The media ‘attacks’ on Meghan taken out of context in interview
FOREIGN celebrity gossip magazines made up a third of the examples of biased “British” coverage about Meghan Markle shown during the Oprah interview, with many headlines meant to illustrate racist overtones being taken out of context.
Analysis of more than 30 headlines shown during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex interview reveals how stories from 11 glossy American and Australian “supermarket tabloids” were shown.
Some British stories, which were apparently used by producers to suggest the UK had a racial bias against Meghan, were actually exposing those who had made “offensive” remarks. A Guardian headline was shown, which referred to how BBC radio presenter Danny Baker had issued a tweet in 2019 comparing the “royal baby Archie to a chimp”. The public outcry saw the BBC sack the presenter, who insisted his comments were not racial but admitted a “serious error of judgment”.
A Mail On Sunday online article – “Meghan’s seed will taint our Royal Family” – was also highlighted. However, it actually exposed how Jo Marney, the
girlfriend of Henry Bolton, the one-time Ukip leader, had posted a series of what the paper called “shocking ... disgusting racist remarks” about the Duchess.
The 2018 story’s headline from the newspaper – “Vile racist attack on Meghan by mistress of Ukip chief” – was not chosen to appear in the programme. Of the 23 examples from British news organisations, around 14 were published only online and did not make print editions.
The first montage shown, of six cuttings, focused on the fallout between the two duchesses. Despite singling out the British press for breaking the story, only one UK example was shown (The Sun’s “Meghan Made Kate Cry”), the rest were from foreign celebrity magazines. Two articles from The Daily Telegraph flashed up during the interview. One was by entertainment writer Anita Singh, headlined “BBC comedy portrays Meghan Markle as ‘trailer trash’ American who threatens to knife Kate Middleton”.
The story included an interview with Gbemisola Ikunelo, the actress and writer from BBC comedy show Famalam, who explained she invented the character “as the opposite of how the Duchess really behaves”. She said everyone knew Meghan as “incredibly, agreeable and friendly… so I was interested in finding humour in the ridiculous.”
The other Telegraph article headline – “The real problem with Meghan Markle: she just doesn’t speak our language” – appeared as Oprah claimed the Duchess became the victim of media attacks after joining the Royal family three years ago. However, the piece by Michael Deacon was published two months ago after the couple had left the UK. It claimed the Duchess “speaks Californian… a hippie version of corporate management-speak”, before listing some of her “gushing” phrases.
An Express web article praised Kate for “tenderly” cradling her bump, but criticised Meghan for doing the same.