Meghan Markle (pictured left) has become the focus of even more media attention since marrying into the British royal family. The criticism directed at her has been unfair and should end (Mark Jones/Creative Commons).
Celebrities are often unable to escape public scrutiny—it comes with the territory. Everything from their outfit choices to birthing preferences receive relentless coverage and criticism from members of the media and general public for reasons that are usually pointless or arbitrary.
One of the biggest names in popular culture who arguably faces the most criticism from people around the world is Meghan Markle. The media should tone down their criticism of celebrities like Markle, as most of their reporting is based on rumors and speculation and is cruel to those who are just trying to live their lives, albeit in the spotlight.
Markle married Prince Harry of the British royal family in May 2018. This marriage elevated her from a television actress on “Suits,” to a modern-day princess. Not long after their wedding, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child and would create their own household, diverging from the one they initially shared with Harry’s brother and sister-in-law, William, the Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
From day one of Megan’s association with Harry and the royal family, however, she has fallen victim to ruthless and unfair disapproval.
Reports emerged early on in Markle and Prince Harry’s relationship that Markle did not get along with her future sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. These reports were based on anything from their body language around one another to rumors that Middleton had cried at a dress fitting leading up to Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry, according to Glamour.
The media has broken down every detail of Markle’s life since her relationship with Prince Harry was confirmed and very little of the coverage has been positive. Several of Markle’s aides and staff members have left their posts in recent months, leading news outlets to label her as demanding and difficult to work with, according to Refinery 29.
When it was announced that Markle would be delivering her first child at home without the services of the Queen’s official doctors, tabloids took this as a snub to the Queen, according to Vanity Fair.
In reality, the royal family knew about the various staff members’ plans to leave their positions months before they were assigned to help Markle make her transition into royal life. Plus, Markle’s decision to use her own birthing team rather than the Queen’s should be accepted, seeing as how giving birth is a very personal process.
Just because Markle’s life is unfolding on the world stage does not mean she should be constantly ridiculed for her choices and actions.
Granted, she is not a perfect person. Markle received somewhat justified scrutiny for her decision to travel by private jet from the United Kingdom to New York City for her baby shower in early March. Markle and Prince Harry are known environmentalists, yet taking a private jet such a long distance leaves a very large carbon footprint.
Overanalyzing every move Markle makes, however, is unfair. It is perfectly acceptable to disagree with what she does but to build entire news cycles around rumors is reckless. The British royal family is infamous for not addressing media speculation so unless a news organization can have a named, reputable source confirm something, they should not be framing rumors as truth or covering them at all.
Other celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have come to Markle’s defense to say that she is portrayed unfairly in the media.
“I feel that if people really knew [Markle], they would know that she is not only everything that we perceive for her as being graceful and dynamic … but she just has a wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart,” Winfrey said on “CBS This Morning.”
If even other famous people who also have to fight their own battles with the media can come to Markle’s defense, it is clear that something has to change. It’s one thing to call celebrities out when they’re being hypocritical, but to critique every move someone like Meghan Markle makes isn’t a productive way to report the news, but rather just paints the media to look like a bully.