Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been on the receiving end of brutal criticism in recent days after being spotted visiting a Los Angeles wildfires relief hub as well as speaking out about huge changes to Facebook
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been on the receiving end of blistering criticism after their latest decison.
The Sussexes were brutally branded “disaster tourists” after being pictured hugging victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The blazes have seen people close to Harry and Meghan’s home lose their homes and possessions as fires have ripped through their neighbourhoods.
But despite meeting victims and joining volunteers distributing food at the Pasadena Community Centre, actress Justine Bateman slammed the couple for a “repulsive photo op” labelling them “disaster tourists”. The fires have also led to Meghan postponing the premiere of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan – which has also seen her cruelly branded attention seeking.
Meghan hugs a volunteer while visiting Pasadena Community Centre (
Image:
BBC)
Meanwhile, days later the couple also faced criticism after issuing a stern statement on their official website accusing Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram of “allowing more abuse and normalising hate speech” after its decision to scrap third-party fact-checking and loosen its content moderation.
And royal expert Jennie Bond has said it is ‘disturbing’ the amount of criticism the couple receive – especially now they seem to have put their days of criticising their royal relatives behind them. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “Harry and Meghan must have expected much of the criticism they received after their accusations about the rest of the Royal Family.
“But I find it disturbing that almost everything and anything they now do is still criticised, in my view quite unfairly. They could have stayed holed up in their Montecito haven while so much of California burned.
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Harry and Meghan chat to a volunteer
“Instead they went out and offered what help and support they could. Meghan could have let her new show go to air as planned, but she either instigated or fully supported the Netflix announcement that it would be postponed. Whatever they do is dismissed as cynical by someone or another, which must be dispiriting.”
Jennie believes that Harry and Meghan have recently been using their global reach for good, getting involved in causes exploring the dangers of social media – and it’s now time for their critics to “move on”.
She added: “They have a platform, and they are using it. Their criticism of the removal of safeguards by Facebook strikes me as a perfect use of the influence they have.
Harry and Meghan talk abou the dangers of social media at an event in New York (
Image:
AP)“The danger posed by the internet is something they have been actively campaigning on for some time, and their criticism of Mark Zuckerberg is totally consistent with the stand they have taken. Good for them, someone needs to speak out about the potential dangers of the internet. So, I say give Harry and Meghan a break. They haven’t attacked the royal family for some time. What’s done is done. Time to move on.”
It comes after a source told Page Six that Harry and Meghan feel the Justine Bateman’s comments about them visiting the relief hub in Pasadena were ‘offensive’ They explained: “It’s offensive to Meghan and Harry that anybody would think this is merely a photo opportunity.”
The source added: “Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles, so this is, and always will be, home to her.” They also added that the duchess was ‘not a tourist’ and that “her heart is completely broken for all the lives that have been lost and for those whose homes have been destroyed in these fires.”
Mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo also praised the pair, saying they were keen to provide any support they could. The mayor said they were “great people” with “great personalities.” He added, “They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders. We visited the command post at the Rose Bowl, and people were very happy to see them.”
