"They don't just report the news, they create it": on Meghan, Harry and the Press

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

The much trumpeted story of the Dior deal is such a classic tabloid creation, isn't it.

I enjoyed this Grazia article that lays bare the utter nuttiness.

First the tabloids report the rumours as though they are true.

"Meghan to sign with Dior!"

No sources, just speculation based on Meghan and Harry wearing clothes by Dior a handful of times.

Then when both the Sussexes and Dior report that the rumours are not true, (Dior spokesperson said they are "nonplussed" about where the rumours came from) they spin it into "Meghan Rebuffed by Dior!"

This has also happened with Meghan's much rumoured run for the presidency: Robert Jobson actually wrote, with a straight face, in his book published in April 2023, that she was absolutely, certainly and most definitely going to run for president in 2024.

I mean any critical person would realise that the timelines don't make sense, she would have needed a fundraising Super PAC by the time the book was published, and in any event, Democrats don't normally challenge a sitting president ... but hey ho, Meghan is running for president in 2024 because a "Royal Correspondent" said so (and they are so knowledgeable about the American presidency) and a tabloid published it.

And it's the same with The Tig. She is going to launch it any day now. She wants to rival Gwyneth Paltrow! Story after story, based on nothing but speculation.

Rumour after rumour, speculation published as "news" to create media stories about a woman whose plans are not known to the tabloids because she and her husband made it crystal clear even when they were in the UK that they don't engage with the tabloid press.

And there are no "palace sources" who can speak with any kind of plausibility about the Sussexes, so the tabloids make it up as they go along, whipping up headline after headline, driving their readers into a frenzy over things they create ...

While ignoring the important news, like the damning questions by the judge in the Mirror Group case, who asked why the journalists, among them Piers Morgan, have not come to court to testify in the phone hacking trial ...

Oh no, that's not as important to report on as Meghan's fictitious Dior deal, completely implausible rumours of her presidential ambitions, and the speculated upon plans to best Gwyneth Paltrow!

https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/meghan-markle-smear-campaign-dior-spotify-faking-interviews/

But I'm not talking about recognising it as a title. I'm saying she changed her name when she got married and as far as I'm know, that's just her name now.
It's splitting hairs in the first place because what I was saying to you is that I didn't agree with you that being Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is a sign of trying to be a serious political figure. Do you accept that's a fair comment?

By remembering all of the below, (and there are many more too - how many times has “A friend of Meghan” been quoted about her political suitability and aspirations! It’s a lot…) and knowing exactly how PR agencies work in practice - laying breadcrumb trails to make people see their client in a particular way, and with particular attributes, basically! These things are not coincidences.

Meghan used her personal network to obtain private phone numbers for various US senators and cold-called the to push for a law for paid family leave.

Joe Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, told Good Morning Britain that Meghan would ‘of course’ make a good presidential candidate in the future.

Omid Scobie has said in a documentary that “Meghan is the embodiment of the American dream. One day we may see Meghan become president”

A “friend of Meghan” told Vanity Fair that the Duchess “would seriously consider running for president. One of the reasons she was so keen not to give up her American citizenship was so she had the option to go into politics”

Meghan has made public statements that she supported Judge Katanga Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court in 2022.

According to Archewell's tax returns, they paid PR firm KMLSA LLC £89,000 in 2021 for "strategic support for social impact PR". The principal of that PR firm, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, has been the PR adviser for Hillary Clinton and former presidential candidate John Kerry - she has deep ties to high-level Democrats.

Sorry- 'being' as in that's just her name, so she used it. But specifically in the context we were talking about, introducing herself as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex doesn't scream political ambition to me.

I know very little about protocol and etiquette in other countries with respect to elected governments. Senator Susan Collins expressed surprise at the call. I think she would have been equally non-plussed if Camilla called her.

Do you really equate Meghan’s role in the United States with Royals in the United Kingdom? I think they both had the same confusion when they first got here.

Sorry, this is not at all the point you were making and which I responded to.

HRH Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, as well as Lord Freddy Windsor went to live in USA and (one of them in) Portugal.

No one bet an eyelid.

We have a plethora of "sir"s living and working in USA, some in the filming industry.

But now, suddenly, it's an issue?

The HIgh Court accepted he was an integral part of Meghan’s team when looking at the timing of information being passed to him to tweet out. He an Meghan want to obfuscate it, of course, but its not partiuclarly credible to deny it.

Yes, because its Meghan, oh, and her children too of course. They just don;t want them to have titles.

Oh for Christ's sake.

In the US. The mothers maiden name is listed on ALL birth certificates. In every single state in the US, the mothers maiden name has to be on the BC.

Her name is the same here as it is in the UK. So her title is her name. Legally, she is not longer Markle, just like I am no longer legally my maiden name.

I have 7 domain names registered through Godaddy. Every single one uses the masking. That is so my home address is not published world wide.

It is very common for anyone, rich and famous to big nobodies like me, to register a domain name and sit on it. It could be because we want to use it in the future, it could be because we want to stop others from using it, OR we buy and sell them to make money.

The thing that annoys me the most is how so many posters have no idea how things happen in the US and apply UK standards. Like apples and oranges.

As for her running for office, no way she could run before 2030 at least. She needs to run in a more localized race and win and get that experience before anyone will take her seriously.

And she can't run for office while holding a title from another country.

So of six evidence points, three are other people making comments. Very weak IMO.

Two are Meghan individually supporting a political campaign, in common with a huge number of other celebrities and non-celebrities.

One is using a PR firm that also has some political clients.

Am I missing the part that screams "Meghan is positioning herself as a viable political candidate"? Because there are literally two examples of what could be termed any kind of political activity. The other stuff is gossipy remarks and trying to suggest using a particular PR firm equals being in cahoots with the entire US political establishment.

Are you actually serious?

I genuinely feel so sorry for every member of the RF! The press and social media are awful to them all, not just Harry & Meghan! I only care about what they do when they are working, there should be some legislation put in place to only comment on their work, although both Kate and Camilla have had some awful things written this last couple of days whilst working about outfits they have worn and comparing to Diana! Ffs there’s only so many colours and styles people can wear but let’s focus on that and not the actual reason why they are there eh?

All of the members are the Royal Family. ( whether they are working royals or not) deserve a private life and they should all be left alone and I feel sorry for all of them!

It must be hard for their family and friends constantly seeing them being torn apart in the media.

All of them have had their lives nearly destroyed by the media at one time or another and it’s time it stopped.

I don’t click on any articles relating to Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Meghan or Harry unless it’s work related as it’s just harassment and abuse and and the media must be held accountable.

Don’t even get me started on the vile people on social media ( and on here unfortunately) who speak disparaging about Kate and Meghan, Those people are pure poison and they all should be banned.

I genuinely don’t care if it’s “ Team Kate or Sussex squad” ( or whatever they call themselves) they are dangerous and disgusting and those people and the media should be made to publicly apologise to the Royal Family and Harry & Meghan and leave them all alone

So much goalpost shifting going on on this thread!

still waiting for the link to Meghan speaking the words.

I don't typically use Quora for resource, but this article is 100% correct in regards to being American citizens and holding a title.

https://www.quora.com/Can-American-citizens-hold-foreign-titles

I think Meghan making these calls was an indication that she had a perception about her own importance that did not match the perspective of the people she was calling.

Using the foreign-bestowed title on US elected officials? I don’t think that indicates political ambition, but perhaps the title was the reason she thought they would welcome the calls.

I do think the attempt at influence could be indicative of political ambition. I’ve never said having political ambitions is bad though. Do you think it’s wrong for people to try and build a political platform?

@Mustardseed86 You cut off the part I was responding to here and it was not your comment.

I think Meghan making these calls was an indication that she had a perception about her own importance that did not match the perspective of the people she was calling.

Because she did what lots of other celebrities do and used her own name to do it? I think its a reach. I think like anyone else, she was using whatever platform she had to campaign for something she believes in.

Anyone in the US can look up the contact information of their elected officials and call or email them to try and get them to vote a certain way.

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

I can't believe any American Citizen would not have this knowledge. It is literally taught in High School government class.

Key word being “their”. She called others, not her own.

"Much to my surprise, she called me on my private line and she introduced herself as the Duchess of Sussex, which is kind of ironic," Senator Collins told Politico.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59186204.amp

She got the same eye rolls for it that the other “celebrities” get. Well, except Trump didn’t laugh at Kim Kardashian I suppose.

She got extra chuckles for using a title that doesn’t matter here.

Surely it's no different to me writing to my MP, to other MPs, to Conservative Central office and to the Speaker of the House
I've done all those in my time!
Why is Meghan different?

Ahhhh Susan Collins. 'Nuff said!

Still not unusual to call other elected officials, even if they aren't local to them.

It happens all the time. There is an entire industry that's only goal is to influence elected officials, lobbyists.

This happens at state levels and federal levels.

This is literally a big fat nothing in the world of politics in the US. It is done all the time. Heck, even I have sent letters to elected officials other than my own. It is part of the democratic process.

When I sent mine, it was to let that official know that of they voted against abortion rights, I would work to help them be ousted in the next election cycle, even though they aren't MY elected official.

It’s different because she used a foreign title and called people she didn’t help elect and who do not represent her on private lines.

It’s different because she left here a very long time ago and lived in Canada then UK.

It would have been better received if she had not used the title and scheduled an appointment like normal citizens do. Or just written a letter.