Meghan’s clash with the Royals: “The public has a problem with women who are angry about something”
The aftermath of revealing interview of Harry and Meghan with Oprah: The Queen made a public statement, Piers Morgan stormed out of the studio and a day later quit his job, ignited fresh debates about abolishing the monarchy in some of the nations of the commonwealth but most importantly the whole world is talking about mental health and women who “can not keep their mouth shut”.
“The public has a problem with women who are angry about something”, said Nichola Gutgold, professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley, scholar, and author who specializes in the subject of women in politics. She said it in 2019. during our talk about climate activist Greta Thunberg and her unapologetic communication style but it is a trope we can apply in the case of Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey is described in the media as full of “bombshell revelations” but on the other side, people on social media are saying they are not surprised with Markles and husbands experience in the Royal family.
The Sussexes told their story of struggle with mental health and highlighted they left their position as Senior royals for the lack of support and understanding. Markle said she was struggling mentally and even thought about suicide, and no one would help her. She said she asked for help in The Firm HR department and was rejected. Later in the interview, Harry said they were too ashamed to ask for help directly from the family members. Sounds to me like they did not seek help in the right place, but when you are struggling like that, it can be hard to think straight and that is why support is imperative.
Disturbing the status quo
Meghan claims to have gotten into a relationship with the price without knowing what it meant and admitted to being unprepared and unaware of what royal duties entail. That’s on her. But the treatment she got from British tabloids, and some members of the family remain something we can all relate to. A toxic environment, bullying, and loneliness are a path to mental health struggles.
What I got from Meghan’s interview is that she was not feeling well in her surroundings, she was not okay with the way she was treated and would not conform to the duties that were expected of her so she decided to leave. With that, she disturbed the status quo. As a woman she sent the message — if you don’t like it, leave; if you were mistreated, say so; If you need help, ask for it.
This may all seem logical and simple, almost common sense. But women are being mistreated every day and expected to take up with it. But times are changing.
Owning her story
Here enters Piers Morgan, a TV host of ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” who, sometime years ago, had some kind of friendly relationship with Meghan. She obviously moved on from it, and he could not take it. Does that sound familiar?
He went on to criticize Magan at every opportunity he could get. That became so obnoxious that in the morning show after the interview was aired it all culminated with Morgan saying he did not believe in Markle’s statement about mental health. After that co-presenter called him out over his hate speech.
“I understand you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this program, a number of times.
And I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or you had one and she cut you off. She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has and yet you continue to trash her.”, said the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford after which Morgan stormed from the studio.
U.K. media regulator Ofcom received 41.000 written complaints about Morgan’s remarks on the Monday morning show and launched an investigation. After the talks with Morgan, the network ITV announced Tuesday that he will be leaving the show.
“Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add”, ITV said in a statement.
That was not Morgan’s only questionable behavior this week. On Tuesday’s show, he created very awkward moments with his sexist remarks which later received backlash from the social media users.
Morgan opened the show by saying he was distracted by his co-presenters Charlotte Hawkins’s miniskirt and having her stand up for cameras to show her dress. She was taken aback with this remark and obviously uncomfortable commenting it is only a dress to which Morgan would not let go and insist it is a miniskirt to which she replied: “I don’t know why you’re getting so overexcited because I’m wearing a dress. We like to embrace a bit of sunshine.”.
He received backlash from public and social media users calling him out for misogyny, unprofessional behavior, and asking for him to be sacked.
It is that kind of behavior that Meghan is taking a stand against. She did not mention Piers in any way, but he tried to make himself part of her story and he did. It just probably did not roll out as he expected.
Maybe because he put himself in the spotlight with his hate comments towards Meghan Markle, maybe because this misogyny comes a day after International women’s day, or maybe we are not having it anymore.
Morgan represents “The old”, the patriarchy, the monarchy, the hierarchy, all of which is shaken by Meghan’s and Harry’s recollections of their experience among the royals.
Calls to abolish monarchy
But there are much greater repercussions of Sussexes interview than one TV host losing his job. Some of the 54 nations that make up the commonwealth, which have Queen Elizabeth II as a ceremonial figurehead, renewed the debate about abolishing the monarchy. The timing was perfect for this since Monday was Commonwealth Day in former British colonies. The celebration was overshadowed by the “bombshell” interview after which Australia was one of the loudest advocates of severing ties with the monarchy.
Australia already tried to remove the Queen as the head of state on the referendum in 1999 but the idea did not pass a public vote. Australia’s Labor Party hopes that now the public will reconsider removing the queen as head of state and becoming a republic. It is the “high time” to put the issue back on the agenda, said the MP Matt Thistlethwaite on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, the reaction from the Buckingham palace is seen as a peace offering towards runaway royals.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” reads the statement, which was released on Tuesday by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.
Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much-loved family members.”, reads the statement which brings us back to mental health. Meghan Markle is a member of the royal family and saying she was suicidal shows just how important it is to talk about mental health and destigmatizing getting help when a person needs one.
Feelings of despair and hopelessness can disturb anyone, anytime, anywhere. It is on us who are stable at the time to provide support, understanding, and help to those around us who are struggling, or at least not make it worse with disheartening remarks and perpetuating anxiety in a person who can’t take it anymore.
More and more young people are talking about their mental health and struggle with depression and anxiety. Meghan voicing hers is moving that conversation to public space and mainstream media. Considering how impactful the interview was in the areas of politics and treatment of women I have no doubt this is just an opening of the honest public discussion about our mental health.
If someone confides to you about their mental health struggle, take it seriously, support them and help them find professional help.
Read about my experience with workplace burnout and a little exercise that can help you relax and please share your take on mental health and “the” interview in the comments.
