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.”

He was also at Pacific Palisades, which they had to drive past.

That doesn’t make a lot of sense does it? They could speak to the founder virtually and at any time. If they were going anywhere in person you’d think it would be to the place where they could (a) be of most use and (b) had some direct local connection.

@Serenster maybe there was more time for a photo opportunity at Pasadena.

Well that’s quite revealing then, isn’t it…?

I hope someone remembered to ask Meghan if she was OK.

Preach! This is absolutely spot on.

'From the Office of' is a way of distinguishing the public persona from the private individual.

The town mayor (as a representative of the town community) might send his/her best wishes from their office.

As an individual they would privately message 'Joe/Mary sorry to hear, anything I can do?'

H&M don't have an official role, so 'from the Office of' is cosplay

Of course they couldn't go anywhere they wouldn't meet the head honcho.

Meghan was beetling behind staring at water bottles. Her security guy then pointed out to her that the cameras were there and she returned to the group and started hugging everyone again. It's obvious. Look at the video.

Everyone in charge will be looking for someone to blame - the fire services, the mayors, the pistachio farmer billionaires. Of course the mayor of Pasadena would be happy to have them there hoping for some exposure and some handouts. The hugs? I guess he could do without.

Then you think he'd avoid photo ops instead of seeking them out.

What a pair of shameless grifters.

Absolutely!!

Meghan looked as of she hadnt slept and been crying alot, her eyes were really red in the clip I saw. She looked genuinely very sad

So much to infer, speculate and assume … it’s tiring.

Yes because having a photo taken of you as an adult is exactly the same as having photos taken of you as you walk behind your mums coffin whilst thousands of strangers are crying and shouting out things as you walk.

You tell the world that you are 'triggered' by photographer's lenses flashing since you walked behind your mother's coffin aged 12. You state that this feeling has persisted into your adult life.

You seek out photo opportunities?????!!

Pull the other one.

The smoke from the fires is overwhelming. I'm sure many people have red eyes and aren't sleeping:

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/article/2025/jan/10/fire-smoke-affect-mental-health

Another reason why unessential people should stay out of the affected area.

I wish somebody would explain what they get out of being so angry with H&M. They are insignificant, really. If they stopped doing what they are doing it would change nothing. Why does it matter so much to you?

What actual harm are they doing? I mean I don't see what good they are doing either- but does that matter? You can say that about loads of people, including many of us on here. But what actual harm?

I am not angry. I am amused, and slightly baffled. But enjoying the soap opera they have chosen to provide. The gap between what they seem to aim for and the reality.

I think they did harm with their accusations of racism about the whole country. Now retracted.

I don't see that they are doing harm at the moment. Like you I don't think they are doing much good either but it isn't harmful to produce shallow TV and wander around hugging people in other countries or disaster zones.

If they dropped the UK royal titles, which I think would also remove some of the problems they are having PR wise because it puts them in a weird celebrity/minor royal place, if they dropped them I wouldn't comment on them.

I don't comment on other celebrities but whilst they retain UK titles in some small way everything they do publically reflects on the constitutional monarchy of my country and I will comment on that. As even handedly as I can, but I will comment.

It's like watching an episode of The Office. If they weren't so ridiculously wealthy, indulged and entitled I would feel a bit guilty in finding it amusing.

But given they have every benefit - including access to advice - they are just making themselves laughable out of choice and an elevated sense of their own importance.

I dispute the anger / hate narrative, they are pumping out massive PR on a regular basis and that generates commentary.

The fact a lot of the commentary is negative is because people have opinions and certainly they are judged on, what a lot a lot of people see as, the PR being at odds with how they presented themselves on Oprah, Netflix and various other personal interviews.

They have done a lot of harm to the image of the UK and certainly to the British monarchy, Oprah, Netflix ,bullying etc, has become a benchmark which they personally set for themselves and they will forever be judged against that.

People are angry because they had a lot of money out of the U.K. and the RF. And then they told us it was all too much and they were setting back from being working royals and wanted to live a private life. Harry says he’s triggered by flash bulbs. Meghan says press coverage nearly drover her to suicide.

And we would have probably all been happy to let them go. It does sound like an awful existence.

Except that was a lie. Every time they show us on faux royal tours they are driving home the point that they lied to everyone.

They didn’t want to step back. They want to be centre stage. And all the accusations and finger pointing and crying was a toddler level spin to get people on their side so they could do what they actually wanted: merch the hell out of their RF connections and become rich off of the influence of H’s family. Which is a huge no-no. Every other royal who has tried it has ended up in hot water (Prince Andrew/ Duke of Windsor).

I think if they’d just told the truth from the beginning then people would be less angry. It’s the whopping, childish lies that upset people.

@Thedom "They have done a lot of harm to the image of the UK and certainly to the British monarchy, Oprah, Netflix ,bullying etc, has become a benchmark which they personally set for themselves and they will forever be judged against that."

Have they really, though? Done harm to the image of the UK, I mean. They seem so trivial compared to the damage caused to the UK in general and the monarchy in particular by people who don't get half the criticism. Is it that they are an easy target?