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Opinion: The backlash to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Oprah interview was disturbing
Credit: Courtesy of Flickr user carobax
WSPN’s Sophia Oppenheim discusses her opinion on how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were treated after their interview with Oprah.
“The Little Mermaid” was my favorite movie as a six-year-old. To me, the movie was just the story of a red-headed mermaid who lived in a hidden cave and was friends with a flounder and a crab. To Meghan Markle, however, there was a completely different meaning. She described it as the story of a woman who wanted to be with a prince but had to lose her voice to do so. She then said that was exactly what happened to her when she married Prince Harry.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an interview on Sunday, March 7. They discussed the reasons the couple left their royal duties as well as issues of suicide and racism. However, even with the awful way that Meghan and Harry claimed they were treated by the royal family, thousands of people left hate comments on posts all over news Instagram accounts such as E! News, People Magazine, the New York Times and many more. Many people believe that Meghan was just acting and trying to get in the public eye. I find these comments disturbing and inappropriate for multiple reasons.
First, an overview of the interview. It started with Markle and Oprah talking alone. Markle said she felt unprotected by the royal family. Even after they promised her that they would protect her from the fake news from U.K. tabloids, Markle still felt that the royal family was more willing to protect other members of the family over her and her son, Archie, which leads to another huge aspect of the controversy. Markle shared that the color of Archie’s skin when he was born was brought up as a “problem” with older members of the royal family (she did not directly identify who). She also shared that she had become suicidal and told Harry that she no longer wanted to be alive.
Prince Harry later joined Markle, confirming this story by sharing that he was scared and didn’t know what to do. When the couple brought this issue up with members of his family, they said they were not allowed to get Meghan help. He also shared that he and his father are not currently speaking. Prince Harry stated that his father and his brother are still trapped within the royal family’s unethical rules. The couple also mentioned that they wanted to still practice their royal duties from a distance, but after moving out of the country, their privileges were revoked and no more security was provided for them.
What brought me to look at the situation more closely were the comments left on posts by multiple different news platforms. Comments ranged from multiple paragraphs of how Meghan’s feelings were all an act to some less inventive ones: vomiting emojis. Many people asserted that Meghan should have known what she was getting into and that she put herself in a bad situation with the royals. Some said that they were surprised so many people fell for the act. The list goes on and on with thousands of posts on every platform almost completely filled with hate comments.
This interview seems to uncover multiple characteristics of the royal family that the public has never seen. The couple shared that the color of Archie’s skin was going to be an issue and that it might cost him his royal protection. This was extremely important to the couple because, without that protection, the safety of their child could be at risk. The fact that a member of the royal family had to share their concerns about the skin color of their child is disturbing. Also, I find it incredibly sad that so many people left comments on social media posts saying that the royal couple was lying about this.
Everyone should be able to share what they think happened, no matter how far-fetched. However, in this situation, I think it’s incredibly sad how many people left hate comments after Markle came out and shared that she had been so mentally ill and that she was scared to be left alone because she might try and hurt herself. I am not sure how people find it okay to openly bash someone who struggled and was mentally ill. If they truly believe she was acting, do they really think she would lie about being suicidal as well?
Some people that commented did have the same reaction as me. It doesn’t matter if Markle knew what she was getting into when she married into the royal family. She should not be bashed for wanting an out and not wanting to lose her husband in the process. Many believe that Harry did not want to leave, obviously looking past the multiple times where Harry mentioned that the rest of his family is still trapped.
I think that no one should have to struggle, especially if Harry and Meghan are unlikely to inherit the throne. If they are happier now living in Los Angeles, that’s all that matters. If this was a random family where one member was suicidal because the family was keeping them locked up and refusing them to receive treatment, would people react the same way?
This situation that Harry and Meghan were put into was very difficult and the interview made it even worse. The couple was not told any questions they would be asked prior and they were not being paid, but they still agreed to it. Unfortunately, it just caused more backlash and is going to promote worse publicity for the couple. I hope that these people randomly commenting on these posts stop the verbal abuse and let the couple live their life with Archie and their new baby girl on the way.
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Sophia Oppenheim, Class of 2023, is a third year reporter and co-features editor for WSPN. She plays on the school’s field hockey and swim team. In her...
Jenny • Apr 24, 2021 at 7:19 PM
I agree with the comments above.
Basically, it takes a person quite a few years of adult life before understanding what looks like personality disorders. What we have to look at first are patterns. Ms. Markle has a pattern of leaving destruction in her path. Her husband was ditched via fedex, no one in her family, aside from her mother, was invited to her royal wedding. No one. Not one person on either the black or white side could be redeemed for her to invite them. An event that is very rare for anyone to ever get to attend. Really? Not one single aunt or uncle or cousin or niece could be invited? No one? However, she had celebrities she had only met once in her life before. How does it align with her saying she’s not about “show” and is about intimate events? She not longer speaks to her dad, she ditched the rest of the family on both sides, she ditched old friends and even her pr person in London whom she had asked to help her find a wealthy British husband. The last time this woman saw her, Meghan was on her way to meet with Prince Harry. She pretended also that she didn’t know who he was although she was a big Diana fan.
Then there are all the provable lies, such as saying they were married 2 days before the wedding. This caused such disturbance that the Archbishop of Canterbury had to come out and say that it was not true, that the marriage could only occur on the big day as it would have been illegal for him to marry them in advance. When you think about the kind of person that puts a head of Church in jeopardy of losing his job, think about it, it aligns with a pathological disorder.
Then you think about the fact that she said she had conversations with people who questioned Archie’s skin when she was pregnant. Then Harry comes out to be interviewed only to say that this conversation occurred BEFORE they were married and not when Meghan was pregnant. Then we come to find out that it was Princess Anne who said that she thought Meghan was the wrong kind of person to marry into the royal family because of her celebrity culture and personality that is all about “me, me, me.” Harry took the word culture as meaning color, but it’s not what truly happened.
Then there is the fact that Meghan lied about Archie being denied a prince title because of the color of his skin. None of the great-chandchildren of a reigning monarch are entitled to this title per the Letters Patent that King George V signed in the early 1900’s. Queen Elizabeth had to make an exception and had to sign new Letters Patent so that William’s children would be granted an exception as they are in direct line to the throne. No other exceptions were made and this is why none of the other great-grandchildren have princely titles. Not Eugenie’s child, nor Zara Tindall’s children, not Peter Philips’ children. No one else except the great-grandchildren in direct line to the throne.
Then there are more lies: that what guarantees security is the title, and this is the only reason Meghan wanted Archie to have a title. Well Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are not getting security. How do you explain that if the title guarantees security? What’s more is that security is not determined by the royal family but by the government. So there’s another lie.
Do I need to go on?
Again, you have to look at the patterns of a person. We can prove the multitude of lies, and the magnitude of them. When the Archbishop of Canterbury has to come out in public to say it wasn’t true, it’s a whole different ballgame.
Then there is the staff that keep leaving of being fired. Claims of bullying from around the world, including staff in Australia, and even staff leaving in the US.
These are all strong traits or narcissistic personality disorder. One would need a therapist to see her as a client to confirm this diagnosis officially, of course, but I am saying they are all strong traits, and are all in a pattern.
When one is still inexperienced, one is blessed I think to not understand the dangers of personality disorders. You can see people as victims and the world feels safer. You still feel like you can trust anyone, whatever they say. There is a real beauty in that. However, when you finally meet enough people with these patterns and realize they can just as easily lie about YOU, that you can easily be their targets and that other innocent and inexperienced people will believe them against you, the world takes a more sombre image. I certainly hope you (the writer) never cross paths with someone the like of Ms. Markle in your future. But if you do, you might reflect back on all the comments that were left here. There is a reason why many people feel distressed at what mS. Markle is doing. Look at the patterns, and imagine you were at the receiving end of it, and everyone else believed her against you.
Vidyut • Apr 20, 2021 at 1:30 PM
I agree with the comments. Also to the author, you can’t be a good journalist without fact checks. You are putting so much faith in the claims in the interview. What are the efforts you have made to verify them? Because the criticism of the interview references facts. Also as a journalist, you need to have critical thinking instead of absorbing all claims as fact. Even without research or external facts, what does it mean to claim on an Oprah show discussing personal experiences that you want privacy? What does it mean to claim a disinterest in titles and then spend a good amount of time complaining about lack of title for son? Even if you did not know the process of how titles were awarded, the incongruence should have been a red flag. What does it mean to have millions and feel unsafe because the taxpayers of one country to whom you have abdicated all responsibility are not paying for your security while living in another country? Why is the couple not using their wealth to protect their son = whom they presumably love?
wWhat does it mean to have a father of almost two, who has millions to his name complain about not getting money from his father? As someone who has had to figure out her own finances from the age of 16, to me, it sounds ridiculous to go “oh, I have millions, purchased a house worth millions, but I am actually being treated unfairly because my dad no longer pays me because I have refused to do the work for which I was getting paid” – even if you did not know the facts that could be uncovered with research – like he had more money than he claimed and that he hadn’t actually been cut off financially.
What does it even mean to claim to love your husband’s grandparents who head the monarchy and do an interview that basically alleges mistreatment, racism and publicly rejects the family while also complaining that they aren’t paying them, paying for their security, etc? What does it mean when that interview is done when the grandfather who was allegedly loved is 99 years old, seriously ill and in hospital?
What does it even mean to claim to suffer racism from a family headed by people they claim to actually love and there are literally endless proofs of her being supported and accepted? The obnoxiously showy wedding, being able to throw a temper tantrum over not getting an emrald tiara and having to settle for another gorgeous one with Royal history? What victim of racism gets to hint that the Royal chapel does not smell good and needs an air freshener? What victim of racism “not supported in learning about the Royal life” gets the Queen’s personal assistant to help her with Royal duties? Of course, if you aren’t in the habit of valuing advice, all the support can’t actually teach you a damn thing. For that matter, what woman who loves her husband makes no effort to find out about his family, culture and customs before meeting them and then claims it proudly in public?
Simply pretending to be a victim doesn’t actually mean the person making the claim is actually one.
mouse • Sep 16, 2022 at 2:01 PM
You are foolish, harry was right the WHOLE TIME
miriam • Apr 13, 2021 at 11:32 PM
I could not agree more with the comments. Meghan is a fake, fake and ugly person. Harry someday, if not yet, will sorrow to have met her. I can bet the rest of the royal family are already defrauded and regretted of support her.
I am sick of the American press trying to portrait a good Meghan. The reality is the public there and anywhere is not supporting that shame couple.
Nikki • Apr 4, 2021 at 12:07 PM
Meghan went in the royal family, took the weakest link go make her way in, abused her privileges and got the huge extravagant by any standards wedding and life thereafter. Probably exploded a remark lime ‘ I can’t wait what to see what the baby looks more lime you or Harry” more as a racism remark. Perfect timing when the world is torn apart with so much racism talk.
She didn’t want to do real public service but just wants the queenly benefits. She knew she is not going to be queen. She escaped and tarnished the royal family. Queen who gave up her whole life and to some extent her own kids and family time to county was tarnished.
She broke and ruined so much when she had the opportunity to build and grow so much. Sore looser now making amliving of these intervies now.
Kate • Apr 4, 2021 at 3:59 AM
I agree with the comments above. The writer is naive to believe that an almost 40 year old woman who was previously divorced is similar to a 20 year old Diana. Unlike the writer, Megain is not naive and is very manipulative. A truly upright person would not tear her husband away from his family for her selfish reasons and air her “grievances” in public. It’s called sacrifice for the sake of the family. Look at Meghan’s family. It’s a shipwreck.
I feel Harry is the lost prince, always trying to find his place in the world. He clearly needed stability, but was duped by a conniving, more worldly older woman. He needed someone like his ex girlfriend who comes from a solid family with two intact parents. Instead, he chose wrong (similar to him choosing a Nazi outfit when he was younger).
I ask the writer to ask herself one question. What person do you personally know who would trash his/her in-laws to a bunch of strangers so that he/she would feel better about oneself? There are always two sides to every story. The vocal ones aren’t necessarily the ones who are the truthful.
Kathy • Mar 31, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Victoria’s comments are most likely closer to truth and I totally agree.
Rayne • Mar 30, 2021 at 9:26 PM
First, they did get paid for the interview. 2. Megan loves herself way too much to commit suicide. She would feel the whole world would suffer a major loss without her in it. She is a narcissist. That was a game she used on Harry to get what she wanted, remember his comment what Megan wants Megan gets. She lives by that rule and used it to her advantage. She manipulates him big time and he too stupid to see it. She uses his weaknesses against him. And 3. There has been a lot of talk of Megan color and how much she supports her black side. Why then does she not date black men and only marries white men? She is fake and with a side of sociopath to her narcissistic personality she can only pretend empathy and compassion she is incapable of it. Harry sickens me for his ignorance. He was jealous of will and Kate and wanted a wife of his own. She played her part well to give him that
BB McGee • Mar 30, 2021 at 12:04 AM
See Victoria’s comment above. Couldn’t have said it better.
Valentine • Mar 29, 2021 at 10:29 PM
Guess you didn’t like my truthful answer agreeing with Victoria, you only want sweet smelling replies regarding markle sorry I can’t do that
Valentine • Mar 29, 2021 at 10:21 PM
You are so right Victoria she is nothing but a low life devious vicious girl, the white slave boy Harry will never be allowed to leave till she is finished parading him around, has a chain through his nose leads him around saying see what a half caste ca n do destroy a family and a nation, unfortunately Americans believe every lie she spews out of her evil mouth as she is one of them, most Americans hate the Queen and the rest of the Royal family so believe her, if the half wit is so involved in the mental health programs he so claims to be, the sits there with Oprie and say he was scared and didn’t know what to do, doesn’t say to much for him being part of the mental health program now does it?
Victoria Degand • Mar 29, 2021 at 6:44 PM
I believe that your young age & lack of life experience may be influencing your ability to be less objective to this situation. As a person who has encountered all those things Ms Meghan whined about, I see her attention getting interview as nothing more than a temper tantrum by a weak, but extremely deceitful individual to gain attention no matter the cost to her husband or anyone else involved. She has driven a wedge that will now never be able to be resolved. I have family members just like her & they are toxic. The best way to handle them is to ignore their constant self pity & move on with your head held high. Exactly what the rest of the family is doing. Eventually Harry will regret the day he ever laid eyes on her, but unfortunately he will be her slave and he will die a sad, lonely old man, hiding his bitterness behind a fake smile, terrified that Meghan will leave him if he ever comes to his senses & tells her to grow up & act like an adult. She is very good at acting like a victim. Don’t believe she has learned how behave with self respect & have grown up discussions. She is far better at manipulating, exaggerating & right out lying.
Perhaps when you have encountered a few more people like her in real life you will realize exactly what she is. However, I highly doubt you will. You see her as this glamorous strong movie star who has been so deeply injured by royals. When in fact, this little prima Donna ALWAYS wanted to be a princess, was fascinated with royals as a child & did in fact research everything about the royals to be found on the internet before she had a first meeting with the family. As far as Harry not preparing her how to meet the Queen & not preparing her for ALL things to be expected before she got into the situation, I do not believe it for 1 single moment.
You my dear are very gullible