Several days ago, Tom Sykes at the Daily Beast wrote a sort-of editorial about the Duchess of Sussex’s legal victory in her summary judgment against the Mail. While Sykes swipes at Meghan for many things, he also wrote the words which few other royal reporters will dare utter: “Harry and Meghan don’t really need the media. They’d be quite happy bypassing the media and going direct to their fans on Twitter and Instagram…The trouble is, the British media really, really do need them, although it’s an unrequited love, of course, and whether this ruling changes how they write about them remains to be seen.” That’s the God’s honest truth, and that’s the prism from which the entire royal commentary industry should be viewed. For all of the racism, toxicity and abuse hurled at Meghan and Harry, the simple truth is that M&H sell, and they’re one of the biggest stories the royal industry has ever seen.
So you could feel the general sigh of relief yesterday when Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah was confirmed. We’ll have WEEKS of pre-interview coverage, with tons of increasingly frantic attempts to predict what they’ll say in the interview, all while bullying them for daring to give an interview. Then there will be the post-interview coverage which will be largely negative too, plus “reactions” from various royal courts to the interview. It will be like Finding Freedom all over again. Anyway, Katie Nicholl at Vanity Fair had a piece to get us started on what I assume will be wall-to-wall pre-interview coverage. You can read Nicholl’s full piece here. Some highlights:
Meghan won’t give details about the Sussexit: It is understood that Meghan will also talk about what it was like to marry into the royal family and touch on the circumstances that drove her and Harry to quit last year, although Vanity Fair has been told the Duchess is unlikely to reveal the full details of their departure out of respect for the Queen.
The Sussexes didn’t tell the Palace: It is not known whether Harry and Meghan have discussed the TV interview with the Queen, but they did not consult courtiers at Buckingham Palace before agreeing to the interview. A Palace source said that the couple are no longer obliged to inform the Royal Household of their plans now that they are non-working members of the Royal Family.
H&M are thrilled about Montecito Baby: Sources close to Harry and Meghan say they are “over the moon.” “Meg’s on a high and so is Harry,” said a friend. “They are very excited about everything and looking forward to sitting down and sharing some of that happiness with Oprah. It’s a chance for them to give people a glimpse into their new lives and what they are hoping to achieve in the future.”
What does this even mean?! The Oprah interview, though given under dramatically different circumstances than the one in 2019, will still be carefully handled to avoid the couple being accused of cashing in on their royal connections and “invading” their own privacy.
Dickie Arbiter said words: According to former Palace Spokesman Dickie Arbiter, the Sussexes will need to be careful what they say about their son Archie and Meghan’s relationship with her father. “The Sussexes have an army of professional well paid advisors so they will go into the interview well-rehearsed and prepared but they will have to be careful particularly when speaking about their son and Meghan’s father… Associated Newspapers will I imagine be watching the interview very carefully. They want their day in court so I can’t believe Meghan will talk in depth about the court case and she should be careful when talking about the media because from what I have seen, she hasn’t been harassed by the British media. Meghan is very smart and I suspect this is more about getting their message out about what’s next for them and what they are going to do in LA. Harry and Meghan aren’t going to make any waves, it’s not worth them upsetting the apple cart.”
Hollywood people think the interview is a good idea: Global talent agent Professor Jonathan Shalit told Vanity Fair that the interview will ultimately be good PR for Harry and Meghan. “An Oprah interview is a badge of honor for any global celebrity looking to open up and present their viewpoint to the world,” he said. “As to the rights and wrongs of this there are two totally differing perspectives at play. The UK perspective is Meghan has married into the British Royal Family and should play by UK rules and not trade on her title of Duchess. The American perspective is Meghan is an American and looking to build her own career in America and doing what is necessary to achieve this.”
Note to British reporters: you sound so dumb whenever you say that someone is “invading their own privacy.” That’s not a thing. Meghan and Harry are not “invading their own privacy,” they’re telling their story and speaking their truth. Literally no one else in the Windsor clan is held to the same “don’t invade your own privacy!” standard. And Arbiter fussing around about the court case… it’s over. The court case is over. The Mail could appeal, but they have not as of yet, probably because their lawyers know they don’t have a legal leg to stand on. Besides, I assume Meghan has other subjects she wants to discuss. Lordy, these people are big mad that an American woman is giving an interview to an American woman on an American network.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
They don’t know SHIT!!
Gayle King just said on CBS This Morning that the interview hasn’t happened yet, Oprah is still prepping and that NOTHING is off limits.
So if Oprah wants to go there, she WILL go there.
I want them to SPILL IT ALL. Thank God Diana did or else the RF through their attack dogs in the BM will have us believing their version without any other perspective. The RF are nervous because they did the Sussexes wrong in every way. We saw them at the Commonwealth service with our own eyes and if they could behave their way in public…….
The day the Oprah interview airs, I’m making fancy popcorn.
What would be good? Maybe I can throw some sugar and matcha tea powder on this stuff in recognition of them about to spill all of it… I’m definitely breaking out the food grade glitter.
Indeed
The “American perspective” seems…mis-characterized.
“I can’t believe Meghan will talk in depth about the court case and she should be careful when talking about the media because from what I have seen, she hasn’t been harassed by the British media.”
Wow – these people are horrible. This is a palace spokesperson.
Yeah, I guess you haven’t seen it because you’ve been a part of it? These people really think they are everything and do no wrong.
Do these people understand what harassment is? Because they’ve certainly been doing it.
to clarify, he’s a former spokesperson. He hasnt worked for the palace in quite some time, but I think he was the Queen’s PR person (something like that) around the time of Diana’s death. His daughter also covers the royals. He’s the kind of person who is a racist jackass and wrong 99.9% of the time but once in a while he’s right – like I agree with his statement that Meghan is very smart and this is about getting her message out.
@Becks1 agree. That wasn’t a negative comment he had actually. It was actually pointing out that Meghan was smart and he 100 percent doubted she say anything that would cause them issues down the line.
I was to know what Dickie thinks harrassment would look like! Yikes!
I had the misfortune of meeting said former mouth piece. A vile and grand man in his own head trying to worm his way back into the RF’s good graces.
I can’t believe I’m typing this but I actually do agree with Dickie here. The DM definitely do want their day in court so will use any opportunity to do so. And they’re also not going to insult the royals massively because they don’t see a need IMO. I imagine the Sussexes want to move on from the palace machinations and their days as working royals so why bother bringing it up in detail.
The ones who I think are in the most “danger” of being torn to shreds here are the RRs – which explains their reactions, lol.
Oh totally @Becks. They know that the Sussexes won’t hold back on the media because they don’t see a need to and have never liked the rota.
Well racist abusers never think they are. They think because they haven’t called her the N word to her face then they ain’t racist, these assholes are too much .
This shows how scared these people are that tea is going to get spilled on BRF, the courtiers and the tabloid abusers. All this snide backchat from them is born of the culture of fear of reprisal, that they know they well and truly deserve. The Rota, the Firm, and the courtiers of all the Palaces deserve to have all the receipts thrown in their faces on internationally viewed tv by H&M.
Katie knows as much as I do. But honestly, they’re definitely not going to go “Elizabeth is a petty bitch, Charles is a loser father, William is a piece of shit” and so on and so on. It’s going to be vague hints and subtexts throw in. It’s probably why they picked Oprah. She’s famous and got the credentials yes but she’s also their friend who really won’t push them to answer things they don’t want to if they insist.
It’s just like Finding Freedom. People (yes even on here) hyping it up thinking it would spill the tea and look how it turned out.
I think it is going to be a lot like FF – the people who follow the Sussexes (i.e. us, lol) wont really find it all that illuminating or learn anything new, but the people who only follow the headlines will. And I think that’s part of why they’re going with Oprah – she’s going to bring in a large audience and it will be a lot of people who dont really follow the royals, so this really is going to be the best way for Harry and Meghan to get their message out, but its not going to be anything really new or shocking for most of us, I think.
Yes … very good analysis – that rings true for me as well
This. They will take the high road and not give all the gossip and the details on how horribly they were treated. This is an opportunity to share and control their narrative on a wide stage.
Additionally, they probably share a bit about how they are adjusting to life in California(especially Harry,) and a few cute stories about Archie, but I also bet they use this platform to highlight their work.
God, the British press is going to be so pissed. Unlike when Prince Fredo was spreading his sweat-gland lies all over British telly.
Also I bet its recorded at their house, and I’m hoping for some fun random shots of Meghan and Oprah strolling the grounds or whatever. Maybe we’ll get to see the pool! Okay probably just some trees and grass but still.
I think this is spot on. Thank you.
Katie Nichols thought South Africa still has a Prime Minister. I guess she never heard of “President” (not “Prime Minister”) Nelson Mandela? I cannot believe someone THAT ignorant has a job at any major magazine. She reflects badly on Vanity Fair.
I wouldn’t expect them to spill all the beans. But still, we will get to see this lovely couple for whom we wish the best for an extended period of time and I’m here for it!
This article is basically trying to tell Harry and Meghan what they should and should not talk about. As if the the palace advisors are trying to send a message to the Sussex’s because they clearly aren’t taking their calls anymore.
I think it sounds a little threatening, actually. Telling them to be very careful about this or that because everyone will be watching extremely closely, ready to pick apart anything that is even remotely revealing about their child, family life, thomas markle, the lawsuit, or the media because the papers could attempt to either sue them or skewer them for “invading their own privacy,” and being willing to talk about things NOW when they sued over the papers publishing things withi it their consent then.
And the bit about how she needs to be ve try careful about criticizing the media because he doesn’t think she’s been harassed reads to me like it has an implied “…yet” at the end of that sentence. She hasn’t been harassed by the media yet, but they can and will start if she says anything negative about them or implies they were unfair, racist, sexist, anti-American, xenophobic, lying, or hypocritical—as in purposely building Kate and William up at Meghan and Harry’s expense by denigrating the Sussexes for doing the exact thing they praise the Cambridges for.
I don’t like this guy’s comments at all.
Very much a shot across the bow. What will be interesting is, come the actual interview, whether H&M rein themselves in based on these not-so-veiled threats from the Palaces’ Media Engine, or whether they lance the boil once and for all and throw sunlight on every single abusive tactic the Palaces, the Fam, and the media have engaged in. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s really good at repelling media vampires, I gather…
Things I hope we hear about:
-The Night Nurse Incident: what happened? Who recommended her? Did they put her up to whatever she did? Was a payment involved? What did the BRF knew and when did they know it?
-H&M’s location in Canada being blabbed to the media, which was an echo of Harry’s location in Afghanistan being blabbed to media. The Afghanistan incident was worse, b/c it put his life in serious jeopardy. It would be epic if Hazza confirmed to Oprah that his brother was the one that instigated that. The papers who printed it would then self-immolate from outrage at being named & shamed.
I honestly hope it’s really a walkthrough of their favorite charities in the UK and the US with fluffy little interviews interspersed. That benefits H&M and makes the RR and BRF look terrible with no drawbacks. People are still gonna talk but they’ll look like idiots.
You don’t go to Oprah for a puff piece. If they wanted fluff, they could go to James Corden or Ellen.
Meghan and Harry clearly have a LOT they want to get off their chest.
FYI Footnote: Sarah, Duchess or York did an interview with Diane Sawyer many many years ago (for CBS if I recall correctly) after her separation/divorce from Andrew.
Maybe? I hope it’s mostly puffy. They don’t gain anything from going scorched earth at this point. They seems to have everything they’ve wanted. (New baby, new money deals, half a world of distance, etc.) Let their happiness and success be the response.
Oprah can also do beautifully lit spaces and giant smiles. THAT’S what I hope this interview is all about. (And an Archie spotting, if I’m being greedy.)
@Molly, I didn’t even care write it in case I jinxed it, but I am greedy for that too ! But then I think of all the trolls…
ITA. Oprah often talks about how a subject needs to play ball for an interview to be great. This is not going to be 90 minutes of them just talking about their charities and donations, folks. Are they going to burn it to the ground? No. But you’re really off base if you don’t think that an African American woman, the most powerful woman in media, interviewing another African American woman, who has been used and abused for four years by the British press, are not going to talk about it and speak the unvarnished truth. And as Meghan usually does, I think you’ll see her use her experience to illuminate the abuses of the British media in general and also overall misogyny in the media and how it sets out to punish and ruin certain women. People are talking about that now with Britney and Janet Jackson. I can see her going there. But yeah, her abuse will be named, her pain acknowledged, and her experience validated. She has a right to speak. It’s not petty or low class, it’s the least she deserves. And I expect nothing less from Oprah, who will provide a safe place for Meghan, as she has with other Black women who’ve been put through the ringer.
Um…..dearest @molly: as @Snuffles said, you don’t go to Oprah for a puff piece. Moreover, H&M have serious issues and causes that now constitute their work; they have literally left little england in the rearview mirror. (See archewellDOTcom for more details). U do an Oprah interview PRECISELY because you want to make a big, global introduction to serious business.
The trouble with little old england and its decaying monarchy and its backward monarchists/royalists is that their perspective is as small as their island-vision allows them to be. (I know all abt island-mentality, I live on an island. If youre not careful, when you listen to many current-affairs discussions theyre often so myopic and insular, you literally can feel your brain shrinking.)
In an old matt lauer interview with Harry & PwBT [tinyurl.com/ejcjyv03] (begin at 3:15) when they were in their 20s he asked them for their impression of America. The first thing H said after joking around a bit, was: “It’s such an amazing place…..its so vast…on such a MMAssive scale!…” So yeah……little englanders cant relate. Theyre apoplectic with incandescent rage that a non-englander (Meg) should not be eternally grateful for having been brought into the inner sanctum (the RF) that cradles all their delusions of grandeur.
Anyhoooo…..methinks the interview is the logical, great, next-step for H&M as they unveil the new, highly-anticipated chapter of their fabulous life.
I agree and they should even though I think somethings they will sugarcoat. I really hope they speak their truth to hell with petty and her rr
I mean Dickie actually had some good advice. I wouldn’t speak on the court case beyond what is publicly available. Why give the DM any ammo to go after them about anymore. And I honestly didn’t find his comments critical of them. Shocked the VF article was actually not negative in the least.
Some of the American reporting is getting better. I don’t know if some Brits have been told you attacking her constantly doesn’t work in this market.
Other than the Daily Mail Online, I do not think the British Media gives a fat rat’s clacker about the US media. IMPO, other than BRF special events there is not that much daily coverage of the UK in the US media.
I think its Meghan and Harry that have the ammo and I hope they use it against the media AND the courtiers and others who went after them. If there isn’t some type of nondisclosure agreement or court order prohibiting them from discussing the case, I hope they let it rip.
Stocks in Depends undergarments just shot up 100%.
She doesn’t have to talk about the court case.
Arbiter can kick rocks and I hoped he is getting dragged on social media for this. Why the emphasis on Toxic Tom and the court case? Settlement is 3/2. Afraid Bad Dad is a loose cannon on desk and it will be pointed at them (BRF & BM)?
I wouldn’t mention Tom or any of the Markles, Grants or whoever. It’s like summoning Candyman. Let them stay mad, irrelevant, and self-publishing flop books.
I hope that Meghan will say whatever she wants to say. This is her life she’s talking about and there is no need for her downplay or sugarcoat anything in order to calm anyone else’s worries. If she wants to talk about the abuse she suffered through and the lack of support from her in-laws then she should, if she doesn’t want to then she shouldn’t. Personally I’m just thrilled for the opportunity to see her and hear what she is doing.
Exactly. This is her time to speak about what happened and is happening to her.
I wholeheartedly agree with you
I don’t expect the to spill all the tea. It will be like when FF was about the be released and the royals were freaking out and started leaking things about themselves.
They can and should say whatever they want. People are going to bitch and moan no matter what, so I see no reason for them to “be careful” the way some other commenters are saying.
I trust whatever they have to say will be appropriate. They are not stupid and know what they’re doing.
These grown ups being angry at a woman for setting her own narrative and doing whatever the hell SHE wants is giving me big slaveowner mentality. They need to get over it already.
Agree
Well, according to CBS, Oprah is allowed to ask them anything she wants. Katie Nicholl has demonstrated again that she’s a good story teller but she knows nothing about the Sussexes. I think it’s difficult to predict what Harry and Meghan will say but regardless of what is said, they will be criticised by the press for daring to say anything.
According to Gayle herself, nothing is off limits. The British media have no idea what they’re talking about. That idiot Rebecca English is reporting that the interview has already been taped yet Gayle just said it hasn’t and that Oprah’s still in the prepping phase. They know nothing and they have no say in a damn thing. From the queen down to the rota rats, they are outside of the club and can’t get in. No access and no power. They’ll find out what was said at the same time as the rest of the world…when it airs. They know nothing and that’s why they’re scared today. And they know that Megan’s no mumbling bimbo like their future queen consort. They know she’s a compelling conversationalist and people will see who she really is when she speaks. She’s going to win over even more people and that scares them to death.
Hard agree, and I’m here the schadenfreude of watching the entire stable of Royal Commentators in the UK crapping themselves over what will be said in the interview.
Agree
If Harry wants to tell the world that the Royals fed his wife to the tabloid wolves to distract from other stories they did not want to get out then I say go for it. I think this is the angle the Palace does not want Oprah to take, because then the next question is: What were the other stories? And we don’t have the same media blackout here as they do in the UK.
Yes, yes , yes
Archie is their child, they can talk about him as much or as little as they want, they just are not going to allow the BM to use him or his photos for profit.
As soon as I saw Vanity Fair, I knew this had to be the words of Katie “I know nothing” Nicholl. And I guess an article using the words “incandescent rage” will be forth coming from one of her other Rota pals. So predictable.
I play the ‘could I have said this’ game when I read anything from her and usually it’s a whole lot of ‘yes’. So yeah, she knows nothing that any one of us couldn’t speculate on.
Honestly I doubt they will say much about the relationship between them and him family. Although I was surprised when he basically confirmed in a subtle way that there was a rift between him and William in that Africa interview.
They are not going to bare their souls, they won’t talk about the royal family. I don’t mind them talking about the British Media. I think it is going to be about Archwell, their patronages and some sweet bits about their own marriage and Archie. Dicke Arbiter, is oblivious of the media abuse of Meghan, I wonder, what extent must the media go to before he classifies it as harassment! Oprah can be tricky, so H&M must be careful, approve all question before hand
OMG royal reporters are so pressed! Go Harry and Meghan, I can’t wait for the interview
Between that old fossil Arbiter and The CEO’s hagiographer, the factual content of that article is damned thin or is based on speculation that any of us could come up with. I found the repeated warnings to “be careful” thoroughly offensive. M/H *will* be careful in their messaging, they always are. Arbiter and the rest of the Carnival can take their warnings and assumptions and shove them.
I think Harry and Meghan weren’t originally going to do a sit down no holds bar interview but then the British media and palaces decided recently to go after her son with removing her name off his birth certificate and making it look like she did it. Well you poked mama bear and now you get to feel her claws.As for dickie, do stop being an uptight dick and shut the F up already. Katie knows nothing. I just heard gale say on cbs that nothing is off limits so ha Katie I know shit Nicholls
I think there is something more behind the British Media reporting about the conversation with the governor of California. Just like the birth certificate was misreported I think we haven’t heard the truth about the real reason behind the call.
I think this is THE launch of their project(s): think about it. Why now? They’ve been media silent for MONTHS and now Harry does James Corden and now this interview…I think the royal reporters are all wound up over what is ultimately a launch of their American plans. I think the timing of the pregnancy is just…life happening. If covid hadnt hit they might have done this last summer. Charity, Netflix, Spotify, media, who knows what all. Delayed by a year because obviously covid. I think this is a sign of a bigger rollout and I’m here for it!
THIS
Sorry Prof Shalit, I don’t think the American perspective is that Meghan is American and is looking to build her career and doing what she must.
First, she had a career, full stop. She was a (reasonably) successful working actress. She isn’t looking to advance her career as an actress.
Second, she clearly saw her role as a royal as one that could be used to advance social issues. Technically, she’s no longer a royal but she still carries the profile of one. Naturally, why would she not continue to use that profile to advance social issues? This isn’t a career so much as a good use of one’s voice and platform.
Third, American culture does not think highly of lazy wealthy people who don’t work. That’s a British class tradition, not an American one. Incidentally, we also don’t see ourselves as martyrs to our career aspirations. Having to work isn’t dramatic.
Fourth, she has bills to pay and she’s a public figure. People do these interviews to address/steer the press coverage, and she inevitably wants that coverage to promote her public-facing work (which includes the social issues she cares about). If she responds to the negative press on TV on her terms, she won’t be such a target when doing PR.
Fifth, she was done wrong by the British media and they still haven’t come to terms with that. So why should she not use her OWN media clout to respond? Why on earth would she go to the garbage institution that tramples all over her–why shouldn’t she go to her own media, which doesn’t have half the hangups that the British press does? I do think Americans are generally sympathetic to her. We certainly understand her a lot better than the extremely dim bulbs littering the pages of British media.
These are all reasons why she would want to do an interview and they have little to do with her career. What’s her career now–the entertainment business? Public speaking? She secured the money she needed to do what she wanted do before she did any Oprah interview. Why would she need the Oprah interview for her career? For some reason, that characterization of the so-called American perspective really annoys me.
I will also never understand why Brits can’t get it through their heads that literally nobody in America cares in the slightest about her title. She has an enormous profile not least because British media created it. They created it not because she’s a duchess, but because they don’t like her. Americans certainly don’t care about whatever banal meaningless title she holds in the UK. Nobody cares about your stupid monarchy except to ogle it for its backwardness!
I’d love to be a fly on the wall at Anmer or Sandringham or wherever the Dolittles are hanging out these days. Oh, and Bucklebury too. Ma Midd must be seething and the Lambridges must be wetting their royal panties. They’re probably frantically trying to get some TV interviewer to put together a “getting to know you” kind of special on how hard-working, down to earth and sincere they are in their “work” with lots of shots of the kiddies running around being normal. Then cue baby number 4 for Kannot.
What is this supposed 2019 previous Oprah interview?
Hmmm… both Dickie and Jobson are “keen” to shield T. Markle. Probably because he received no final payment as there was no need for him to come to the UK and testify… he must be upset, he destroyed his name for nothing.
Therefore, Meghan should open up about what he did proven in court docs — Public Domain
Sing like a BIRD… for those who didn’t read the 52 page judgement.
as much as my petty ass wants to see H&M go scorched earth in the Oprah interview, they’re too classy and too smart to do so. this interview is not a tell-all, it’s one facet of their launch (or relaunch) to a large swathe of Americans who are only vaguely aware of them / their story. the purpose is to get their narrative out there and connect with the a wider audience.
tt makes the most sense for them to use the interview’s spotlight to illuminate their values and causes. I imagine they’ll speak about todays climate of hate speech and online harassment and tie that into a very tactful story about their decision to leave the BRF/UK. as well as some cute stories about Archie and their excitement for baby #2, and probably a tease for future content (Netflix etc).
i hope the interview will also touch on raising mixed-race children and on the movement for Black lives. the BM would simultaneously have an aneurysm while showing their asses (how dare two Black women speak about racism! how dare a royal show actual passion about combating racism instead of being bored by it!). while i don’t expext M&H to transform into like…..leftist darlings, they can and will use their platform to elevate voices and causes that might not reach people otherwise. ready to see them thrive and the BM/BRF be incandescent!