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.”

You just press reader at the bottom of the screen .

Thank you both. Blimey that article! I know the DM
but I imagine it’s got a basis for how some Americans view them.

Yes, about the mood in the US that obviously we haven’t picked up upon over here.

They say in this video that they get them volunteering and thats great, but it’s the fact that they got a special privilege to be shown around the fire damaged properties when the people that once lived there haven’t even been allowed back, people that may be still looking for loved ones, pets etc. They say people have been lining up for the chance to get back but it’s not happening.

I’ve read elsewhere that it will take ‘more than a couple of days’ to allow these people back to have a look at what’s left of their properties.

So I think this is the perspective that a lot of Americans are pissed off at. Not so much the that they are there…but that they are using up resources to be given a tour that the displaced haven’t even been allowed yet. They make a good point in that presidents don’t visit disaster sites because of the circus it brings and the resources that it uses up, until the moment is right. Sort of what the Royals do here.

A completely fair point. There’s a commenter at the end of the video who I think is very balanced.

https://www.tmz.com/watch/2025-01-13-011325-tmz-live-meghan-harry-1957529-080/

Perhaps Google needs a better fact checker?

The original cancellation was overturned to allow for a smaller gathering (not least as it was clear that locals supported that) and there was no incident at that.

The problem was that people kept turning up after the permitted event has been asked to disperse. There was no trouble other than in those couple of immediately post-vigil hours when people flooded to the bandstand. And none at all at the other vigil at the spot where she had been taken.

Fox News also did a whole segment on them, it looks so bad for them. There is now a video circulating of them walking past some people who were at the evacuation center, didn't even glance at them, they were surrounded by their bodyguards and cameras.

Why didn't they wait to put out that statement about Meta, it just adds to their image of being self serving and egocentric.

Their statement about the show being delayed is another self serving statement.

'as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California"

What kind of a statement is that? the show was filmed almost a year ago, its being streamed, its not going to disrupt anything or anyone, unless they believe every firefighter and charity worker is going to down tools to rush elsewhere to watch their show the minute it is released..

This is the kind of statement that is so difficult to believe is genuine.

Oh yes, I understand that the original plans were cancelled, but what took place afterwards is still referred to as a “vigil” because that is what people wanted to do. I was taking issue with the poster who kept insisting that because the vigil was not officially sanctioned, the then Duchess of Cambridge was breaking the law

It definitely feels like Americans are waking up to the problematic actions of these two.

No one made them do all this, it’s their own, repeated, tone deaf decisions, including the META statement.I don’t think she’s going to be able to brush off the ill feeling in time for the relaunch of With Love, Meghan.

Good thing is the RF never said anything over the years, just let them get on being the fools that they are

They don't seem to understand you can't recreate a system of British Royalty in America.

When disaster strikes here any royal response or visit is about representation and tied into the notion that the monarchy exists to serve the nation. In difficult times a senior royal is there as a figurehead of national sorrow etc. A visit somewhere is generally timed to it doesn't hinder first responders.

This doesn't translate in the US because they are neither representative of senior US officials nor the British monarchy any longer and even if they were still the latter anyone representing Britain would be expected to stay out of the way other than making standard statements of condolence.

This doesn't preclude them from pitching in with the relief effort like many celebs are doing but they can't do it in some quasi official fashion with tours and cameras and expect people not to be pissed off.

I imagine Harry doesn't know how to be anything but 'royal' so I can see why he sees it as some sort of duty to turn up and shake hands but Meghan should understand her home country a bit better.

I get the feeling it's Meghan who wants to be doing this stuff, not Harry. He often looks awkward and a bit nonplussed.

Possibly. She'd be far better helping him integrate into American ways rather than encouraging the idea they have a US royal court.

Their press and communications director was with them, for anyone who still believes it was a genuine visit with no PR. .

The problem is trying to be: Royal, celeb, politician

If you’re Royal, you can’t be a celeb (which is what meghan tried to be in the UK) and you can’t make political statements (Meta statement)

If you’re a celeb, you can’t be a dowdy/dutiful royal (that’s boring) and there’s a limit to how much people will listen to your politics (US election)

If you’re a politician, you can’t be an elite aristocratic royal and being a celeb can be both a benefit and a hinderance.

They have to choose what they want. They can’t do all three and expect to pull it off, it’s a bloody mess. In the last week we’ve had the tv show( celebrity) fire visit (quasi Royals) and the meta statement (politicians). This is why they come off as complete idiots

Well given that she went to Ulvade on her own. I would say this is likely. I’m sure she isn’t doing any of this for any malicious reasons, she just doesn’t seem to understand that it’s having the opposite effect to the one she hopes it will have 🤷‍♀️

Why don't they just live a normal life and get normal jobs. They have the money to retrain in any field they like. Invest their millions and live off the interest. We know the answer, because the two of them LOVE the limelight and can't exist without it.

https://packaged-media.redd.it/7vnmppggawce1/pb/m2-res854p.mp4?m=DASHPlaylist.mpd&v=1&e=1736848800&s=868fc103c043b01f163dfbdbd20f1173ae7a175c.

The tall guy, their PR dude, walking behind them with a blue polo shirt, looks like he stops to talk to the film crew after they pass by.

He also appears to be one of the people she is seen hugging.

Just look at their entourage, yes .... that won't get you noticed AT ALL.

That article is brutal but very accurate

I am not convinced that Harry does love the limelight. To me Harry looks happiest these days at Invictus , Sentebale and similar occasions . From the video I have seen from the weekend , he looks uncomfortable.

OMFG they just don’t get it, they’re going back:

‘The Duke and Duchess are committed to further supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts and have already planned additional visits to the community, sources told The Post.’

They also aren’t giving an inch:

‘Harry and Meghan spent a long time volunteering before they met Mayor Gordo and Mrs. Newsom, who offered to take the pair to some of the impacted areas to help them understand the gravity of the situation and discuss how they can further aid the relief efforts.’

They can’t just say sorry, didn’t mean to offend but can see why. Won’t do it again. Like the empathy banana incident.

https://nypost.com/2025/01/13/entertainment/justine-batemans-attack-on-prince-harry-meghan-markles-la-fire-visit-is-sad-source/

It's not genuine because it isn't logical. The series is ready to go without any input from them.

This. I think he wanted out of the royal family because of the limelight and personal history: he’s spent his life famous without any choice in it. Whereas Meghan’s spent her life pursuing fame. Neither of them know any differently now – I think Harry probably has arrested development and is stuck by his upbringing; Meghan’s entire adult work experience is the pursuit of fame and she’s not qualified for anything else – so together, they make a really bad match.

I don’t know. If I’d had their millions leaving the RF (assuming the Diana inheritance holds true) I’d have been quite happy with a house and a garden and living off investments the rest of my life. I actually do make jam and it would be nice to have more time to do that; Meghan doesn’t seem to understand that to monetise jam on the level she’s trying to, you stop making the jam (the fun bit) and instead do a lot of CEOing and paperwork and business.

These are good points. Their relationship has all the hallmarks of a holiday fling, met whilst living on different continents, most of it taking place long haul, I can’t see they’d have gone the distance if they’d met under different circumstances, but here they are. Neither able to function independently in each other’s world.

The marriage was deliberately rushed because of Meghans age and the fact she had no job lined up after being written out of suits.
Then they created the us against the world love story narrative, it’s that drama that seems to keep them together. I think if people tuned out and paid them no attention, they would likely view their relationship differently.

And it was rushed through by Harry so she didn't change her mind when she realised what being in the RF really meant!

Tbf I believe she was written out of Suits because of her relationship, not the other way round. But it was a show with an end in sight and nothing else lined up, hence the trip to London.