Meghan Markle’s emotional account of struggling with life in the spotlight got her an outpouring of sympathy, including from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The New York Democrat empathized with the Duchess of Sussex in a tweet that included a clip from an upcoming ITV interview, addressing the struggles of “sudden prominence.”
“Thank you for asking, bc not many people have asked if I’m ok.”
Sudden prominence is a very dehumanizing experience. There’s a part of your life that you lose, & it later dawns on you that you’ll never get it back.
The people who treat you like a human make all the difference. https://t.co/w0XUI4O3bD
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 18, 2019
“Sudden prominence is a very dehumanizing experience. There’s a part of your life that you lose, & it later dawns on you that you’ll never get it back,” Ocasio-Cortez, who was thrust into the spotlight when she went from being a New York bartender to a freshman lawmaker after a primary win last year.
“The people who treat you like a human make all the difference,” she added in the tweet.
Markle addressed the challenges of being in the public eye during her interview with ITN News At Ten anchor Tom Bradby in a segment from the ITV documentary filmed during last month’s tour of Africa with her husband Prince Harry.
“Look, any woman especially when they are pregnant you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a newborn – you know,” Markle said after being asked about the effect of the public attention on her “physical and mental health.”
“And especially as a woman, it’s a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed it’s, well…” she added, appearing emotional.
“Also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes,” she told Bradby.
“And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle?” he asked the duchess and former American actress.
“Yes,” Markle replied, visibly fighting back her emotions.
The documentary also includes Prince Harry speaking candidly about the death of his mother, Princess Diana, and her relationship with the press and how that is still a “wound that festers.”
“I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash it takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best,” he said.
In a recent statement, Prince Harry announced Markle’s legal action against British tabloids, saying that she has been wilfully misrepresented, bullied, and “vilified almost daily.”
Markle’s emotional remarks about pubic scrutiny of her as a newlywed and a new mother, having given birth to son Archie in May, elicited many more expressions of empathy. Monica Lewinsky, who was at the center of a media blitz following the exposure in the 1990s of her affair with then-President Clinton, also reacted, agreeing with Ocasio-Cortez “1000%.”
.@AOC is 1000% right. https://t.co/cqF94MmU1E
— Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) October 18, 2019
Other well-known names offered their words of compassion as well.
I so admire #MeghanMarkle for being honest, open and vulnerable about the struggles she’s faced as a new mother and very public figure. #WeLoveYouMeghan pic.twitter.com/mWpFOwVeLk
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) October 18, 2019
#WeLoveYouMeghan https://t.co/u7Bcc8SPgk
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) October 18, 2019
This breaks my heart. We live in such an entitled world these days. Everyone feels they have the right to scrutinize and judge. It’s disgusting. And if you’re one of those people who goes online to talk about women, whom you know nothing about, you need to check yourself. https://t.co/e2fZZvQ5lq
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) October 18, 2019
The hashtag, #WeLoveYouMeghan began trending on social media as fans poured out their support for Markle.
Imagine being a Duchess with every possible privilege at your disposal and the only one who asks you how you’re doing is a news reporter. Heartbreaking. #WeLoveYouMeghan pic.twitter.com/vA31vDQN7Q
— Gennefer ‘Stands with the WGA’ Ghouls ? (@Gennefer) October 18, 2019
they criticized her for holding her own baby bump, wearing nail polish, eating avocados, closing her own car door, having a baby shower, the way she held her own baby ALL while heavily pregnant and then being a new mom with a newborn: she doesn’t deserve this #WeLoveYouMeghan pic.twitter.com/wIOaaB82Jc
— meredith (@meghvnmarkle) October 18, 2019
Not everyone was on board, however, and offered a stark reality check.
The best way to avoid the media spotlight is definitely to make a self-promotional TV documentary in which you moan about attention. Smart move, Meghan. https://t.co/IWgSfXNub7
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 18, 2019
VERY Hollywood ??? (NOT Royal-worthy!)
— MYOB (@Moi998877) October 18, 2019
They go to Africa, where there is real hardship, pain and suffering. Two weeks later they are both back and whining about their life and how hard it is.Get a grip!
I won’t be watching their endless drivel on Sunday.
How are William & Kate so classically royal & these 2…so ?— Fran ?? (@Fran40695698) October 18, 2019
I cannot stand this attention seeking B rated actress. And that is what she is doing now. Acting at wanting to avoid the spotlight. She would be more annoyed if she were ignored. Narsisist, is one word for her
— Ritaweir (@Ritaweir4) October 18, 2019
What she never saw a media spotlight coming when she decided to marry a massively famous prince?!?
— Shauney1886 (@shauney1886) October 18, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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