Sussex Whiplash

[ConstantGarden1]

Sometimes, all the different media outlets who purport to know the inner workings of all things Sussex can give me whiplash. One moment the Sussex duo are on the outs with everyone, hemorrhaging or devoid of influential friends, making no headway with Netflix, losing money, can’t afford their mortgage and claimed to no longer be relevant. Then Suits saw an upsurge in viewers - fantastic ratings on Netflix, the BBC buys Suits, Invictus is being promoted via Harry’s award and trips, he receives a heartfelt standing ovation, Meghan finishes filming a new Netflix series purportedly linked to a nascent commercial venture and a new podcast is set for next year.

‘Lonely’ Harry, as some will insist on writing, is also not something that rings true for me. He has too much charisma, energy, interests, causes and is a people person. I also cannot think of anyone who needs to say I am friends with x, y, and z on a regular basis for the benefit or not of strangers. We don’t know who they are friends with, really. Meanwhile, pundits continue to engage those interested in the couple with whatever they can attributing the information to some made up mysterious ‘sources’. I suspect their real friends are quietly keeping their own counsel. Especially, now they have seen the mutual pathological loathing that Harry and the tabloids have towards one another. Can’t say I blame them either.

Now there is this:

https://www.paleycenter.org/join-us/support-us/paleyhonors/

Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chairman, Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO

and

Tribute Chairs

Ariel Emanuel, Jon Feltheimer, Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Matt Johnson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Gayle King, Debra L. Lee, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas, Scott Mills, The Honorable Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos, Kerry Washington, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Invite You to

Cocktail Reception 6:30 pm
Dinner & Program 7:30 pm

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel
9500 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Cocktail Attire

Considering Whoopi G had less than favourable words for the couple I’d like to have been a fly on the wall at any meetings held. No doubt ‘netizens’ will have their microscopes to the ready to give us all their ‘insights’ regarding the events of the evening. No doubt I’ll get whiplash again when all their combined fingers hit the keyboards.

Wouldn’t you love to hear his reasons ?

ConstantGarden
I agree and I have noticed the same. Week in week out the same posters working up a sweat 💦 over the couple. I’m baffled why this happens all the time but hey ho I just keep on supporting and staying positive. I’m a big ol’ softie and I am pleased that Harry cares and takes action.

I think you're in a cult, actually! All the signs are there - one of the main ones being that you are deliberately cutting off anything or anyone who as a different point of view. And what is the point of being in a discussion forum if you can't cope with being challenged? You need an echo-chamber like Celebitchy - but take a shower afterwards...it's pretty vile.

Your post is very illuminating. Especially where you openly admit that you have no intention of engaging in a discussion - just parroting the gospel according the H & M. Apart from anything else, I think you're in a for a serious disillusionment very soon.

Seriously - try Celebitchy. No-one dares to disagree there and if you think people are mean on MN.....well, you'll have your eyes opened!.

Enjoy your week and see you on the Sussex boards. I enjoy your positive posts very much. Lifts the spirits when dealing with life’s problems

which Sussex board is that OP? Sussex gardens? 🤔

Instead, he does… you know actual…work.

One whole hour a week for Archewell. He must be exhausted.

Sussex gardens 😂

🍿 very much so!

I think Prince William has risen above all of the filth and drama brilliantly. He has handled himself and the situation with class and dignity. Thank heavens he was born first.

If I was William, I would be much more likely to do things like this…..

This is US celebrity culture being US celebrity culture. It's the circles Harry and Meghan move in now. I think the problem comes when it's reported here.

Harry and Meghan are no longer senior working royals, they are celebrities. Their choice, their lives. I'm not criticising them for that just stating the facts. If the Duchess of Edinburgh was receiving awards and going along to this type of celebrity event I'd start side eyeing and wondering about how the Sovereign Grant was being spent. But the Sussexes are not working royals so I don't expect them to behave like working royals.

Celebrity charity visits, awards, events like this, if that's what makes them happy then they should go for it. But I think they need to understand that they will never receive universal approval, they will never be free from criticism because if you live a public life, celebrity or royal, the public will comment on you.

This is exactly why I don’t (have the time or bother to) engage with some posters. Seriously at least.
They are so happy in their little bubble of delusions that they get cross when people ask direct questions that they can’t answer without admitting that they are very wrong about some things. This is their mute button. They can’t cope with the truth, accept any other opinion or even acknowledge that their opinion can be challenged so they ignore and stay in their bubble. It’s quite scary like many have already said. They want an echo chamber of unconditional adoration for their idols and nothing less will do. It’s not what MN is for. I find it pretty scary too. Although at times it’s really entertaining!

I agree with thiis @MrsLeonFarrell The other side of this coin is the continual comparison with the working royal family, seeking to “out do” or seek parity via these celebrity awards. The royals are not celebrities and have a completely different function (service) and focus (the focus being on the people they serve, not themselves). It’s tiresome. And clearly shows little understanding of the relationship between the royal family and the UK, both politically and socially.

The constant comparisons are irritating but I can't see an end to them because it is fueling clicks in the press and social media. I believe that at least 95% of what we read about the Royal family (including H&M in that name) is written to create revenue for individuals and the media. Conflict creates revenue and no one making money good way cares about the real people whose lives they are using for their own profit.

@RocketsMagnificent7

Some must think we button up the back or something.

'Conflict creates revenue and no one making money good way cares about the real people whose lives they are using for their own profit.'

This is absolutely true, but H&M are doing some pretty ridiculous, downright stupid and divisive things. Perhaps their own PR people are pushing them into controversy because it does keep them in the headlines. I do think they're a pair of useful idiots, easy to manipulate and not savvy enough to realise they're being used - all it takes is a bit of flattery, some $$, and they're in another fine mess.

@MrsLeonFarrell You may be right, although I’m not so sure I’d put it at that high a percentage, and given MM’s past relationships with tabloids, I think at least some of these stories are being fed to them - even if they are bollocks, it keeps her name on the front pages.

I agree that they haven't made great decisions.

I suspect that leaving just before lockdown meant they couldn't carry out their Plan A and instead of taking time to consider a new plan they seem to lurch from idea to idea. I remember their initial website kept promising to be a hub of information for the news focus of the day: covid, me too, BLM, mental health, social media accuracy etc. They need to focus to be effective.

Instead we are still getting half thought through projects announced like ARO and 40/40.

I would advise they take a step back, decide what to focus on and limit the directions they are trying to travel in.

I'm flexible on percentage!

The royals are not celebrities and have a completely different function (service) and focus (the focus being on the people they serve, not themselves). It’s tiresome. And clearly shows little understanding of the relationship between the royal family and the UK, both politically and socially.

I agree. I was thinking much the same when I saw people on X gloating that there were few people out to watch the King travelling from Buckingham Plalace to Parliament for the State Opening this week. They missed the point entirely. That event isn’t put on “for the fans”. It’s following through with centuries of tradition that reflect the developed roles of our House of Commons, House of Lords and Monarch in our constitution. It would happen in exactly the same way at the start of each new parliament whether or not a single member of the public was interested in watching. It’s not a tourist event, or something that’s designed to show that the Monarch is popular. Talk about missing the point…

They recently told us that they have hired a U.K.-based new Director of Communications (Charlie Gipson) - he presumably is doing something with his time even though the Sussexes aren’t actually themselves doing anything in the UK!

Serenster · Today 11:02

Exactly - that's what's so worrying about social media. So much ill-informed rubbish is put out by people who don't understand UK politics, constitution or culture. They may be wrong and they may be stupid, but social media makes them very powerful and influential. It's a perfect medium for people who don't want to read, aren't interested in history, detail or nuance and like simple, reductive answers. X was absolutely MADE for them.

I'm going to come out and say it: SM has given a voice and influence to some of the most stupid people in society. It's not a trivial matter, and I sometimes despair.

Charlie Gipson's resume. He left covering Crufts for H & M?!! Give me a cute doggo any day.

www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1892161/prince-harry-meghan-markle-new-pr-charlie-gipson

And of course they use the State Opening of Parliament because if they looked at Trooping the Colour it wouldn't work. The ignorance on X is stunning.

I like this perspective! Very good comment.

Whatever he is doing I'm not sure it is working.

I don't think it matters who it is. One of the few stories I do believe completely is that Harry and Meghan are not good at taking advice.

It’s such a difficult philosophical question. Are we all equal, and if so, are all points of view of equal weight? If they are not, who gets to arbitrate the relative merits and decide what is a worthy opinion or belief in a democratic society (to borrow a phrase from the Maya Forstater judgment)? Do we want some agenda driven body like the Aspen Institute deciding who gets an online voice? Social media/the internet has definitely outstripped the parameters of settled law on defamation and the human experience of “harm” constituting a criminal act, whilst rights and equality - and new concepts of “rights” and new “identities “ demanding equality- are rising exponentially. I share your despair.

I guess on a related note, the Trump shooter was allegedly researching a royal family member as a potential target. I wonder how much of that research was is in a library and how much on SM? Need we ask?