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.”

Did Meghan and Harry take selfies? I’ve only seen the group photographs they were in, taken by someone else.

But that’s just your interpretation and opinion
mainecooncatonahottinroof

Many others either don’t care, or don’t see it that way at all!

To me it’s strange to have such a strong opinion about it one way or the other.

One of them has probably just e-mailed an assistant and asked them to send out a statement in “the usual way”. You are probably giving it more thought than they did!

And sorry, still not seeing the same thing in that photo below that you are all seeing. If anything, Meghan has her head down and appears to be backing out of it. Genuinely don’t get it.

I reckon if Meghan tweeted tomorrow that she preferred boiled eggs to poached, there would be several threads on here giving ten or more reasons as to why that was wrong! And another one stating why she had no right to express an opinion about eggs in the first place!

OK split hairs if you insist - it was akin to a selfie!

A photo of them posing in the face of someone else's disaster. Don't you see how crass that is? Admit just for once that they did something that was distasteful???!

It's like someone going to Ukraine and posing in front of scenes of conflict. Or taking a group photo in the aftermath of a bombing!

What is "strange" about having an opinion? I have lots of opinions about lots of things.

My opinion is just as valid as anyone else's and there are plenty of people who agree with me.

Comparing a disaster to eggs is a little bit crass too.

"I reckon if Meghan tweeted tomorrow that she preferred boiled eggs to poached, there would be several threads on here giving ten or more reasons as to why that was wrong! And another one stating why she had no right to express an opinion about eggs in the first place!"

Glib and flippant but it doesn't detract from the reality of the situation.

It’s literally the opposite of a selfie!

Admit “for once”? I’ve posted about Meghan fairly frequently and always been even-handed, I think: she’s done some dreadful things and some great things, she’s critiqued unfairly a lot of the time and not critiqued enough sometimes. I’ve already said that the photo reminds me of people who posed in front of Ground Zero and my general feeling is “yikes”. I’m not going to go all-out on her being in it without knowing whose idea it was and why, though.

"
One of them has probably just e-mailed an assistant and asked them to send out a statement in “the usual way”. You are probably giving it more thought than they did! "

We are giving it more thought than they did? What the heck?

"Many others either don’t care, or don’t see it that way at all!

To me it’s strange to have such a strong opinion about it one way or the other. "

Yet you seem to bechere posting extensively about the Sussexes.

@MummyJ12
If absolutely does request donations to Archewell otherwise it would not have included Archewell and the link in the “ways to support and help”

I clicked on the link to Archwell and it doesn't show a way to donate that I can see. (Unless I missed it) As I said, if it does, I certainly wouldn't be donating without more research. I think it is just saying that World Central Kitchen is a charity Archwell has worked with before.

It's exactly the kind of picture one might take as a selfie.

It's disgusting actually.

Imagine if the late Queen had posed for a group photograph at Aberfan, or William and Kate doing it when they visited Southport (in their official capacity).

It's enough that she posed for it. And Harry, who should 100% know better!!! We don't need any other details.

I agree that World Central Kitchen is definitely
worthy of our donations (and that’s where my money has gone 😊).

Yes, that’s how I read it too. If they were listing Archewell as a place to donate then it would have Archewell as a separate entry in the list, specifying why. All the charities they list have an explanation of the support, and the list is broken down into meals, firefighters, housing, baby stuff, shelters, etc. Archewell is only mentioned in the context of explaining the relationship between Archewell and WCK – for transparency? Contractual reasons? Dunno. But it doesn’t read as a “donate here” in the context of the other charities.

And what’s wrong about saying “the office of” to make it clear it’s a joint official serious statement about a serious matter?

It might feel a bit jarring when one of Harold's first instructions on finding freedom was to 'Just call me Harry'

And what’s wrong about saying “the office of” to make it clear it’s a joint official serious statement about a serious matter?

It’s not an official statement. They are not in a position to make one.

And what’s wrong about saying “the office of” to make it clear it’s a joint official serious statement about a serious matter? Who cares anyway?

There is no 'office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex'.

It doesn't exist.

He is the self exiled 5th in line to the British throne. He has no official role and the closest thing he has to a 'job' is a CHIMPO for an online life coaching firm.

She is an aspiring influencer who puts flowers in ice cubes.

They aren't really qualified to make serious statements' about anything. And I'm no sure what you mean by 'official' as they hold no office. I mean, I could buy a domain and call it 'The Office of the Duchess of Iced Purple' but that wouldn't give it any sort of status and would just make me look a bit ridiculous. The same is true for these two trying to pretend their meaningless British titles give them some sort of official status in California. They don't.

I haven't seen Harry or Meghan take selfie either? Or are you referring to groups pictures taken by other photographers? Because that is not a selfie.

How do you know what they have done? You only saw a small part of their day. Where you there to see what they did for the entire time or just criticising on a few snippets of videos and pictures?

Honestly this is getting more and more surreal!

All it means is they didn’t actually type it themselves surely? An assistant or PR person released a statement on their behalf.

So what?

This is becoming more and more fascinating from an anthropological pov!

Seriously, what is the difference between them making a statement and KC and Camilla making a statement?

Do words hold more validity if issued while wearing a shiny crown?

No, that is not what it means.

Firstly, the clumsy, pompous syntax sounds very like Meghan's style to me. I doubt any 'assistant' was involved.

Secondly, why couldn't they have released an informal message from both of them on Meghan's Instagram? That's what other celebrities have done. And that's what they are now, minor celebrities. They don't have any official role and the 'Office of the Duke and Duchess' doesn't exist. They are clearly hanging on desperately to the vestiges of their royal status. If you can't see this it's because you choose not to.

Do you know of any other minor celebrities who issued 'official serious statements' from their 'office'?

Yes I’m posting an alternative viewpoint to most posters on here. That’s the way a discussion board tends to work.
Or al I only allowed to post if I am in agreement with the majority?

You can't possibly be being serious here.

King Charles is Head of State of 15 realms.

Harry and Meghan are minor celebrities.

One of these things is not like the other.

Because King Charles is the head of state of the UK - so when he makes an official statement he’s doing it on behalf of the UK.

Heads of States, Prime Ministers, Presidents, Governors, Senators, elected officials and politicians speak from their ‘office’ when they are representing bodies of people or official government business.

Famous people / celebrities don’t offer official statements on behalf of anyone else than themselves so to use the language of those who do makes Harry and Meghan look pretentious. And very much not relatable which is an own goal for Meghan’s business interests.

As has been said numerous times - the majority of criticism was the pompous "From the Office of" and the inserting of Archewell when talking about WCK. Not the content, but the presentation.

I don’t think it indicates anything “clearly” tbh!

And I could say exactly the same about what you “choose” to believe.

That’s the point surely?

I see you didn't answer my question about all the other minor celebrities who issued 'official serious statements' from their 'office'.