I’m not going to blame her for thinking that. I don’t think she was naive in believe the press would at the very least be humane.
    3. I get placing a bit of blame on Harry for bringing her into this but at the same time is he supposed to never get married to a woman he actually loves because of his family? He can’t help that. I think even he underestimated just how bad the press would be and overestimated how much his family cared about him which is something really sad to reckon with.
    4. Abolish the monarchy. If the biracial duchess is the final straw then so be it.

  39. Jane Doe says:

    This “friend” (and so many others in the public) are angry that this biracial woman didn’t downgrade her expectations and dared to want and pursue this relationship.

  40. Lurkmode says:

    I think it’s silly to blame Meghan for being naive by marrying Harry, especially when the attacks didn’t really start ramping up until after the successful Oceania tour and after she got pregnant. The Windsors probably put their very best foot forward for Meghan, so she and Harry wouldn’t have thought they wouldn’t have supported them. When members of the family like Princess Michael of Kent decided to be slick they were put in check (pre-wedding). Harry would’ve had no way of knowing it would have been this bad, either.

    This Gina woman was not ever Meghan’s friend, she was a PR woman who was friends with Meghan like Meghan was friends with Pus Morgan. None of Meghan’s friends talk negatively about her or Harry to the press.

    The purpose of any “concerned friend or family member” speaking out now is to suggest since it’s so hard for Meghan, that she needs to leave and go back to America or Africa where she belongs.

    Do not be surprised if you see Thomas Markle giving an interview (or even Samantha) saying that Meghan’s fairy tale is over and she needs to come back to America and be with her “real” family.

    That’s been the whole point of the attacks since the Oceania tour: to get Meghan out of the Royal Family (before a child was born). Now that a child has been born and that kid is a permanent part, and because it’s clear the Sussexes aren’t splitting up due to the attacks, the new point will be they are too fragile and delicate for Royal work and should be retired from royal duties permanently.

    As far as the comments on Harry never marrying, William & Kate would love it if Harry never married, and stayed a permanent third wheel, doing the heavy lifting while they take the credit.

    • S808 says:

      That last sentence…..WOOOO. Come on truth.

    • MsIam says:

      I agree on the W&K statement. Or Harry should have married someone who was not “competition” for Coat Dress and made her look bad. Because that is the real issue, I feel. Dutiful Kate who never puts a foot wrong can never be made to look bad or lazy. I think William is fine with Harry doing Invictus or anything on his own but lord have mercy, don’t outshine his wife and family.

  41. Tiff says:

    Being in love makes you stupid. It’s a proven scientific fact. That aside, if this is the love of her life… how else should she have handled it?
    Given up the love of her life even if the relationship is great because of tabloids? If given the choice who would say love is not worth it? I’d question the loyalty and love if that were the case.

    I think she was prepared herself for what Kate got but what she got was x10 because of misogynoir. I don’t think in the year 2019 any young person would think to prepare themselves for blatant racism and misogyny nonstop and even during pregnancy and maternity. It’s one thing to be gossiped about and another for the press to actively attack and wish ill on you and your baby.

    What the Duchess is receiving is not normal and there is no way she could or should have prepared herself for the reception she’s received. She probably didn’t think her family and his family would go to such great lengths to attack her. How can you prepare yourself for your future uncle in law being a pedo and using you as a shield?! Or your brother in law having an affair with is wife’s BFF and using you as a shield?! How?!

  42. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    I didn’t read all the comments, maybe a fourth lol, but it has been my experience the love is blind cliché has, and always will be, inherently true. I could say youth is a factor, but these two aren’t spring chickens. To all the positive people out there who refuse to allow negativity seepage, this is a prime example of why you must insist on balanced input. However, once in the throws of love, is it then simply too late? Probably.

    Here’s the thing though, her naiveté, her refusal to properly digest what being with Harry meant, etc. is sidelined amidst a ruthless media smear. This kind of yellow journalism is criminal and should be legislated. At the very least, these tabloids should be thrown on the dissecting table they themselves designed. Lawsuits should become too numerous to keep publications profitable and afloat. Citizens will never look the other way if a train wreck happens in front of them; therefore, media has a viable and almost tangible responsibility and obligation to temper. The personal damage is quite frankly not quantifiable.

  43. Sarah I the first sarah says:

    Whether she knew or not, it is now untenable. I think she is saying things, I didn’t know, I didn’t know much about Harry, to stem the tide of people thinking or saying that she married for money or position. Read the rest of this sentence before you go off….I think my little brother belongs to a racist group. Back when we were still talking, I told him that racist groups and racism was for people that didn’t feel good about themselves and they thought that putting others down would make them feel better about themselves, but it never worked. Of course he didn’t listen. How astonishing it is to me to hear this kind of racism with a British accent, from a kingdom older than us. Before I was born it was deadly racism with a German accent.

    I saw an interview between an Australian journalist and a British female gossip journalist. She had on a pretty orange dress and could have been attractive, but the nastiness and hate contorted her face and made her ugly.

    I keep thinking that if Piers Morgan went on air and apologized to Meagan and said, I have been such a huge ass and my ego was involved, from here on in I will champion a younger, vulnerable woman and mother and do all I can to help her. It could do some good, and would certainly go a ways to refurbishing his stinky image.

  44. Canweleaveyet? says:

    It is to Harry’s credit that he overlooked her family issues and her divorce – he had to know they would be issues and he chose her regardless. That is what makes their relationship more “real” to me than Will and Kate. It seems like she was groomed to be a contender and was one of a preselected group of options. For sure it is naive to not see how marrying a royal is big time public eye, but the stories have become even more prominent since their marriage, and I don’t think even informed Brits could have predicted the level. It started to show up with negative Kate PR but has really hit a fever pitch now. Look back 3-5 years on this blog – very few Royal stories. Now it is about half.

  45. Marie says:

    This “friend”gave many interviews after their engagement and never said she warned Meghan of the press. She is just bitter she never got an invite to the wedding. Her and Piers both claimed to have put Meghan in the cab for Harry and Meghan’s first date. Both are liars.

    Meghan said she knew it would be hard but probably never knew her dad would sell her out to the highest bidder. He was quiet when they were dating.

    We can never fully prepare for anything in life.

    Like someone else said, should Harry never marry? Should he be alone and miserable because of the press or should the press change how THEY do things? Maybe be more fair or just step back some? That’s all that they are asking. Harry’s statement, the lawsuits and the doc are signs that Harry and Meghan are going to handle things differently and I am glad for them.

  46. JulieCarr says:

    I think that was pretty obvious from the way they handled her family (or didn’t handle them). Anyone at all prepared for what they were about to take on would have seen the glaring issue there from day one, gotten out in front of it and hired the right people to minimise the damage. Instead they actually fed into it for months by putting out counter stories, which is exactly how you don’t handle rogue family members, since that just gives them more news cycles.

  47. JaneDoesWork says:

    UGH if she were a man she wouldn’t be “picky” she would be focused, decisive, and strong.

    • A says:

      Compare the stuff people are saying about Meghan, and how people treat William or even Charles, who are both rumoured to be people who constantly have to have their egos validated, who can’t stand opposing views on their behaviour. William especially, who has been rumoured for a few years as being particularly annoyed if he is ever challenged, especially by his own staff members.

  48. Well-Wisher says:

    None of the Duchess friends will speak to the Daily Heil.

  49. Nic919 says:

    No actual friend speaks to the Daily Mail. In fact William would plant stories to various people to test out whether or not they would go to the media and those who did not passed the loyalty test. Kate was one of the ones who passed. So anyone who speaks to the DM about Meghan isn’t actually a friend and it explains why she was dropped by Meghan. It’s what every other royal has done with people they encounter who don’t prove to be loyal.

    As for the tabloids, I’m sure she expected to get what Kate got, but sadly the racist element was worse for her and her father cooperated with them. No one can prepare for that. And jerks like Piers Morgan talk about her non stop. What other royal has to deal with that kind of stalking abusive behaviour from a member of the media to that degree? No one. Even the queen isn’t criticized like that. Frankly pedo Andy should be.

  50. jbyrdku says:

    I think she did what all of us have done at what time or another in our lives. She met a guy, she fell in love, and everything else faded into the background. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Like I said, I think we all have or would be capable of doing that.

    I also don’t think coming out and telling the papers “I told you so” is going to help. Doesn’t sound like that great of a friend.

  51. PrincessK says:

    The latest line being pushed by British hacks is that how dare Meghan and Harry complain about how hard their lives are when they are visiting countries with extreme poverty, land mine victims and women who are victims of terrible crimes. I say that those same people would be appalled at the way the Sussexes are being treated by the UK press, and the people of those countries have had a long history of experiencing British racism, which with the rise in populism is now resurgent, and would understand more than British people what the Sussexes are going through.

  52. Paramita says:

    I am sorry but did no one see Doria Ragland’s face at the wedding? Did she look ecstatic or over the moon? To me no, and I remember thinking when I saw her… this is the face of a mother who thinks her daughter is making a terrible mistake but is trying to be supportive anyway.

    • aurora says:

      I said something similar on another thread: I was wondering what Doria was thinking, if it was probably something like “What is my girl getting herself into?”

  53. starryfish29 says:

    I think she knew they’d be all over her but didn’t expect them to be so blatantly racist and for the vitriol to be this sustained. That seems like a pretty reasonable expectation to me. I didn’t expect them to accuse her of supporting murder because she eats avocado toast either.

  54. Gem says:

    I don’t think she was naive. I think she thought she would be pretty much universally adored, or at least liked. She does seen to be very single minded. A lot of you are putting a positive spin on that because you stan her big time but to me it makes her sound a little hard headed and stubborn.

    • Olenna says:

      I disagree; I don’t believe she thought she’d be universally adored. She was quite familiar with how social media works, the good and bad, before she started seeing PH. If anyone believes she only received kind regards on her accounts from fans and the casually interested, they are naive. There are many more people out here in this world who use SM to anonymously project their insecurities and vent their distorted (and sometimes disturbing) views on celebrities and other high-vis people than the average person is aware of (yes, it’s a scary, harsh world IRL). What Meghan stated clearly and succinctly, though, is what I believe: Haters (individuals) are gonna hate and she didn’t think it would be easy, but she did think it would be fair as far as the news media are concerned.