With Love, Meghan - criticisms and genuine concern for her mental health

[Lavenderfarmcottage]

I am probably going to be flogged for posting this and chased down the dark laneways of Mumsnet as bystanders yell “Shame Shame Shame”.

I weighed in yesterday about a thread on Meghan and her new Netflix show. I made some criticisms about the trailer and certain cliche’s in the way it was produced. Hypocritical of me to be posting this but I feel guilty and have reflected. I am actually looking forward to watching it on Netflix and my criticisms were pretty minor and not exclusive to her show - it’s a common issue I have.

Meghan has struggled with mental health because of criticism. The reaction to ‘With Love… Meghan’ has been fairly brutal.

I think it would be really good if we refrained from saying anything negative about the series or Meghan Markle. That’s not the point of this thread.

I want to know if you think the criticisms have gone too far. The Princess of Wales is not on the scene and we are protective of her rightly so. That leaves Meghan as media fodder though.

Do you think it’s time Meghan and Harry were given a break ? I do. I think we’ve been far too harsh and the criticisms have gotten out of hand.

I think we also forget the cultural relevance. If we went into the homes or Gwyneth, Julia Roberts etc and I would probably feel the divide too. American culture doesn’t apologise for wealth and hollywoood is highly competitive.

Having a confident demeanour, throwing your head back Julia Roberts style when you laugh and unapologetically selling $$$ vagina products like Gwyneth Paltrow is how it over there. People talk loudly and confidently and are polished and rehearsed especially in the
Competitive world of Hollywood…

Are we all being too hard ?

Well this latest venture isn't meant for the UK audience for a start. However, I don't see it being a success. First of all she's really late to the party for this type of venture. It's a very crowded marketplace and even in the USA where conspicuous wealth is admired, the mood has shifted in the last few years. She probably could have had some real success if she'd done this back in 2018.

The other issue with starting this now, is that everything in the trailer looked like a rip-off of other lifestyle content that's already out there. Even if she had an original idea it would still look unoriginal and copied from someone else because it's all been done. So the only thing that would theoretically make her show more unique is Meghan herself and here's where my personal opinion might not reflect the public in general. I personally think she lacks genuine warmth and charisma. She never seems comfortable in her own skin because she's laser-focused on how she appears at all times, always trying to project a persona. I could be wrong and only time will tell.

It'll be interesting to see how it lands in the USA. MM is in the "attention economy" and it's the level of public attention or lack of, that will seal her fate.

They both have masses of money, fantastic connections , free publicity and basically any privilege people dream about. They could make a huge difference to any cause they supported if it wasn't always about them.
A sodding cooking programme that's been done a thousand times by everyone from Nigella to random Insta people is laughable.

They didn't choose shit. Harry was born into the royal family and was already well known before he even hit his teens. Meghan was reasonably successful as an actress, but clearly had no idea what she was marrying into. Harry was so used to it that it didn't even occur to him to prepare her to meet the queen.
Phrases like "You know how to curtsy, right?" made that pretty clear. Meghan also said that she was surprised they family kept up the formalities behind closed doors. That was not something she was used to either.

Sure, they "chose" to leave, but what would the alternative have been? Be miserable inside a "family" that is more a system than a group of people related by blood and marriage?

They can't tell their story should it only be up to the daily fail to write shit about them so you can sit there and demonise them.

Fabulous. I would like to see significantly more of a similar vein😊 Maybe I should come on the RF threads more often. 🥳

Nothing to do with her colour for most of us.

Yawn. No one believes it. It was just a convenient excuse for Meghan to follow the plan and get back to Hollywood to fame and riches after lining up the weird star studded wedding guests. BLM really could not have been timed better for her as her interview had maximum destructive impact.

Posters who are obviously not British??

Also - what does the image mean?

You tell "your story" if you want privacy by saying nothing.

They could have left in a different way. To start with, they had a Netflix crew recording the whole thing!

Then they did the Oprah interview. And the book.

They were the ones rejoicing in and fuelling the toxicity!

Thank you for taking the time to post this. You clearly thought about them long enough to post! 😂

Also - for very little pay????

Her father in law was giving her and her husband about £3million every year. Almost anything she could have wanted was funded. I’m sure it came as an unwelcome shock that the royals are not allowed to accept commercial freebies like clothes etc which were probably rolling in during the first year.

And I imagine the royal events and tours are actually quite draining and hard work when you aren’t looking from the outside in any more. You don’t really get to pick and choose and you can’t do something spontaneously.

But there were so many options for both Harry and Meghan - taking their time and easing into a change would have been a good start.

The mood was very positive for them at the initial news they wanted to step down from the senior royal life and make something for themselves - it was totally understandable.

Burning all their bridges with the mess of an Oprah exclusive was the first of many lapses in judgement since then.

I still think they could make a comeback and get public opinion behind them again but it will take a lot of time.

They keep on promoting her and giving her deals she's bringing something in or Netflix wouldn't invest.

It's relevant, in a way. I'll post about not caring about it. Not really what they're looking for, is it?

I don't know what a gammon is but I think you may be a racist?

Princess Michael's father was a Nazi. She's not really a prominent member of the family.

Come on then, what evidence do you have that the RF is racist? Put your money where your mouth is?

That last sentence makes zero sense.

Oh my love. Go do some reading

What are you talking about??!

They got one NF 'deal' over 4 years ago which so far has only netted one hit, the 'documentary' where they whined about being royal. Spotify dumped them and NF likely will do the same when this contract comes to an end.

This show may get some curiosity views, unlike their other flops, but I doubt it will be enough to save their NF deal.

Agree, I think there's a difference.
If the media such as the Daily Mail etc kept printing crap about me and trying to paint a negative narrative, I'd be like Meghan and Harry too if I thought they were just printing shit - I'd want my truth out there, why should they just shut up and let them print whatever they like?!
I'd be like "erm hang on a minute!" lol

She is allowed to stand up for herself she doesn't have to be bullied by the British press or it's citizens.

Gammon is a derogatory term for a white person with a red face. I think I'd better report your post for racism.

@warmcatsofa Do you not see the lies Meghan has told? Her deplorable behaviour? Oh poor Meghan - it's because of her colour- my arse!

Yes, OK. But you feel standing up for yourself.... is what they've done?