PR Disasters part 11

[HoldMyWine]

The ongoing dramas from Montecito courtesy of H&M.

I can’t see another thread but I made the same mistake last time …

Living over here in the US now for a couple of decades it’s hard to convey just how optimistic Americans are about social mobility.

It’s what fools many of them about Trump - the old anyone can be rich and powerful if they just work hard enough. And the idea that those who are rich and powerful are the smart, hard working ones.

When in reality there’s just as much of a wealth hierarchy and barrier to social movement as in the UK. No matter how you came by it originally - inheritance, a genius business idea or criminal activity, the top percenters always look after their own backs first.

Also thinking about the acting world - it’s so tough and hard to get a break, and even harder to become one of the stars, the only thing that keeps people going is believing deep down that one day you can make it to the top.

That would have been a hard pill for Meghan to come to terms with - no matter how successful or liked she could become within the royal family she was never going to have the top job.

Isn’t it New York society that’s notoriously elitist? Or I may just be thinking of The Gilded Age!

And that’s absolutely her prerogative - no one is disputing that. The discussion is around speculation that she was pregnant before marriage or claimed to be the PH - which it true means she miscarried and if not true it’s a unacceptable speculation on private medical health - even if it was discussed on some SM doesn’t mean that it’s acceptable to repeat distasteful speculation.

When in reality there’s just as much of a wealth hierarchy and barrier to social movement as in the UK. No matter how you came by it originally - inheritance, a genius business idea or criminal activity, the top percenters always look after their own backs first.

I've only visited and consumed their media but I'm always surprised this is so unseen.

I think the economic forum social economic ranking has UK at 21st and the US at 27th nether is great but at least in UK we're aware of it.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/01/these-are-the-10-countries-with-the-best-social-mobility/

Don't know how accurate this is but one I thought the UK one wasn't terrible.

Do you have a link, can't find it with a casual search??

It’s the website they published the week they left the UK as working royals.

Sussexroyal.com

It’s a bit of a mess now as they’ve updated it several times since it’s initial launch in 2020 and it now has very annoying pop ups over the older pages trying to direct you to their new websites.

That's not modernisation, that's Narnia! 😂

You'd think Meghan - with her degree in International Studies, claim to have been interested in a diplomatic career, and further claim to be an international humanitarian - would have some idea about the need to take the time to understand the cultural differences and traditions before trying to force a change to them. Supremely arrogant on her part to think she somehow knew better, whilst at the same time she admitted to her utter ignorance and disinterest in learning - hence her bleating on Netflix that, "Nobody told me...", "Didn't know the anthem...", "Didn't know Brits don't hug" etc etc. Hence Scobie, Tina Brown confirming she knocked back all the help offered to her by the Palace, one of the sources of help refused on, frankly, racist grounds.

Not if she then quit after 18 months and cried racism. As it is her attempt to brand the RF as racist hit hard initially but she has only a second-hand convo to peddle. If she'd been hidden (as well as silenced) the racist claims might have carried more credence, even among seasoned commentators.

As you say, "there's no rule" but the RF might have expected to be accused of racism by her at some point, and chose the "hit the ground running" approach to head off any accusations that shecwas treated differently because of her skin colour.

You'd think Meghan - with her degree in International Studies, claim to have been interested in a diplomatic career, and further claim to be an international humanitarian - would have some idea about the need to take the time to understand the cultural differences and traditions before trying to force a change to them.

It’s cuz she’s American apparently 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s completely perplexing to them.

Thank you. Very informative.

I'm not saying she couldn't have and should of done more research or indeed any or taken up the many offered avenues of advice - though she did say she just needed Harry and he seems to be completly in dark.

I'm saying she part of what blinded her was not getting how different UK culture is.

Though I don't think she has the cultural curiosity or general curiosity that I'd take for granted - which TBH also seems to be part of some US culture the lack of curiosity about the world outside the USA.

@Indianrollerbird

That's not modernisation, that's Narnia!

Excellent 👏

Well I’m confused! I’ve read this thread religiously and previous to you mentioning it nobody was discussing miscarriages or private medical issues! 🤷‍♀️ , in fact the rumour that was being discussed is that Meghan “claimed “ she was pregnant to marry Harry ! , this may or may not be true but is unfortunately a tried and tested method some women have utilised to get their man, however it is entirely impossible to have a miscarriage from a fake pregnancy.

I've lived in countries with cultures radically different to my own. Way more profound differences than those between even West Coast 'celebrity' America versus upper class England. And while I can't say I didn't make tons of faux pas, I was fully aware that I had chosen to live in a very different culture and made every effort to accommodate to that. And I didn't have an entire team of 'staff' there to help me make the adjustment.

Meghan's difficulties in adjusting to royal life had way more to do with the fact that she was American or an actress. As someone said in the thread about the Sussexes' future 'career' directions, every discussion has to take into account the fact that we are dealing with two people with obvious personality disorders.

I’m not sure it’s a us thing personally, there are many US posters on sm who thought it was just as offensive as we did!

Totally agree, @jeffgoldblum, and I couldn't repeat what many American friends have to say on the matter here because I'd be banned

Yes there were cultural differences involved, but much of the criticism hasn't been because she's American - it's because she's this particular American, and IME her behaviour would be no more welcome there than it is here

Meghan's difficulties in adjusting to royal life had way more to do with the fact that she was American or an actress. As someone said in the thread about the Sussexes' future 'career' directions, every discussion has to take into account the fact that we are dealing with two people with obvious personality disorders.

Totally agree, her failure is nothing to do with being American, her failure is because she is Meghan.

Indeed puzzled ! , in fact an American friend of mine introduced me to a new phrase that she used to describe Meghan as, apparently she is an “ ugly American!” , apparently this phrase has nothing to do with appearance but a stereotype of American behaviour that they find offensive! 🤷‍♀️ , you learn something new everyday!

To ensure he gets his inheritance when Charles departs

I don't think Harry gets an inheritance - it all goes to William.

Harry has already had the millions left in trust to him by Diana and the Queen mother.

Sauce for the goose...Meghan is THE biggest source of distasteful gossip or should I say baiting.

Indeed! We all know she lies about everything but apparently not pregnancy it seems! 🙄

There seems to be momentum to Invictus Games's finances being scrutinised, even if it's currently mainly online. I've learned more about how charities can be used to grift and skim from reading about H & M than I ever knew. I think literally everything they're involved with works the same way. H won't have known how to work this but he will have gone along with it. I hope pp are right about election changes to Birmingham council being a route to getting out of hosting IG, the whole thing could do with being re-structured under different management and re-branded if veterans are to be respected and cost could be a face-saving way of doing that.

On the topic of M post any divorce, it doesn't matter from her point of view whether what she says about her marriage / H / the RF is truly believed or not. It doesn't matter whether it damages the RF in some way either.

Media - TV, tabloid, online - will pay for content featuring her post-divorce revelations and life, regardless. If you think about the endless appetite for not just scandal but ongoing gossip content about the most insignificant 'celebrities', she has a lot to offer, and crucially she doesn't need to be represented as flawless herself - viewers can be absorbed while leaving room to mock / judge her.

My guess would be that H, in his various states of infatuation, bitterness, intoxication and regression therapy will have told M things about himself, his family and other well-known people. There are various ways M can monetise that, as well as what she knows about her own experiences and marriage. It depends on how she wants to / can be persuaded to play a post- divorce story. If an initially 'high ground' representation of M runs out of steam, there's another layer of content available. In this case, revelations about her from others are just more content.

The kids can't be removed and sequestered by the RF and H would only have rights to access in California afaik. The kids are wild cards, depending on how much influence M has on them but they are definitely content, as are the rest of the Markle clan. M's key motivations seem to be to ensure her own considerable financial security and to attract attention, ideal for content-hunters.

I'm glad that even if it's just online, questions are being asked about Invictus. It's an absolute disgrace where that pot of money appears to be disappearing ie into Meghan's wardrobe and their securidee. If Harry had one shred of decency, he'd hand it back to the royal family and cut all ties.