The South by Southwest Festival starts on Friday, March 8th, the same day as International Women’s Day. For IWD, guess who’s coming to SXSW? The Duchess of Sussex! Saddle up, because the squad is heading down to Austin, Texas, yeehaw! While Austin is known as a bastion of liberal politics, the rest of Texas, not so much. Texas is currently something of a right-wing laboratory for all things anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ, anti-child, pro-gun, pro-police and pro-Trump dictatorship. So I would assume that Meghan will stay in Austin and go nowhere else when she participates in the IWD keynote panel discussion on Friday:
Meghan Markle has something special planned for International Women’s Day. On Monday, the SXSW Conference announced that the Duchess of Sussex, 42, will participate in the Opening Day Keynote Panel later this week. The 38th conference celebrating the convergence of technology, film, television and music kicks off Friday in Austin, Texas, and runs until March 16.
Meghan is set to join a panel called “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen” alongside Katie Couric, Brooke Shields and Nancy Wang Yuen, an author, sociologist, pop culture expert and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant at Peoplism. The conversation will be moderated by Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast and editor-at-large for The 19th News.
“Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there’s still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers. Social media’s omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular,” said the release about the keynote.
The group including Meghan, Couric and Shields was described as “visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment, and philanthropy who are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and working toward a healthier society on and off our screens.” The Duchess of Sussex was shouted out as a feminist, champion of human rights and gender equity and co-founder of The Archewell Foundation, among other accolades.
“Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touch to eight days of remarkable Keynote Speakers,” Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer of SXSW, said in a statement. “We are so honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for a significant discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment.”
I honestly haven’t heard much about Katie Couric in a few years, not since she released her memoir, which turned out to be a tone-deaf exercise in how much Couric hates women and spent much of her broadcast career going out of her way to undermine and destroy other women. What a choice for International Women’s Day, huh? I doubt Couric was Meghan’s call. Anyway, it will be interesting – Meghan is a very good public speaker, and the way this is being described, it will be more of a panel discussion than a series of speeches. Meaning, I bet Couric and Meghan are on stage together. Ten bucks says that Couric tries some mean girl sh-t on Meghan and/or Brooke.
Announcing a Keynote Session with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, @katiecouric, @BrookeShields, @nancywyuen, and @errinhaines for #SXSW on March 8! #InternationalWomensDay https://t.co/5WlpfCU4Hl pic.twitter.com/L3UOY67vaP
— SXSW (@sxsw) March 4, 2024
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, screencaps courtesy of NYT Dealbook video.
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre,Image: 378093062, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: John Rainford / Wenn / Avalon
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- The Duchess of Sussex launches the Smart Works capsule collection of which her Royal Hiqhness is a patron.
This was announced yesterday and then a few hours later, pics of Kate appear. Don’t forget about meeeeee!!!!
I hope that we’ll be able to see this panel discussion on YouTube or somewhere.
You are so right with this. Cant be a coincidence.
Within hours of the announcement.
I would love to see Meghan and Harry at Elton’s aids foundation charity party after the Academy awards this Sunday.
Why? Only the BM and derangers want that so they can say their desperate.
Why, @jules57? At the very least, it would show that the derangers and British media don’t rule over that which Meghan and Harry do. I agree with @chantale, it would be nice to see them out for a night of fun!
I live roughly an hour south of Austin. Traffic is unhinged on a good day. South x Southwest (which I have been to alot) is going to be a nightmare of epic proportions when Duchess Meghan hits the ground.
I hope hope hope her security is gonna cover her better than the clothes she’s wearing because they’re gonna be crawling out of the cesspool for real. Not that we don’t already have more than our fair share of bottom feeding mouth breathing cesspool dwellers. 🙄 but THIS is going to be a whole ‘nother level.
As far as Katie Couric? Pass. Hard pass.
I am so glad Meghan is showing up though and hope it stays safe (especially after NYC a while back). The news coming out of the States on the status and treatment of women is terrifying. France just safeguarded the right for women to choose in response to all the commotion coming from the US.
@MerlinsMom Who are you referring to in this:
“…they’re gonna be crawling out of the cesspool for real. Not that we don’t already have more than our fair share of bottom feeding mouth breathing cesspool dwellers.”
I think she means certain media reps.
Hi BlueNails Betty 👋
As @Equality said. Certain Media Types, but also the folks who follow all the nastiness printed about Meghan and believe it because “if it’s on the internet it must be true!”
Sure thing there will be those who go just to see if she’s real and some who truly love and admire her, but my own personal guess is that the haters will definitely show up in droves. Media, both here AND abroad with a heavy presence of the 🐍🐍🐀🐀
@BlueNailsBetty
Please don’t misunderstand my above comment. I love Austin. I have been to more Longhorns games and volleyball games than I can count , plus ACL many many times and I have fond memories of concerts at Zilker Park! I consider Austin my 2nd home.
Yes the Duchess shouldn’t have too much trouble. We’ve already seen how much of a ninja she can be when she chooses. I would have preferred they didn’t announce her participation on the panel till she walked out, but here we are
I am hoping she CAN take in some of the live music and the weirdness (Helllllooooo 6th Street!) and the food. It’s a great place!
@MerlinsMom Oh no worries! I just didn’t know if you were referring to derangers (which I doubt will show up much. This is a pretty supportive area for Harry and Meghan over all) or media/rota (I can believe there will be rota trying to get in to the event).
Ditto Merlin. I’d LOVE to drive about an hour-and-a-half, but damn. I don’t feel like maneuvering people and traffic lol.
I moved to the area 20 years ago. I would go downtown all the time. Now, I only go into downtown Austin to appointments with my oncological surgeon! LOL! Still, I’ll be within a 40-mile radius of Meghan!
This is exciting. I’m not a Kate Couric fan. Hopefully she keeps it civil.
Katie not Kate.
Her podcast (posted to YouTube) is actually pretty good; she interviews guests on important topics of the day; she comes across very civil and congenial. I can’t see any problems if she sticks to what she does there.
Kitty Couric already got uncivil when she wrote in her ‘memoir’ that Prince Harry stank when she met him in 2012. Why did she not update her impression of him after working with him on Aspen Commission? Remember how she didn’t bother to update her thinking after Denzel Washington “kind of gone after me in a way that was completely, weirdly uncalled for” after she called him “one of those people.”
Yep. Her whole memoir was less about her and more about slagging off on other people.
@Kirk OMG she did not say Harry stank! whatttttt???
@Abby It was something along the lines that cigarette and alcohol smell oozed out of his pores or some such.
Katie is a piece of work. I think she has a lot in common with Wendy Williams.
I attempted to listen to a podcast w/Couric as the guest talking about her book on a long drive. I lasted about 15 minutes. Insufferable at best.
Oops! I just said above that I like her podcast. Haha. Reasonable minds can differ, right?
Don’t worry, Proud Mary, I also like it. There’s something about her voice that I like, as a Brit hers is an American accent I find really nice. Don’t start on me for being shallow!
@Kaiser, Austin, Dallas, and Houston are very liberal cities. The numerous rural parts of TX are the most conservative and unfortunately consistently vote red, which despite the large populations of our major cities, keeps our state red and regressive. But it’s leaning purple in many areas.
I was thrilled to hear that Meghan is coming, and consistent with her brand, for IWD. And I love how SXSW announced her name and title! SXSW has come a long way from the music/film festival it originally started as and just keeps growing in prestige. Should be interesting!
Thank you for saying this. I live in Fort Worth. My kids go to school in Arlington, the next city over. I feel like while our state is very red, the big cities are purple, or even blue. I know a number of progressives passionate about pushing our state toward progressive stances.
I don’t think Meghan is in actual danger here. Most people I know in real life in Texas don’t pay attention to the royals in any context, much less hate Meghan. The ones who do pay attention, like the sussexes.
I am really happy Meghan is getting out but I’m also afraid of how many island rats are going to the event.
San Antonio, too. We consistently vote Democrat in every election.
Yes! San Antonio is definitely blue!!!
@Constantinople
Helllllooooo fellow San Antonian!
Born and raised right here 🙋
Oooh, I’ve been to San Antonio. It’s a beautiful city! I was there for a Toastmaster’s convention years and years ago. Met a wizened old man in a shoppe filled with frogs of every colour, style, size, etc. The old man told me he loved frogs cause they taught us to ‘Fully Rely On God’. He was so engaging with all his stories, I bought a brooch from him. One of my favourite brooches still! (I cannot wear jewelry per se, so I do wear a lot of brooches. Sometimes I wear 3 to ‘tell’ a ‘story’).
Though now, thanks to this site, I have a few earrings I can wear for up to 5-6 hours, so thanks again to this site!!!!
I’m in the Austin suburbs. A few days ago someone was complaining about how “it won’t be long before Austin and San Antonio merge together” which, of course, is just silly. BUT just to be petty (because I love both cities) I replied “that would actually be kind of awesome. San Austonio would be epic!”
So anyway, that’s one less person who is speaking to me. ☠️
Great news for Meghan!!
Katie Couric kind of reminds of the line from Hamilton…..have you ever seen someone ruin their own life? Like her life isn’t “ruined” but she damaged her reputation with that memoir and its no one’s fault but her own.
Isn’t it interesting that after all the noise about how the Sussexes are “disrespecting the Queen”, Harry and Meghan have turned out to be the only two who are consistently doing serious work, while the left-behinds are consistently clowning?
And yet…. Completely predictable! They knew exactly how this would play out, too. All they had to do was keep their heads down, keep doing the real stuff, and let the lazy royals play themselves.
Lol not interesting at all because it was boringly predictable. Harry and Meghan are serious people making impact and they’ve been that way since they were young. The others watch soccer games, cut ribbons, and call it work.
Woo hoo! Love it. Am excited for Meghan and the other panelists, especially errin Haines and nancy wang Yuen. According to sussex.com, Errin will be moderating the discussion and she’s the editor of The 19th news.
Erin is very good. During the pandemic they did a virtual workshop that was 5 days and free. Dutchess Meghan was one of the guests she interviewed one on one and it was really good so she has know Meghan for several years. I would guess she had a say in who was invited.
We might find out Meghan visits some folk she met in Uvalde after she has left.
Glad to see this for our beautiful on the inside and out Duchess! And it looks like People Mag is never going to refer to her as Duchess Meghan, I guess they are afraid of pissing off “Princess Kate”. At least they didn’t refer to her as Markle, but People Mag is still trash.
I think some outlets might refer to her as “Meghan Markle” because they feel they’re considering her as a “private citizen”, but it’s still loud and wrong. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is literally her legal, married name.
This is so exciting! Its a interesting topic “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen” with women from radically different experiences. Katie Couric may be considered toxic now but she can definitely weigh in on this topic from the news anchor and talk show host angle. Brooke Shields was a child star who grew up in the industry, Meghan Markle was an actress whose now a producer, Nancy Yuen studies pop culture and inclusion and can speak on this topic objectively or with a historical lens. Plus Meghan really shines when she is engaging in conversation or debate so I would love to watch such a diverse group of women talk about their different experiences within the industry.
I hope they make it clear where we can watch this.
I was surprised to see Katie Couric on this panel. I’ve never seen her as a great supporter of women in her field, or otherwise. I would much rather have Geena Davis, actor and founder of the Geena Davis Institute, who’s been calling out gender disparities in the film industry. I hope Couric will be on her best behavior cause she likes those gotcha moments while hiding behind an “I’m-so-nice” smile.
Katie Couric had the practice of asking potentially inflammatory or embarrassing questions by prefacing them with the phrase “Some may say”, as in, “Some say you wet the bed, Senator. What say you?” That way, she asked probing questions without getting any of the blowback from the interview. She knew how to survive in world of morning news, that one.
Lets not forget that we have Katie Couric to thank for exposing Sarah Palin for the idiot she is. That was a big reason McCain lost and we got our first black President and wonderful first Lady the Obamas.
Forgive me but Katie Couric was not responsible for exposing Sarah Palin. The fact that she was a fraud and woefully out of her depth was apparent to one and all, including Charlie What’s-his-name from Good Morning America, Joe Biden who debated her and exposed her without mocking her (or giving her a chance to play the frail white dame card), and Tina Fey and SNL, and the online posters. Everyone knew that broad was a fraud. Katie Couric was just riding a wave.
It is Texas. They are not paying attention for Meghan like that (and I don’t mean that to be ugly or nasty, but any of my fellow Americans know that Texas is just…its own place/speed/energy/whatever lmaooooo). Texas will go balls to the wall for their stars that are from there, but I don’t think Meghan should be given too much trouble there 🙂
Yeah, Meghan won’t have problems in Austin. Austin (and central TX in general) is pretty laid back and chill. That is one of the reasons Hollywood folks love it so much. They can come and go with very little interference from the press and public.
Meghan will be protected the entire time so she will be fine. I just hope she is able to get out and get in some good food (our food scene is pretty amazing) and some live music.
There ARE other blue cities in Texas. We just get drowned out by 65% of the state. And Austin is getting more conservative. A lot has changed in the last 10-20 years.
I wish I could go see this one…. And I hope her security is top notch. But it is great to see her get out and do speaking engagements.
Why do you think Austin is getting more conservative? From what I’ve seen Austin is digging in its heels and getting more liberal (especially since Abbott kept attacking Austin for a while).
Also, the last major voting cycle shows a whole lot of blue votes:
https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/Travis/115627/web.307039/#/summary
Megan has left the UK to fester in its own bile and sink behind the cobwebs, just like the Royals in their castles and palaces!
She is showing them all how it SHOULD AND COULD be done, just like her Harry does. Pity the Royal wannabes 😂😂😂
Mary Pester, I wonder if any of the left behinds have gotten ulcers, yet.
Was really excited to hear about this but then saw who was participating and thought the panel lineup is a bit weird with Couric and Shields. Would have preferred more diverse voices who seem more in line with what’s happening currently. I don’t understand this choice of panelists. I like Erin Haines from the 19th and Nancy Wang Yuen so that will keep it interesting and lively. Anyway glad Meghan is moving forward, doing positive things. Also Archewell is co-sponsoring this event.
Agreed. I thought the choice of both Couric and Shields was odd.
Wasn’t Harry working with Katie Couric and others on some committee studying social media. I think it was the Aspen institute, and it was a couple of years ago.
Katie Couric attended a party at Jeffrey Epstein’s for Prince Andrew. She said later she should have done more research into Epstein — not a great answer for a supposed journalist. She’s terrible.
But Meghan had nothing to do with KC being there, and Errin Haines, the moderator, is great. As is Nancy Wang Yuen, who was on Meghan’s “Archetypes.” I’m sure the discussion is going to be wonderful — Meghan is so thoughtful and informed.
If I could afford tickets, I’d attend! Still, I’m just thrilled I’ll be within a 40-mile radius of Meghan! LOL!
The panel on which Meghan is speaking was co-sponsored by her organization, Archwell. NONE of the news reports have bothered to clarify the fact that she PAID to be on the panel.
Wait a sec, the first paragraph says that Meghan, Brooke, et al., are kicking things off on the opening day but the last paragraph says they’re wrapping things up at the end, after eight days. Which is it? Or is it both?