Is there another couple like the Sussexes Part 2

[veraswaistcoat]

With this new authentic Insta post where Meghan positions herself as a go between in securing some signed merchandise I think there's still plenty to discuss.
This is a new image. No make up. Carefully edited insta. New lips. Is this influencer territory? Mention of " my husband and l " Echoes of the Queen ?

I always think that when someone has their kids' names tattooed on too 😂

@mainecooncatonahottinroof me too.

Opposite of what?

The hair-in-jumper look was very popular amongst IG huns in 2015 - 17 and is meant to be part of the ditsy girl persona. Look how adorably dishevelled and absent-minded I am [but still utterly beautiful, natch]. I hadn't seen it for years until Meg's video.

@Onlyonekenobe your post on vivacious It Girls was fab - yes I've witnessed the type - they often work as juniors in big PR agencies, marking time until they can make an excellent marriage. And yes, they are often sad girls inside. You're a brilliant observer and descriptor of human nature!

I'm going to respectfully disagree with a few points!

Firstly, I don't think Meghan needs good PR. In fact, I would say that her obsession with 'PR', which she seems to interpret as trying to make everyone think she's a wonderful person, is part of the problem. What she needs is a hit. She needs a 'product' that people are interested in. In the past 5 years, she's failed to do that. I don't count the NF 'documentary' as that was just another version of the Oprah whining about royal life thing. She needs a success in her own right. Maybe the lifestyle show will be that, but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

Secondly, even as far as PR goes, I don't think this is a good move at all. A 43 year old woman gushing over a tshirt like a teenaged Tik Toker is not aspirational, especially as she also wants us to take her seriously as a 'philanthropist'. In addition to being juvenile, it comes across as insincere and performative. I don't think this helps establish any kind of coherent 'brand' at all.

Oh God - that video...

If only Meghan would put a fraction of the energy she puts in trying to convince us she's a good person into actually BEING a good person, things might get better for her.

I agree about the PR obsession. If you want to do good, just do it! News will get around 'organically' and you'll look much better for it, Meghan. There's nothing so good for your reputation as being found to have been doing good by stealth.

Having said this, I don't think it's all her fault. Having observed Meghan for years now I really do think she is so hollow as a character that she just doesn't know how to do anything genuine, or has any real, authentic feelings and motivations. She's been a performer for so long - since childhood - and I don't think she even understands what authenticity is. She's always looking for the camera, or taking one along to record everything she does.

I agree with you @IcedPurple .
When you look back at the grandiose statements from 2020, she ( and Harry) were setting themselves up as leaders , philanthropists etc etc. 5 years on , Meghan is giggling over a tee shirt and pretending she doesn’t know what a lunch box is !

So it’s not really a cooking show…it’s the art of being the hostess with the mostest. How throughly progressive of you Meghan.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14369987/Meghan-perfect-hostess-Netflix.html#

‘It’s a very magical and beautiful guide to hosting and entertaining rather than a how-to cookery show. It’s about inspiration – more like, “Why not try and make this kind of pasta or this kind of dessert”.

I don’t know why, but that last line is just hilarious.

What I cannot wrap my head around is how anyone thinks it’s ok to use charitable acts as PR.

Meghan isn’t the only one who does it. The only time it’s acceptable is if you’re trying to drum up donations for a charity - which clearly wasn’t the case here.

When George Michael died, the full extent of his secret charitable work all came out and it was phenomenal. The man had many demons but a kind and generous soul. THAT is what true philanthropy looks like - not giggling about what a wonderful person you are for getting a lunchbox.

Meghan clearly didn’t listen to a word of the criticism about grief tourism.

Of all the shitty things she’s done, I really really take fucking exception to this. And anyone else who does it too.

Using someone else’s tragedy to make yourself look good is a cunt move.

Well Meghan's, Harry's and Archwell's "philanthropy" and "charity" is possibly going to look pretty hollow if the allegations are true that their funding can be traced back to the original source of USAID - in other words, taxpayers' money. The dots are being joined.

I simply don’t get it. Surely surely after the LA Fires Grief Tourism debacle she would have hunkered down for a while, but no! She’s back again posting this absolute drivel.

And the “ditsy girl” thing is really irritating. I can’t imagine Billie Eilish will be best pleased with the association. If I (well, my publicity team) sent some merch for a fan and then there was a social media influencer opening it and shrieking, i’d actually be really pissed off. (Totally imagining here as I’m not famous and have no merch!)

Also, regarding the USAID donation - is it the case that they would have donated to Archwell which is registered in Delaware so only 5% of taxpayers’ money was required to be used for charitable purposes?

If so, it is an abominable loophole surely used by hundreds of foundations etc.

@MaturingCheeseball . Yes, I think that is the ultimate effect of these tax $ originating funds traveling via middle men into a Delaware registered charity allowing 95% expenditure on expenses. Whether that actually happened with Archwell remains to be clarified, but they (and orgs they are adjacent to) certainly received funds from one of the middle men (Fidelity) who have been receiving USAID to pass on to these orgs. It all feels a bit like laundering money to me.

“Why not try and make this kind of pasta or this kind of dessert”.

I don’t know why, but that last line is just hilarious.

Yeah, it's not exactly channeling 'global thought leader' my way.

The basic answers to 'why not try ...', even in the US, might be (a) because we live in poverty and couldn't afford that, (c) I have no idea where to get those ingredients, (d) I have neither the time nor the inclination for such an aimless, luxury hobby, what with working endless shifts and worrying about health insurance cover. It's as tone deaf as Polo.

Meanwhile, USAID > Delaware > Archewell / Better Up > Invictus ...

@MaturingCheeseball

“I simply don’t get it. Surely surely after the LA Fires Grief Tourism debacle she would have hunkered down for a while, but no! She’s back again posting this absolute drivel.”

Well she didn’t learn after Uvalde !

@FebruaryCrow what have you got against (B)? 😂

Trump does everything for show, I would imagine there are people quite concerned at the moment, think of the newspaper coverage if it can be shown that American tax payers have been financing H&M. He would have a field day and would have increased public support imo.

I am now wondering (again) about Governor Gavin Newsom publicly leaping to their defence over the late tax filings for Archewell, and insisting they do good work.

There must be thousands at it. Obviously not against the law, but a gross misuse of public funds. And no doubt many of the great and the good want a very heavy lid kept on this.

I was just reading up on the Ron Burkle individual - links to Soho House and a large beneficiary of USAID dollars. All very murky.

@MaturingCheeseball Well the media seems to be largely ignoring it, preferring the Trump/Elon insane narrative to actually looking at what has been uncovered. Some of it is actually pretty funny and some of it horrifying. Iraqi Sesame Street, anyone?

Doesn't he own Soho House?

Can't keep up.

Where can I find the USAID allegations?

Back to the mail article. Interesting to note the hostessing show is likely to be their last collaboration with NF. I think it was obvious the Meet Me At The Lake deal was never likely to translate into reality but that seems to confirm it.

Another $3m down the drain.

I used to live in Egypt (dh is Egyptian) and I remember US AID sponsored an Egyptian version of Sesame Street. This was in the early 00s. I used to sit ds1 down in front of it to help him with his Arabic! Even at the time I didn't think this was a great use of American tax dollars! It didn't really catch on, probably because it was quite patronising rather than fun and educational.
I have known a few people employed by US AID over the years. They have extremely generous packages. It's a gravy train.

Yes, that's it.

There was this narrative that Meghan was just too intelligent and too wordly to be opening leisure centres in Hull. That she was stifled by 'protocol' and needed to express her 'voice'. Yet here, 5 years on, she's squeeing over a teenager's tshirt. What a come down.