Harry and Meghan interview live posting

[jamaicam]

@mrsajl Thank you for sharing your perspective.

I will admit that my perspective is skewed as I grew up knowing that the Royal Family were not good people who had committed evil acts for generations. And also knowing that a significant chunk of the British popultion is very racist.

[Velar Fricative]

Mar 8, 2021 10:34:46 GMT -5 @mrsajl said:

Mar 8, 2021 10:22:58 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

I am not blaming her and I'm sorry if it comes across like that.

It is more of a 'wow these people must have put up a really good act to her' thought. And also a 'Damn, she must really really really love Harry' with a side of 'harry must have really grown as an individual since his Nazi costume days'.

Maybe I feel more acutely connected to Meghan because of what I went through. You don't know what it's like until you've been through it. Meghan could have had all the prep in the world, but until she walked through that fire, she had no idea just how painfully it would burn her.

I'm sorry about your experience. I think this last part is what people lose sight of when they talk about how she "should have known." How? Even I have a sense of how dysfunctional the BRF and the media there are but if I met Harry and we fell in love with each other, I'd steel myself and marry the man but ultimately you don't know how awful an experience actually is until you're in it. 

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2021 10:46:10 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

@mrsajl Thank you for sharing your perspective.

I will admit that my perspective is skewed as I grew up knowing that the Royal Family were not good people who had committed evil acts for generations. And also knowing that a significant chunk of the British population is very racist.

I think you have a very important perspective. Most Americans grow up thinking of the BRF as some kind of fantasy to aspire to. I think we're genuinely shocked when it turns out they're racist, conniving, misogynists (though it's not like we don't have plenty of that here in the U.S.)

[basilosaurus]

Meghan and her mom, IIRC, were invited to Sandringham for xmas before she got married, and apparently this was another large break in protocol leading her to think she was fully welcomed. And she seemingly was initially.

She said that after the Australia tour that things seemed to change. I remember the stupid dustup when she wore wedges at Bondi beach. But it could be that she announced her pregnancy the same time, so the racists went to town on the most trivial of issues.

[waverly]

Mar 8, 2021 10:47:52 GMT -5 @mrsajl said:

Mar 8, 2021 10:46:10 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

@mrsajl Thank you for sharing your perspective.

I will admit that my perspective is skewed as I grew up knowing that the Royal Family were not good people who had committed evil acts for generations. And also knowing that a significant chunk of the British population is very racist.

I think you have a very important perspective. Most Americans grow up thinking of the BRF as some kind of fantasy to aspire to. I think we're genuinely shocked when it turns out they're racist, conniving, misogynists (though it's not like we don't have plenty of that here in the U.S.)

I think for me, sometimes there is so much racism in the US, I don't think about the racism in Europe.  But then I think historically, it was the Europeans that brought racism and slavery here to the US.  Lets not forget the Europeans part in the racism here in the US (and over there of course).  I'm including the UK in Europe.

[msmerymac]

Mar 8, 2021 10:47:52 GMT -5 @mrsajl said:

Mar 8, 2021 10:46:10 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

@mrsajl Thank you for sharing your perspective.

I will admit that my perspective is skewed as I grew up knowing that the Royal Family were not good people who had committed evil acts for generations. And also knowing that a significant chunk of the British population is very racist.

I think you have a very important perspective. Most Americans grow up thinking of the BRF as some kind of fantasy to aspire to. I think we're genuinely shocked when it turns out they're racist, conniving, misogynists (though it's not like we don't have plenty of that here in the U.S.)

Honestly, I thought about that when Meghan said at the beginning that she knew who they were, of course, but not really much ABOUT them. Americans tend to have a much more romanticized notion because we don’t really get to deal with the ugly bits. I think most Americans saw the abdication as a romantic gesture, for example, while the Brits were horrified and vilified Wallis Simpson for it.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 8, 2021 10:36:26 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

This was a no-win situation for Meghan. It makes me sad to know what she considered for her life at at least one point.

Re suicidal ideation, I think what she said should dispel anyone who claims it's a selfish act, but of course it won't because anyone who thinks that is probably an asshole already. She honestly thought she'd be doing it to spare them. I've been there. It's a very scary place when you know this is not healthy but can't get the thoughts out of your head. That's when I've sought help, before it's too late. I'm super angry at the shit family for denying her help especially with Will and Kate's charity. What a crock of shit.

You'd think they would have learned after Diana. She not only had an eating disorder but reportedly attempted suicide multiple times. 

[aspentosh]

Mar 8, 2021 9:59:25 GMT -5 @mrsajl said:

STOP 👏🏼 BLAMING 👏🏼 MEGHAN 👏🏼 FOR 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼ABUSE 👏🏼 SHE 👏🏼 HAS 👏🏼 ENDURED 👏🏼 FROM 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼 BRF 👏🏼 AND 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼 BRITISH 👏🏼 MEDIA!

STOP IT!

THIS!

I just watched this morning, and I admittedly don't follow them religiously, but no person (no matter how naive or what they are entering into) should be treated the way she was. We should not be making excuses for the BRF who did this and blame the woman that was abused.

[amberlyrose]

Just a few rambling thoughts I had last night:
Weren't there reports from her British friends saying they told her to really consider what she was getting into, even before they married? The fact that she admitted to not googling her boyfriend at all threw me off. I have friends that become FBI agents before every Tinder date, so not even being slightly curious doesn't register to me. I guess celebrities view that differently, though.

She just seems so genuine, sweet, and smart. As someone who followed the royals since Diana's death, I was happy that Harry found someone that matched him well with their philanthropic mindsets.

I wonder how The Princes' Trust and Heads Together will respond to this. It was also said to be started because Kate was concerned about both William and Harry's mental health, pushing them to talk about how their mom's death affected them. So to go from that to Meghan's mental health and Harry feeling ashamed. Ooof. Very Melania "Be Best".

The Spencers seemed to be a big support to Meghan. They included Diana's sisters in a few large events, which William never did. And she was able to talk to one of Diana's best friends. As someone with a few shitty in-laws, I became close to my SIL's best friends and they have become defacto in-laws. I'm glad H&M still have a few of those ties to hold onto for support.

Oh, and Al Roker just said he thinks it was Charles. lol.

[basilosaurus]

amberlyrose, I could view a celeb being far more skeptical of information found online. Surely she knows many smeared in the press.

[cattledogkisses]

Mar 8, 2021 11:57:53 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

amberlyrose , I could view a celeb being far more skeptical of information found online. Surely she knows many smeared in the press.

Plus I'm not sure what you would find from googling a public figure that isn't already common knowledge. 

It's not like googling the random person you met on a dating site to see if they're married or have a deal-breaking criminal record or whatever. 

[Deleted]

What exactly was she going to learn from googling him that isn’t already common knowledge or hasn’t been extensively covered in the media? She knew who he was, knew what he had done (good and bad), knew who he was related to and things the family had put itself through.

Google wasn’t going to tell her that they were going to take her passport and credit cards or that they would deny her access to critical mental health care. If anything, it would have given her an even more curated image of the Royal Family, because that’s what the Royal Family wants you to find when you Google them.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 8, 2021 12:08:49 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Google wasn’t going to tell her that they were going to take her passport and credit cards or that they would deny her access to critical mental health care. If anything, it would have given her an even more curated image of the Royal Family, because that’s what the Royal Family wants you to find when you Google them.

I didn't realize they took that! And I really thought after Di they wouldn't deny mental health care. FFS, the world over is filled with leaders getting on the sly medical treatment. Even the US had a Pres off on a navy ship for something dental for weeks, we've had a Pres debilitated by a stroke with wife making decisions. There are ways. If they can hide visible pregnancies...!

[amberlyrose]

Mar 8, 2021 12:08:49 GMT -5 @villainv said:

What exactly was she going to learn from googling him that isn’t already common knowledge or hasn’t been extensively covered in the media? She knew who he was, knew what he had done (good and bad), knew who he was related to and things the family had put itself through.

Google wasn’t going to tell her that they were going to take her passport and credit cards or that they would deny her access to critical mental health care. If anything, it would have given her an even more curated image of the Royal Family, because that’s what the Royal Family wants you to find when you Google them.

To some extent, I agree. But she said she didn't even know about the Diana interview until recently, which *I* found shocking. Again, that is just from my knowledge of the BRF and what I feel is common knowledge is different from others. And someone who is already a celebrity in her own right would probably brush off red flags as celeb gossip anyway. She did admit she went into this naively and should have done more research. She's not to blame for their shitty treatment of her AT ALL. I just found it personally shocking that she admitted to not looking into any of it.

I also think it goes against the shitty narrative that "she knew what she was getting into" by the press and monarchists. No, she didn't. And no one thought to help her, including Harry. While Kate had a much easier time, she had over 10 years of preparing while dating Will and they still found fault with things she did in the beginning. Harry saw what Kate went through and his ex Chelsea had an awful time with the press, even without the racism thrown in, so I do think he is partially at fault for not helping her prepare more. 

[eddy]

Even from a PR perspective I am shocked it appears they learned nothing from Diana. Like okay fine be cold and unfeeling, but at least be smart enough to not make the same mistakes twice. Nope they just went the exact same route all over again.

The thing I remember from other Diana breakdowns was that she was given absolutely no training and support. It seems like the lowest hanging fruit of how to help someone assimilate.  And to hear it happen all over again with Meghan. Just fucking baffling. 

[pinkplasticdoll]

Mar 8, 2021 12:41:13 GMT -5 eddy said:

Even from a PR perspective I am shocked it appears they learned nothing from Diana. Like okay fine be cold and unfeeling, but at least be smart enough to not make the same mistakes twice. Nope they just went the exact same route all over again.

The thing I remember from other Diana breakdowns was that she was given absolutely no training and support. It seems like the lowest hanging fruit of how to help someone assimilate.  And to hear it happen all over again with Meghan. Just fucking baffling. 

yes. And I think what I concluded was that they not made the decision to leave that Meghan likely would have suffered the same fate as Diana which is incredibly frightening to me.

[Deleted]

I know we have some hardcore royal watchers on the board, and they're being silent about all this. Did this change your perceptions?

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2021 14:45:28 GMT -5 @pixy0stix said:

I know we have some hardcore royal watchers on the board, and they're being silent about all this. Did this change your perceptions?

I don't consider myself hardcore but I do follow them, and I went into this liking them and came out of it liking them even more. I have so much respect for them for standing up for themselves, their marriage and their family and doing what they knew would be best - no matter how hard it would be for them or the strain on their family relationships. And I think it was incredibly brave to admit her mental health struggles so publicly. I know that's a core part of their charitable support/foundation, but for her to be so open about it hopefully shows people everywhere that you mental health can affect anyone. 

[goldengirlz]

Mar 8, 2021 11:01:05 GMT -5 waverly said:

Mar 8, 2021 10:47:52 GMT -5 @mrsajl said:

I think you have a very important perspective. Most Americans grow up thinking of the BRF as some kind of fantasy to aspire to. I think we're genuinely shocked when it turns out they're racist, conniving, misogynists (though it's not like we don't have plenty of that here in the U.S.)

I think for me, sometimes there is so much racism in the US, I don't think about the racism in Europe.  But then I think historically, it was the Europeans that brought racism and slavery here to the US.  Lets not forget the Europeans part in the racism here in the US (and over there of course).  I'm including the UK in Europe.

I’m always shocked when people say things like this. Maybe because I’m the grandchild of Holocaust survivors but COME ON, really? You don’t associate Europe with racism?? Six million people were brutally exterminated less than a century ago. (And not only Jews, but anyone who wasn’t part of the “Aryan master race.”)

Re: the UK specifically. There’s a great book called Natives by a British rapper named Akala. He makes the point that the British like to think that their hands are somehow more clean than Americans’ — but only because the worst atrocities of the British Empire happened in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. But just because it wasn’t happening as blatantly on UK soil doesn’t mean they get a pass. (And even within the UK today, Black Brits face the same opportunity gap as Black Americans.)

[ellipses84]

Mar 8, 2021 14:03:37 GMT -5 pinkplasticdoll said:

Mar 8, 2021 12:41:13 GMT -5 eddy said:

Even from a PR perspective I am shocked it appears they learned nothing from Diana. Like okay fine be cold and unfeeling, but at least be smart enough to not make the same mistakes twice. Nope they just went the exact same route all over again.

The thing I remember from other Diana breakdowns was that she was given absolutely no training and support. It seems like the lowest hanging fruit of how to help someone assimilate.  And to hear it happen all over again with Meghan. Just fucking baffling. 

yes. And I think what I concluded was that they not made the decision to leave that Meghan likely would have suffered the same fate as Diana which is incredibly frightening to me.

I had all the same thoughts. I think Harry was naive too, and should have protected her more, but he obviously had the realization that history was repeating itself and he was willing to do whatever he could to protect his family. The Royal family has had so many opportunities to do the right thing which would have improved their image from a PR perspective, but they consistently do the wrong thing and are stuck in the past. While the firm is different from the family, Charles, QEII and now William have major impact on what the firm does or doesn’t do.

As for being a royal watcher, I never thought they were all great people. There’s been a lot of F’d up stories through the years. I just find the whole notion of modern monarchy fascinating, so I’ve followed them for entertainment like someone would the Kennedy’s, the President’s family, the Kardashians or an awards show. I also spent a lot of my childhood in a country where QEII was The Queen and I adored Diana back then. I won’t forget the awful things that any of them, including Harry, has done.

[waverly]

goldengirlz , I phrased it poorly. I was thinking in terms of slavery in the U.S., I was thinking of the Americans that were slaveholders. I wasn't thinking of the Europeans that conquered the U.S. and then subsequently brought over the slaves. I think in American history, the Europeans that brought over the slaves is not taught as much. They teach more how they wiped out the Native Americans. A lot of the history is taught in sections of times, and they tend to gloss over that time period and focus more on modern history, I think, in high school.

[cap]

I think that when you're deeply in love, especially new love, that you don't "do your research" or whatever. I mean, I remember how giddy I was when I first fell in love with my husband and when we were planning our wedding, and I'm sure I could have very easily overlooked (or did overlook) things. I mean, the divorce rate isn't as high as it is because people change. (Not that I'm saying I think H&M will get divorced.)

[cuadrado]

Did anyone see the extra clips that played this AM on CBS? They showed the part of the interview where Oprah asked about Meghan's dad and Samantha Markle.

She said she didn't grow up with Samantha, hadn't seen her in 18 years and that Samantha changed her last name back to Markle when Meghan started dating Harry.

[krystee]

I finally got to watch this morning, and I had the most panicky feeling when she said her license and passport were taken, and she had only left the house twice in a couple of months. Can you imagine going from an independent advocate and working professional to a literal prisoner basically overnight?!

[okla]

Mar 8, 2021 14:45:28 GMT -5 @pixy0stix said:

I know we have some hardcore royal watchers on the board, and they're being silent about all this. Did this change your perceptions?

I don’t know if I’d be considered hardcore, but I have definitely taken an interest in the lives of the royal family. Part of it is just historical curiosity, part of it is because of Diana, and part of it stems from William and I being the same age and the teen mags trying to make him a heartthrob. Even though I’ve followed them, I’ve always know the institution itself sucks and a lot of the people in it sucked, too. I remember seeing the breaking news alert when Diana died (I was an insomniac even as teen) and I had read all the previous stories about her and Charles. I knew they had treated her like shit. I did start to come around on Charles and Camilla recently, but this interview squashed all of that.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I read online about the Royals and how doing so might lend some approval to their actions that I don’t actually feel. Namely, I usually read the Royals Roundup on GoFugYourself. It’s to see the clothes and read the gossip. But if that post and ones it links to get a ton of hits, then the Royals stay relevant.

I am forever Team Meghan and think the rest of the Royals can shove it. She was treated horribly from the get-go and they all just washed their hands of her and Harry. They didn’t protect her from racists and were racist to her themselves. Fuck them.

[NewOrleans]

Just started streaming and

@

I knew they had experienced a miscarriage but did not know they were having a baby.

MM is so incredibly beautiful. Damn!

Ok, will check in after I watch.

[NewOrleans]

This is just so sad. She is so sad. ☹️

He always had the party boy rep, but he is a true man because this is what it looks like to show up for your wife and family.
😢

[NewOrleans]

Imagine fleeing to America because it’s less racist

[goldengirlz]

Mar 8, 2021 15:43:47 GMT -5 waverly said:

goldengirlz , I phrased it poorly. I was thinking in terms of slavery in the U.S., I was thinking of the Americans that were slaveholders. I wasn't thinking of the Europeans that conquered the U.S. and then subsequently brought over the slaves. I think in American history, the Europeans that brought over the slaves is not taught as much. They teach more how they wiped out the Native Americans. A lot of the history is taught in sections of times, and they tend to gloss over that time period and focus more on modern history, I think, in high school.

Thanks for responding. I didn’t mean to jump on you, but it is a pet issue of mine. European countries absolutely participated in the slave trade, but it was something that happened “over there,” in the colonies. There were thousands of British slave owners in the 1800s, and many received financial compensation from the British government when slavery was abolished in 1833. (The former slaves, unsurprisingly, did not.)

I also just HATE this revisionist history that Europeans are paragons of racial enlightenment. It’s not true today and it wasn’t true ... ever.

[mx27]

Mar 8, 2021 20:23:03 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Mar 8, 2021 15:43:47 GMT -5 waverly said:

goldengirlz , I phrased it poorly. I was thinking in terms of slavery in the U.S., I was thinking of the Americans that were slaveholders. I wasn't thinking of the Europeans that conquered the U.S. and then subsequently brought over the slaves. I think in American history, the Europeans that brought over the slaves is not taught as much. They teach more how they wiped out the Native Americans. A lot of the history is taught in sections of times, and they tend to gloss over that time period and focus more on modern history, I think, in high school.

Thanks for responding. I didn’t mean to jump on you, but it is a pet issue of mine. European countries absolutely participated in the slave trade, but it was something that happened “over there,” in the colonies. There were thousands of British slave owners in the 1800s, and many received financial compensation from the British government when slavery was abolished in 1833. (The former slaves, unsurprisingly, did not.)

I also just HATE this revisionist history that Europeans are paragons of racial enlightenment. It’s not true today and it wasn’t true ... ever.

YES @ your last two sentences!