To be uncomfortable after my manager went on a rant about how much she hates Meghan Markle during a team meeting?

[AlertBird]

So, today, in our team meeting, my manager went on a full-on rant about how much she hates Meghan Markle. It seemed completely out of place and unnecessary, especially considering the meeting was meant to be about work. It got a bit awkward and no one really knew how to react.

I get that people have opinions but I just felt like it was unprofessional to bring something like that up during a work meeting. It felt like a personal issue being projected onto everyone else.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about this or is it just me being overly sensitive?

It's inappropriate.

Are you concerned that she is racist?

I hate any opinions in the workplace that aren't to do with work. Leave them at the door.

It's inappropriate whatever the topic.

Wow
Does disliking Megham Markle mean you're a racist??

I am not keen on meghan. I am
not racist and I wouldn’t bring it up in the work place.

edited to add, I also don’t rant about her, I’m just not that keen.

I couldn't have less interest in which celebrities my manager does and does not like. What a strange thing for someone to start going on about.

To go on a rant about hating a person you don’t even know is weird, and totally inappropriate in a work team meeting! YANBU, I’d be very uncomfortable too. Did anyone challenge her?

Do you work for Kate Middleton?

Usually it does unfortunately but even worse are those that don't recognise their unconscious bias.

Report to HR. Hate speech about anyone in a professional setting is out of order.

I just think it was inappropriate for a work meeting, regardless of personal opinions on Meghan Markle. It felt unprofessional and out of place.

OK, I accept there will be MM threads in the RF section. Fairs.

I get the threads about her TV show in chat/telly addicts.

But props to you, OP, for shoe-horning her into an AIBU 'what does it meeeeean?' workplace/ boss discussion.

Ranting about someone she's never met is very very odd, inappropriate and not welcome in a workplace, tell her to leave her unwelcome opinions at home

Exactly! It just felt so unnecessary and out of place. No one really challenged her - we all just kind of sat there awkwardly. I think people were too taken aback to say anything in the moment.

How did it start? Was it before the meeting started during chit chat and overran a bit in to the meeting? Was it more like 'right! Let's talk about MM!'? What was the rant about? I think a bit more context please.

I have nothing against her, I liked her in Suits, don't really care about the politics of her life now but just trying to ascertain if said rant had underlying tones of a bigger issue, or she was just brought up as she released a programme recently and it's just 'on topic'

It is perfectly reasonable (and not at all racist) to dislike a public figure who appears to have the traits of a toxic narcissist.

However, ranting about her in a workplace meeting is strange and unprofessional behaviour.

Bizarre! What hilariously strange behaviour!

Maybe head up the next meeting with a check in about how you all feel about a different celebrity. You could choose someone new each time 😂

On a more serious note I would wonder if your manager was under stress/having personal issues.

That's a little harsh 😂

Depends on what you say about her. Not everyone that speaks against her is racist, but not everyone who picks out racist comments from those who don't like her is dim.

BarneyRonson · Today 10:49
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I’d guess she was stressed and venting inappropriately due to needing support.
scads of us get irritated by MM and its because she’s a twat. The air heads who suggest it’s racism are exasperatingly dim.

I would suggest that the title of “airhead” sits more appropriately on people who spend their time hating a stranger they do not and are never likely to know. Very odd behaviour.

Why immediately think it's to do with race?
That's how shit starts - unfounded assumptions

Not at all but I would bet that all racists hate Meghan.

You have a very limited social circle then

I don't recall ever hearing the former Kate Middleton (now Princess of Wales) saying anything negative about Meghan, never mind "ranting" about her.

The spitefulness usually travels in the opposite direction, from Meghan and her bitter, dim-witted prince.