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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why Prince Harry got annoyed with Sky News reporter?

865 replies

elprup · 03/10/2019 13:30

It seems very out of character for Harry? Confused I wonder if he misinterpreted and thought she was asking about the lawsuit...

twitter.com/TheRoyalExpert/status/1179155649898467329

OP posts:
Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/10/2019 15:32

No-one is saying that Meghan isn't the victim of racism. It's blindingly obvious she is.

But it is wrong to say that all criticism of her is founded in racism. As I said upthread, there is plenty of material put out by H&M themselves, so presumably material on which they are happy to be judged, on which to form an opinion. And people are entitled to do so, and share that opinion on a public forum, as they would be with any other public figure not personally known to them.

BertrandRussell · 04/10/2019 15:37

“But it is wrong to say that all criticism of her is founded in racism.”
I don’t think anyone does. But when someone appears to be being judged against higher standards than other people, then it’s logical to look for a reason. He colour, her nationality, her feminism, her precious profession, her obvious confidence, her not being a demure, hands folded wife .... all of these are factors.

LaurieMarlow · 04/10/2019 15:37

How the hell Is it abuse of her to state a fact (all of us can only believe what we read) but she identified as Caucasian on her Hollywood profile.

That’s bollocks not fact.

You don’t ‘identify’ as anything on an actors resume.

You state your suitability to play particular roles.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/10/2019 15:42

The thing is, Bert some people ARE saying that the public's dislike of Meghan is rooted in racism. And that can be frustrating to those who just haven't taken to her, irrespective of her colour.

VladmirsPoutine · 04/10/2019 15:42

If Meghan identified as Caucasian, and you're wiling to suspend disbelief to maintain that ridiculous argument then I would like to identify as an upper-class white male ex-Etonian Oxford graduate. Can you see where the argument falls apart? Are actors that say that they can swim or ride horses also 'identifying as swimmers'?... will no-one think of the fish!!!!

morningcoffee22 · 04/10/2019 15:44

Angell84 Of course she gets it, but not on the same level as the average black woman, she doesn’t look black even. But the fact that she IS mixed race doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be criticised. There’s other reasons, just as there’s was for Sarah Ferguson and Diana.... all privileged women., but taxpayer funded, we have a right to opinions.

BertrandRussell · 04/10/2019 15:46

“The thing is, Bert some people ARE saying that the public's dislike of Meghan is rooted in racism”

Well it obviously is. Or one of the other things I listed. Because nobody can ever come up with anything she does that other royals don’t.

RoseQuartzGlow · 04/10/2019 15:46

So it seems to me that whatever M does or says, it's perfectly fine, no one should criticise, because she is half black? Odd logic.

KatyCarrCan · 04/10/2019 15:47

Missteps - such as not having a strategy in place to manage her DF from the moment the engagement was announced; announcing that they wouldn't announce when she was in labour - they should just have made the birth announcement after the baby was born; getting the timing of the birth announcement wrong for the UK; the timing of the announcement of this legal case, etc, etc. There are many, many others. Their media/PR strategy has been a disaster. And since that's all people can judge them on (since their 'public' don't know them in person) it's a shame it's been so poor.

BertrandRussell · 04/10/2019 15:47

“But the fact that she IS mixed race doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be criticised.”
Of course not.

morningcoffee22 · 04/10/2019 15:47

I’m going, can’t take the virtue signalling BS.

VladmirsPoutine · 04/10/2019 15:51

And that can be frustrating to those who just haven't taken to her, irrespective of her colour.

I can accept this, but then why are many of those who haven't taken to her using worn out racist tropes. She's not a ' typical English rose', she's too 'outspoken', too 'showy', she has a 'bulbous nose', doesn't behave 'royally'.... can I tell you about a demographic who face these types of criticisms on a daily basis: Black women.

What has Meghan done that is so far out of step than other Royals? You mean e.g. Charles voicing political opinions, Harry in his nazi costume. Or how about Andrew and his paedophile associates?

You know what other demographic is often held up to a much higher standard and criticised more than their counterparts of other races: Black women.

So some of us find it quite a battle to accept that you just 'haven't taken to her' for no other reason. And frankly it matters not if you haven't taken to her. It doesn't detract or add to your life either way. I don't particularly take to the PM of this country and he's a proven liar, cheat and general charlatan... but tell me how is it possible to castigate a man who epitomises power and privilege... clue: it's impossible. All these criticisms of Meghan serve to prove the wider point that racism is alive and well and indeed thriving.

BertrandRussell · 04/10/2019 15:53

I assumed that the birth announcement thing was cock up rather than conspiracy- otherwise it makes absolutely no sense. The legal case announcement? No idea whether this was a good or bad time to announce it. Maybe best to get it over while she was our of the country? And once again , we have no idea about any strategy around Thomas Markle- there mY have been one that he wouldn’t cooperate with, she may have thought she didn’t need one- who knows what goes on in families?

“There are many, many others”. Are there?

BertrandRussell · 04/10/2019 15:56

“I’m going, can’t take the virtue signalling BS.“

Not sure virtue signalling means what you think it means.

MissEliza · 04/10/2019 15:56

I think Kate and her family got a pretty hard time from the media over the years. I've seen plenty of negative stories over the years about various members. It's died down now but Kate and her family got their fair share of shit. I don't know why people think MM has had it worse.

VladmirsPoutine · 04/10/2019 15:57

So it seems to me that whatever M does or says, it's perfectly fine, no one should criticise, because she is half black? Odd logic.

It's this sort of wonderful argument that allows the racists and xenophobes to fly under the radar. Truly a work of art this sort of argument. Much like well "Kate's dress sense was criticised and she was called waity Katey"... In my life I could only wish that those were the criticisms made of me as a mixed race woman.

LamotWamot · 04/10/2019 16:01

She is a woman who rejected Piers Morgan. He doesn’t seem to have coped very well with it.

VladmirsPoutine · 04/10/2019 16:02

I don't know why people think MM has had it worse.

I'm not sure either. Maybe because of the racist dog-whistle criticism. But no... there's no such thing as white privilege so I also don't get why people think MM has/had it worse. Baffling, really.

I find it helps to frame it thus:

Why are confident men seen as 'strong' leaders, but confident women seen as 'bossy'.

The worst part of this in my view isn't even the dog-whistle stuff, it's the sheer mental gymnastics to deny racism exists and here we have it front and centre as it's being directed towards a senior member of our royal family. I suppose it was okay when it was just about black women not getting jobs because their face 'doesn't quite fit'.

It's even more laughable when people say that Meghan doesn't even "look black" and think that's somehow in itself an acceptable statement.

VladmirsPoutine · 04/10/2019 16:04

'Oh it's okay... she looks like she could be one of us...'

Don't you see how that statement just reinforces racism. As long as we can pass for looking like one of you, we're ok.

How people can't see beyond their privilege is astounding.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/10/2019 16:06

And that can be frustrating to those who just haven't taken to her, irrespective of her colour.

I can accept this, but then why are many of those who haven't taken to her using worn out racist tropes. She's not a ' typical English rose', she's too 'outspoken', too 'showy', she has a 'bulbous nose', doesn't behave 'royally'.... can I tell you about a demographic who face these types of criticisms on a daily basis: Black women.

I can't answer for these comments as it would never cross my mind to make them. And that is my point. The characteristics I find offputting are nothing to do with her colour.

MauritiusNext · 04/10/2019 16:12

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contentedsoul · 04/10/2019 16:14

Personally I think the whole royalty thing no longer fits in this modern world, same goes for religion.

We’ve evolved, the world has moved on.

I don’t know anyone at all who either follows royalty or is religious.

Time to shut sho!!

contentedsoul · 04/10/2019 16:15

shop

MauritiusNext · 04/10/2019 16:19

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