Harry, Meghan and Netflix too

[CathyorClaire]

Last thread has filled up so I thought I'd create another to chat trailers and teasers while we hang about waiting for better more truth bombs to drop in the main event.

I hope that they can just move on with the rest of their lives focused on something more positive

The tell-all again tome's looming on to the horizon. Maybe don't hold your breath.

While I think Harry blaming stress for Meghan’s miscarriage is probably adding to her feelings of guilt, I don’t think it is fair to hold him accountable. I think they both lost a baby and the both genuinely believe it to be due to stress. They’re wrong but not lying, imo.

I wonder if that is the biggest problem overall. They aren’t lying about their experiences but they are mistaken. The press intrusion was very bad, but there’s nothing the royal family could have done to stop it. Even the accusation that Charles was lying in the Sandringham Summit could merely be that his interpretation of events is different to theirs (this is speculation, but it is an example of something plausible - what staffers told Charles was bullying only seemed like forthright expression on wishes to Harry and Meghan, so in their view Charles was lying when he said they treat staff badly). While “recollections may vary” can be seen as a diplomatic way of saying “they’re lying” it could also just be a statement of fact. Harry and Meghan recall events in one way, other royals recall them differently.

Archie Sussex is a cutie, but I'm surprised to see that the documentary celebrates him as the Royal Family's first black prince.

(It's a shame the Sussexes are estranged, it would be lovely to watch the cousins growing up together).

Harry and Meghan recall events in one way, other royals recall them differently. I think you're right. I think they truly believe their story. They kind of have to now, it's come at such high cost.

Another thing has occurred to me. A few years ago I read “toxic in-laws” based on a recommendation from this site. One thing that struck a chord was a section about unrealistic expectations. That many people marrying in to a seemingly close extended family expect to be treated as much loved and that it will all be sunshine and roses, particularly when the newcomer didn’t have a close extended family themselves. It struck a chord at the time because a few people who married in to my family fell in to that category. They weren’t prepared for the fact that “close” in family terms doesn’t mean “love everything about each other at all times” so felt like they were being badly treated when they were disagreed with. I grew up with a close extended family so have always known that it comes with limitations - eg people piss each other off and get angry at each other. Because even in seemingly happy families life isn’t a Disney film. In the book it’s about accepting that your idealised version was always a bit silly and you need to be realistic.

Perhaps Meghan’s expectations were just unrealistic in terms of the relationships as well as not understanding protocols and press intrusion. Harry and William always appeared close, and probably genuinely were. But that doesn’t mean she (or even he) would always be adored without question.

Did I just imagine that Harry was in the armed forces? Otherwise how does he explain him finding his brother shouting at him on ONE occasion quite so traumatic? Bizarre

So speculating about divorce is distasteful, horrible and warrants calling out but speculating that someone likes to take it up the arse is not at all distasteful and doesn't warrant a mention - hilarious🤣

If we are talking distasteful then maybe PH likes to take it up the arse whilst playing naked pool in Vegas, it's slightly more believable I think.

I don’t think shouting is okay. It happens, but it isn’t really the way to handle things and you should apologise after you’ve calmed down. And I can imagine in was upsetting to feel like your family was against you. It sounded like those “interventions” which was in loads of US tv shows in the 2000s where family members / friends gathered round to tell someone all the ways they’re failing. It happened to me once (with my toxic in-laws) and it was very bad for my mental health even though some of what they said was true. I’d never do it to someone else.

I wonder why we didn't get any more information about the racist comment about their unborn baby's skin colour. It was such a big part of the OW interview.
It's almost as if it never happened, though that can't be the case?

They seem to be fairly selective with their use of the Internet. They met and first connected via instagram/social media and have (understandably and not unreasonably) been upset and felt threatened by things people have published and written on twitter and other media accounts.
She used google to find the words to the national anthem but apparently didn't think to look up a typical royal wedding and what sort of crowds to expect. (Even without it being H and M you can imagine sone people wanting to see the Clooneys, Serena Williams, the Beckhams etc as well as the Queen etc)
... and she had no idea what a "royal walkabout" was or what to expect....

His colouring can hardly be a surprise. Out of his four grandparents-four are white.

three are white, not four.

It's almost as if it never happened, though that can't be the case?

i think Harry said he would never reveal who said it. I reckon he was talking to Charles and William here, not us.

I'm critical of many actions of H&M but frankly I don't think speculation about them divorcing is all that helpful or appropriate.

Firstly it's reasonably obvious that there would be an issue removing them from the US would be difficult and secondly I wouldn't wish the unhappiness of divorce on either of them and especially their children irrespective of my feelings on their conduct towards their extended families.

Rather in light of how they are isolated (bar Doria) I genuinely hope their marriage remains solid.

As per a pp I don't really understand the whole team Sussex vs Team RF thing.

I find it perfectly easy to hold mixed opinions on the behaviours of both.

There was lots missing from the ‘documentary’ because it wasn’t a documentary. It was a 6 hour promotion video. There was no probing, no fact checking, no independent voice. Lots of spin - eg from the series it looked like the case against the mail was won based on privacy when there are court records showing that it was won on copyright infringement. The only attempts at balance (eg statement from Knauf’s lawyers) were clearly an attempt to avoid litigation.

So of course there was no answers on the inconsistencies in their story, nor their nebulous accusations. They only agreed to share what they wanted the world to see. Which Meghan made clear in the Oprah interview when she made the analogy about having a photo of your child on your desk at work - she believes you can choose what to share with the world and all the things you want to keep secret should be kept private.

But why? Surely we deserve to know about our 'representatives'? If there is a verifiable accusation of racism today, given the focus on the racist origins of the RF?

I think we have the right to know. Why withold it?

Quite.

Realistically it was a puff piece, not a documentary...and I'm not sure that's worked in their favour.

The lack of balance and actual evidence rather than opinion/insinuation weakens their assertions rather than strengthening them imho.

How positive when their children read all about it. Mummy was a yacht girl, Daddy had a fetish and had sex Mummy found unpleasant with a friend or a friends wife.

Let's leave the nasty rumours out of it, no one on here knows if those things are true so why say it? If anyone thinks of saying it maybe stop for a minute and think if you'd like your child to be bullied at school about something like that whether it is true or not.

Why withold it?

Because it was a member of his close family and he knows they have as much dirt on him as he has on them. I’d bet good money on there being a hell of a lot of incredibly sordid stories which never made the press.

I maintain that Harry has been far more protected by his family than even he realises. And, unfortunately, now he’s left and started throwing mud they will genuinely abandon him to the wolves.

Why withold it?

I reckon he knew it wasn’t really said with any malice.

The lack of balance and actual evidence rather than opinion/insinuation weakens their assertions rather than strengthening them imho.

I wish that were true. In the UK they’ll be subject to ridicule, because most of the UK public will find it saccharine, insulting, fake, or all three. But I suspect an American audience will find it endearing and honest. Which is the point - they want a life in America and are doing what it takes to be popular there.

Documentaries aren’t popular (generally) because it’s human nature to seek confirmation of your own bias. Most people (ime) don’t actually want rigorous investigation. There’s a reason tabloids sell well across the globe - sensationalism is far more popular than the boring nuance of real life.

A more general point - gossip and sensationalism are as old as the hills. Trying to counteract them is really daft because you’re fighting human nature. We are hard wired to pay attention to unusual events because they teach us something new (and therefore make our survival more likely). It’s why you can only ever lose if you get into a war of words with the press - they’ll keep writing whatever negatives they can find and people will read because they want to know the gossip. Better by far to just ignore the haters and wait it out. Like Princess Anne did, and now she’s very popular.

I'm not so sure looking at the US news reports.

Some are pretty brutal including CNN.

I feel H&M have naively favoured short term income vs long term wealth.

I remember a PR expert saying at the time of their departure announcement saying they had the potential to become A list players with the ability to harvest golden eggs but to do so they shouldn't do books/interviews etc re: the RF because that was their "laying goose".

If I recall correctly, Meghan got summary judgment in her favour on the misuse of private information claim prior to trial (ie, the case was so clearcut that the judge decided a trial was unnecessary). The copyright claim then proceeded to court, and Meghan won that too.