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 ?

It's a respected industry publication.

I would rather be considered odd than defend a bully but you do you.

lol, it really isn’t. It’s an entertainment rag.

But that’s what you’ve been doing on this thread.

You are incorrect.

There is only one bully here and that’s Meghan so the only one defending a bully is you, just own it.

If I was wanting to make a name for myself as a caring, sharing type of celebrity who happens to also be very vocal on the damaging effects of bullying, then you can be damn sure, especially if I had a few million in the bank, I’d be suing any publication/author who accused me of that if there was no truth in it. She hasn’t so 🤷‍♀️

I suggest you go back and read the thread.

He’s much worse in my books. Neither are great but I find him a lot more unpleasant. I couldn’t care less if he’s a prince so it’s annoying to see him get passes he doesn’t deserve based on his title.

As pp have said and it has often been pointed out, it’s not a “rag”, it’s a film industry trade publication. There is bound to be some element of gossip as there is in even the most serious of publications, but it is certainly not a tabloid

The results of the BP enquiry weren’t released, so it’s not fact.

I think they'd get away with more hypocrisy if they were just celebs rather than clinging or ever associated with RF style fame.

Fudging events into interesting anecdotes overselling skills retelling same stories is something I could see serving Meghan well in her acting career but with fame she got with marrying Harry worked against her.

I don't think she pivoted quickly enough with the life style changes - I wonder if someone said that and that why they dance from one thing to the next at minute.

Maybe her new show will work - I have my doubts - though I'm biased as I wish Netflix would stop cancelling shows I like or giving them such crap shorten series endings like Umbrella Academy it diminishes what went before.

I think the poster is talking about g about them not having sued the Hollywood Reporter

Many years of experience at performing a part (or are you disputing that she was an actor?)

Several years of experience at humanitarian toys (or are you disputing that her visits before she married really existed?)

*humanitarian tours

(not toys, missed editing window)

Agreed. They've unfortunately created a mess for themselves where they've "only" got Harry's trust fund to live on and need to make money to live the lifestyle they think they need, yet don't want negative publicity or criticism for what they do.

I confess I've only seen the trailer, but it all felt a little too "fake"? Not sure that's the right word, but it seemed like they were trying too hard.

I got a bit bored half way through the trailer, but carried on watching just to see if Harry eventually made an appearance, which he did.

If they had just left the UK and created a little life for themselves in a "regular" house to live off his Trust Fund and do some charitable work, everyone would respect them more.

This "we want privacy" and "watch our new TV programme" seems to me that there's conflict even between them. I feel like Harry would be happy to just disappear and live a quiet life away from everything, while Meghan was an actress looking for stardom.

@Choccyscofffy "Because bullying must always be called out."

I agree. I presume everyone 100% opposed Jeremy Clarkson's appalling attack calling for Meghan to be paraded naked through the streets being pelted with excrement? Or was that just banter? A humorous game of thrones reference?

The Hollywood Reporter article
Valentine Low’s book

Take your pick, both ripe for suing if no truth there.

Also taking into Harry’s’ own description of BP staff crying at their desks - bit odd isn’t it?

For me it’s a case of quacking and walking 🦆 but others are of course free to take a different view.

I think the fact that BP haven't published the findings of the bullying claims says quite a lot. The way these two are - if the findings had been in their favour they would have wanted this out in the media. They were asking for BP to respond to every little comment that they felt was untrue so I can't imagine they would be this quiet about the bullying claims.

From what I've read in the Guardian, on the BBC and in other reputable sources The Hollywood Reporter IS a serious industry publication. Obviously I can't speak from personal experience, but I'm prepared to believe them on this!

As to the question of the dossier on M's alleged bullying in the UK, yes - the RF haven't allowed it to be published. That may have been because they wanted to protect Meghan while she was still a working royal. I think it was completed about the same time as the OW interview and the Palace thought it might look like a pathetic tit-for-tat if they published it (I did read that somewhere, but can't now recall - if other pps know more, please say).It's still there, though, and I'm sure Meghan is well-aware of that. Possibly it might make her think twice about coming out with yet more allegations about the RF. After all, she has made 2 not-too-veiled threats publicly:

'I haven't signed anything', and 'I haven't even scratched the surface on my experience in the RF'.

Nice!

Yes, as you will be very well aware, he was roundly condemned for it, bother here in the MN RF and outwith.

Yes - in Squaddie mythology, William is evil because he had a go at poor Meghan and Harry, even (horrors) wagging a finger at them.

But William was trying to protect Palace staff! He was concerned for their welfare. I think the Queen too had to take Meghan aside and tell her 'We don't speak to staff like that' at one point. I think Meghan is very status-conscious and loves the hierarchy and the idea that people are her minions. Her big-hearted, empathetic comment on all this was 'It's not my job to coddle people!'. Yet, oddly, she whined to Tom Bradby on that tour that no-one had coddled her (a strong, independent, experienced, stateswoman who didn't need advice too). Double standards with bells on!

Royal staff my not be paid much but I get the impression they are usually treated well, and that's so important in a setting where staff have to be deferential and can't really answer back in the way they might in a 'normal' office job.

Or was that just banter? A humorous game of thrones reference?
@Choccyscofffy

Honestly? Yes, of course it was.

Tasteless, but it was Jeremy Clarkson. Ridiculous to take it seriously.

Bullying? I seriously doubt I'm 'bullying' Meghan. I mean if she's took offense at me stating she wasn't actually friends with Williams, yet chose to invite her to her baby shower because she had the opportunity to do so due to her newly coined fame status? Just the same as all the A listers she didn't know but invited to her wedding? Then she's more than welcome to PM me to dispute the fact 😅

That's on a par with her moaning that she was looked down on for only being chosen to be a briefcase girl due to her looks... Yet staying for another 38 appearances and still taking the pay cheques.

Thanks @CurlewKate

It’s scary how they have zero self awareness or the ability to regulate their emotions.

The fact that Meghan gets more hate than Prince Andrew the rapist will never not be weird.