Prince Harry Slams ‘Racism And Abuse’ Of New Girlfriend In Rare Statement

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Meghan Markle is a successful actress, activist, UN Women Ambassador, fashion designer and writer. By anyone’s definition, she is famous.

But even with this public persona, Markle cannot have been prepared for the torrent of publicity directed her way when whispers that she is dating Prince Harry emerged from the murky depths of the rumour mill.

While the 35-year-old American actress has stayed dignified and tight-lipped on the matter, Prince Harry has had enough of the bullshit. In a statement confirming the relationship, Prince Harry calls out both the underlying sexism and racism within the mainstream media and the undeniable torrent of abuse Markle has faced from online trolls.

The statement, released this morning by Kensington Palace, reads:

Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.

It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm.

He knows commentators will sat this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part off the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game – it is her life and his.

The statement detailed the trauma Markle and her family have been put through by commentators and the so-called professionals that give tabloid journalists such a bad name.

It continued:

…The nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.

The details must serve to put into perspective what this intelligent, talented women has suffered at the hands of the world’s media, who still insist on treating the personal lives of beautiful females like fodder from a trashy romantic novel.

Sexualised images of Markle in character (she plays Rachel Zane in Suits) have been splashed around the web – and even posted to Pornhub – alongside unfounded rumours about her personal and sex life.

Unsuprisingly, many outlets have failed to note Markle’s continual aid work and activism, choosing instead to resort to unflattering hearsay and conjecture about Merkle’s character.

According to Kensington Palace, a ‘line has been crossed’, causing Harry to make this rare public statement about his personal life. It’s good to see the usually tight-lipped monarchy calling out the sexist and misogynistic rubbish some people have been spouting.

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Just because celebrities are in the public eye, doesn’t mean they must accept the pitfalls – such as defamation and loss of privacy – that fame in modern society inflicts upon them.

Just because Markle spent her career playing a character, doesn’t mean the recent media storm isn’t real, and doesn’t impact a real person. She’s still human. We should learnt to respect and treat her as thus.

Francesca Donovan

A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.