Sussexes statement about Californian wildfires

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

Meghan and Harry have released a statement in regards to the California wildfire via their Sussex.com website.

It reads:

”In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life.
A state of emergency has been issued.
If you feel compelled to help, here are some resources and ideas:
Support
Organizations such as José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, which has been a longtime partner of The Archewell Foundation, are serving meals to both first responders and victims of the fire.
CAL FIRE and LA Fire Department Foundation and others are working closely to support firefighters who risk their lives, bravely showing up in these high-risk environments to help save homes, families, and communities in need.
Animal Wellness Foundation is continuing to house and care for animals evacuated by the fires while Compton Cowboys is providing emergency transportation services for horses.
Airbnb and 211LA have partnered to provide free, temporary housing for those who have been displaced.

Baby2baby is providing essential supplies including diapers, clothing, hygiene products, and emergency kits to families in need.
All Power Books and many others are staying open for emergency use, offering supplies and water for pickup while working tirelessly to distribute essentials to those affected.

Open your home
If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.
Give back
Some families and people have been left with nothing. Please consider donating clothing, children’s toys & clothing, and other essentials. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need.”

45 minutes ! As I said in another thread , I volunteer in a Foodbank and 45 minutes would be of very little use . Even my 4 hours seems inadequate!

The BBC says they met with first responders and locals. It doesn’t say anything about them helping out. Obviously there were lots of hugs. So that’s ok then 🙄

'I want a reference'

'Here's the reference'

'I don't believe that one'

Sorry forgot screenshot. Also note as someone said elsewhere that they had to drive for an hour and a half to get there. Why didn’t they organise something from where they live instead of getting in the way?

typo

American journalists are, quite understandably, frequently shaky on British royal protocol.

Poor old American journalists. Are they a bit lacking?
Do they, for example, struggle with how they should address the Pope? "His Godliness" would probably do. Or "Papa Francis" has a nice ring.

To be fair, so are British journalists!

Oh dear. Are they?
I've not come across any British journalist mentioning Princess Meghan or Princess Markle.

Here’s your Princess Markle reference.

Note the reporters also mention at the start that they were “alerted” when Harry and Meghan arrived. I wonder by whom? I would have thought the volunteers and residents might have had other things not heir mind than contacting the news stations?

https://x.com/fl_native21/status/1877880976828739621?s=61&t=9mUFAnTCINJez8ry1Mtg4Q

@smilesy "Why didn’t they organise something from where they live instead of getting in the way?" Possibly because there aren't any fires in Montecito?

Speaking from experience of being involved in organising relief for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are loads of things you can get involved in locally when there is a huge disaster. Harry and Meghan mentioned they have donated clothes etc - many people in Montecito will have I am sure. They will all need to be sorted and packed (and cleaned!) for starters.

It is often said by first responders that high profile people turning up at a disaster area just diverts attention and effort from the people who really need help.

"Well, this has been a terrible disaster for me. But it's all right, because Princess Markle just hugged me".
Said no one. Ever.

If there were fires in Montecito, they probably wouldn’t be in a position to help whereas living in an area untouched by fire they could organise something locally to be forwarded to the affected areas is what I meant

typo

This is their modus operandi. Acting like they’re world experts on all topics, the providers of correct information, the fount of all knowledge, and that the little people need guidance from them.

A photo opportunity for hugging and handing out a few food parcels, grinning with satisfaction that their being there will resolve the problem of these people who lost everything!

This is just a piece of propaganda for the duo.

Meghan has her heart set on being Princess Di Mk II and has even taken to mimicking her with her hands on her hips pose.

That's awful.

I mean what's the actual purpose of them being there? The fires don't need celebrity presence to raise awareness - it's global headline news anyway. So the only purpose of them being there is for their own profile, which is pretty gross.

I'm not seeing other celebrities doing this sort of thing, which tells you everything you need to know.

@elessar if you wanted to help you would tuen up incognito and get stuck in and do what the relief agencies instruct you to do.

These two might just have well brought their own trumpets and tooted them at the queue of people in line for food hand outs.

Exactly.

If you found out weeks or months later that they'd put in days of volunteer work with no publicity whatsoever - then it might be credible that they actually care and want to help.

But this is all just for show.

People have noticed that a “devastated community member” who Meghan and Harry were filmed talking too, and to whom Meghan gave a tearful hug in these photos below (stills from video, you can see the whole footage on twitter) then left with Harry and Meghan and their security when they walked into the secured area and back to their transport (again that’s a still from the longer video, which you can look up).

Bizarre.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but apparently Meghan’s agent has evacuated to the Peninsula hotel in LA. Not sure if she’s lost her house or not. Wonder if Meghan offered her a bed? Maybe she did and the offer was declined. 😁. I’d rather stay in the hotel I guess.

I wondered about this too! They must have driven around 3 of the biggest areas of devastation to get to Pasadena.

@Serenster those images are 😳

His Godliness @LaMarschallin 😂😂😂

And mixing with the common people.

"The interaction was broadcast live on Fox News, with news anchor Susan Hirasuna later being slammed online for describing Meghan as 'Princess Markle'. She also received criticism for saying Meghan was 'hanging out with the commoners'. "

We're the commoners forelock tugging and cap doffing? 😂

I think that’s an incredibly cynical viewpoint.
Harry was one of the best of the royals at meeting and greeting before he left the UK.

It’s literally what he was trained to do for all of his life and he has a natural aptitude for it It’s harder than it looks too, if you have ever tried communicating with a bunch of distressed strangers. Often people have the need to repeat what has happened to them in situations like this.

What is so wrong about him bringing those skills to a local disaster? I am sure he is better at it than most!

Again it’s one of those situations where he would be criticised for sitting at home behind closed doors and not commenting on the fires at all,

And he’s now being criticised for getting out there and showing support. He really cannot win!

Jennifer Garner has also been involved with World kitchen in her OWN community where she is a long time resident, where she attends the local Church which has burnt down. There's no play acting there.

Harry is not " local" to this area. He has travelled 111 miles to get there. No one needs celebrity grief vultures.

The problem Meghan and Harry have is this was always going to have them being accused of PR, but their double edge sword is they then have their supporters flooding social media using these images not only to praise H and M (over the top) but to be be critical of the royal family and mainly Catherine.

Why on earth would you donate to Archewell? Only 5% of that donation is going to reach fire victims.