Meghan and Harry to step back from front line Royalising

Discussion in 'Taylor's Tittle-Tattle - General Banter' started by Moose, Jan 8, 2020.

  1. Rookery Refugee

    Rookery Refugee Reservist

    Still can't be bothered to watch the thing. It seems like Harry and Meghan position was something like:
    - "Guarantee us that we'll be on the payroll and that you'll give us security and some support against the media bias and we'll play along".

    The response seemed more along the lines of:
    - "Well, you need to play along regardless because we all had to, and we don't really have the money to keep you both on the payroll or for security for your wife and kid, but don't worry, if you keep silent it will all work out".
    - "Like it did for my Mum?"
    - "That wasn't our fault, if she'd played the game, it would have been fine"
    - "So what you're saying is that Meghan and Archie will be fine, even though she's being treated worse by the press than any of you, and neither of them will get support, but I get to keep mine, so long as we keep quiet"
    - "Yes, it will all work out in the end..."
    - "I think we have a different definition of working out. No deal. Bye then".

    Boom.

    It really does seem that that the bulk of this is that the British tabloids (typically) are upset that they aren't able to control the dialog. They like to create the controversy, then report on the reaction to the controversy, all in an environment where the subjects of it don't push back. It's free money. The tabloids have all the power.

    The Sussexes have taken control (at least in part) of the dialog. They'll now be able to generate income from their podcasts, social media, etc., all in an environment outside the control of the tabloids. It's driving them mad.

    If Charles had agreed to cough up the cash and had supported Harry early on, they'd have likely kept this cash cow in house.

    Honestly, I think in a month no one will care.
     
    iamofwfc likes this.
  2. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    I've seen this remark quite a few times over the last couple of days.

    I think by privacy they mean they want to escape from the stalker-style journalism of the British Media that has undoubtedly unfairly targeted Meghan in comparison to how Kate was/is treated.

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    Have a look in this article if you want some more examples:

    https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal

    This interview with Oprah was on their own terms, and with an interviewer who clearly doesn't have an underlying dislike/hatred towards Harry/Meghan.
     
    Maninblack likes this.
  3. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    I’m not condoning the way the typical ragtag elements of the British Press operates, but I still think there’s a big leap from ‘privacy’ to an Oprah exclusive. If they want to do the Oprah thing fair enough, just don’t bang on about privacy.
    They need to have chosen their terms a bit more carefully.
     
  4. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    This privacy v publicity line - which as Norn says has been doing the rounds a fair bit - is pretty disingenuous at its heart.

    I might talk to my neighbours openly about the building work we're having done and happily invite them round to look at it if they ask, but it doesn't mean I'll tell them exactly what we've paid for it or how we funded it. If I then catch one of them late one night rooting through my recyling bin looking for invoices or bank statements it's no defence for them to say, "but you told us all about it and let us come look".

    There's a clear difference between what someone is prepared to share with others (on their own terms) and what's private.
     
  5. zztop

    zztop Eurovision Winner 2015

    I think that when bits of private family conversations are aired publicly across the world to hundreds of millions (or at least a "summary" of what was said), then that is about as "un-private" as you can get, isn't it? It seems strange to me that she sued a newspaper for publishing a bit of a letter that the father gave to the newspaper, it is now telling everybody what was said in private conversations within the family, as is Harry. Both of them talking about private discussions between Charles, William, Kate and themselves. I am sure Charles, William, Kate didn't want their private conversations aired in public just like none of us would want that. It seems to be blatant hypocrisy to me.
     
  6. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Just been zooming with an old chum whose only comment was that all those who thought from the outset that Megan was just a cheap actress (not the actual word he used) on the make had their opinion confirmed by the interview. A perfect summary
     
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  7. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    A key question is also whether this is all purely about getting over their side of the story, or whether the financial benefits play a part.
    I just find it difficult to reconcile outspoken demands for privacy with undertaking a high profile interview with Oprah Winfrey that is going to be shown all around the world.
     
  8. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I'm sure they want a high profile. I don't think it's too much of a punt to guess Harry's pipe dream was to be some sort of touring prince, able to come and go as he pleased, keeping all the best bits while avoiding most of the plaque unveilings and bypass openings. The idea that there are more noble, weightier causes that the power of the monarchy could be put to work in supporting is undoubtedly right. There's just zero appetite for it from the boss or her elderly apprentice. And there was always going to be an almighty backlash as the weirdos who cling to every utterance from the royal family were always going to weigh in on the side of the firm.

    Just wait. A decade from now the papers will be full of the results of Harry's DNA test...
     
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  9. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    I agree with the idea of better causes being championed; whether how H & M wanted to go about things would have pushed that forward I’m not sure.
     
  10. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Bit of a false comparison. If you made it your exclusive source of income to fascinate people with your building work stories and get them to pay to hear your secrets about how you go about it, then maybe you'd be closer to these professional media whores who don't like the media.
     
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  11. Its. Not. About. Privacy.

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    All quite normal. I'm not saying the Mail and Express are racist, and nothing here is specifically racist (except maybe for the Compton stuff) but they know damned well that a good chunk of their readership ARE racists and this stuff goes down a treat with those readers, while at the same time giving them cover to excuse their dislike of her because she's black by allowing them to believe it's cos she's horrible.

    Win win.
     
  12. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    I have not watched it. Nor will I watch it to see three morons gabbling together. I would rather have my brain removed and stamp on it.

    What a sad world we live in where we have moved to a position where wealth and the amount of time one command on media platforms be it traditional decides one's worth and recognition. A bit like America. Does not matter how you earned the money that is all that counts as with getting yourself into the media.

    There is serious news to be covered globally but this is what news channels deem to be important ? The sooner the monarchy is dispensed with the better. It is an anachronism where people are born into privilege through accident of birth and garner enormous inherited wealth. I remember several years ago how a pioneering oncologist passed away. His work on tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed into drugs that regress or inhibit tumour growth. Saved countless lives. Yet his passing did not merit even the briefest of mentions on the news.

    Who should we ply with accolades and respect ? With this sort of media coverage and the push factors in the media and society in general it is no wonder large numbers are desperate to seek fame just for the sake of it. And a sad reflection on society in general. When I get the chance to talk with my nephew and niece I push them to look at the work of scientists, engineers, composers, painters and the like who have made unique contributions to mankind and encourage them in those directions. I repeat to them constantly to steer clear of the vacuousness of celebrities.
     
  13. Rookery Refugee

    Rookery Refugee Reservist

    I think it boils to down to something rather simple. For a variety of reasons H&M are able to earn a living one way now: Celebrity.

    The palace deal was low paying, with Meghan as a punching bag and no ability to punch back. They got nowhere with "the Palace" and went elsewhere for a better deal - at least in terms of their ability to control the situation. Possibly in terms of pay as well.

    The racism angles are always hard to know the facts of, but it's not hard to imagine that any number of the palace marketing people weren't happy about any number of factors in Meghan's background (actress, race, American) and her personality (strong-willed, independent, etc.). I'm sure many of them would have been quite happy to see the press "put her in her place" or even run her off. My very limited experience has led me to suspect that the only bigger snobs that rich people are some of the people that work for the rich people.
     
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  14. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

  15. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    To me, it played out as a perfectly scripted PR exercise. If I wrote Meghan's script beforehand, I'd have come out with something remarkably similar. Mental health, check. Racism, check. Suppressing black/ woman's voices, check. That she didn't even Google Harry's name before she met him, so people couldn't accuse her of knowing what she was getting in for, check.

    However, it was understandable that they were annoyed that they had all of the negative media coverage, and all of the restrictions, of someone who was in line to the throne, but weren't protected at all by the palace. I see why they wanted to be more like a B list royal like Eugenie, who seem to get most of the benefits without as much of the dull ceremony and forced smiles.

    It was also understandable that Meghan clearly got into some sort of negative head space, being paranoid and feeling unsupported, after being initially built up and then torn down. I completely believed the line that the palace chummy up with the tabloids and save their political capital as much as possible, and that the palace said they were handling it, but were probably either ignoring it or stoking the flames.

    However, in the UK, I think there is a lot more cynicism and think it in general played out quite badly (I also get irritated that the word "truth" which should be objective, is conflated with "my" or emotions, which is/ are subjective, but I digress).

    The lines about: her son not inheriting a title because of his race (which wasn't true, although I guess it was her "truth"); that everyone due to Covid now knows what Harry and Meghan felt like when stuck in a palace; and just the fact they needed to do the interview at all when it was clearly aiming to damage one side to lift up themselves, made them seem entitled and perhaps even more out of touch with the UK than the royals.

    Not that they will care though. It was clearly designed for a US audience, who are much more into the 'speak your truth' mindset which comes from across the pond. Their careers are being rocket-launched, without any of the intrusion, duty or rules of the monarchy. They are LA-ites now.
     
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  16. zztop

    zztop Eurovision Winner 2015

    Couldn't help laughing at this after watching him flounce off when put under a bit of pressure this morning. He uses his position of being able to interrupt his interviewees at will, always have the last word and framing his questions in idiotic ways to try and humiliate them. He most certainly is a bully, and is particularly hard on women when interviewing them, in my opinion.

    I sometimes agree with his views, but usually not. However, I think he may well be right on this occasion and I'm not surprised that it was this subject that did it in for him in our intolerant society.
     
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  17. Guy

    Guy Squad Player

    I didn't even know till yesterday that Meghan was of mixed race .
     
  18. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

  19. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    You live by the sword you die by the sword, Piers Morgan’s whole MO was serving up his opinion to every guest on that show on a daily basis. Yet he flounced off when the weather boy talked back to him. It doesn’t really matter what the weather boy had to say or whether it was right or wrong, for Piers Morgan not to be able to take it without storming off is truly pathetic.
     
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  20. Filbert

    Filbert Leicester supporting bloke

  21. El distraído

    El distraído Johnny Foreigner

    In-it-for-themselves they may be, but at least they could be democratically elected.

    I would much rather have this than The Queen.
     
  22. reg_varney

    reg_varney Squad Player

    Oh dear things must have got very bad. Diane Abbott has waded in with her tuppence worth. Who's next to lift their head above the parapet? Perhaps Bez from the Happy Mondays would like to give us his opinion. Newspapers and news organisations must love days like these. So, so easy to fill column inches with mindless drivel. There's so many more important things that need, or are far more worthy, to be reported.
     
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  23. AndrewH63

    AndrewH63 Reservist

    I do think the uk tabloids gave the Duchess of Sussex a very rough ride. They gave the Duchess of York a kicking too. It’s like they need to point out how fabulous the future queen will be by making unflattering comparisons between the wife of the heir to the wife of the second son. I seem to remember they mocked the Middleton family before a better target came along.
     
  24. reg_varney

    reg_varney Squad Player

    They could always take a leaf out of Egghead "a C and 2 Ds" Edward's book. Get married, have some kids, keep your head down, and don't rock the boat.
     
  25. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    Tbh I don’t think they had as much ammunition when it came to the Middletons, beyond the fact that they weren’t “posh” enough. There are “blind items” aplenty about both Fergie and Meghan which the press can’t publish so they target them in other ways. I’m not saying it’s right but I’m saying there’s more to this than the press targeting Meghan because of her ethnicity.
     
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  26. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    Wasn't exactly Frost/Nixon.
     
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  27. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    ...and Andrew and Harry and Epstein....

     
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  28. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    Indeed. Although in the case of Epstein (and, to an extent, Andrew) the items aren’t so “blind” anymore..
     
  29. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Ah poor Piers man of the people. I don't understand why anyone would want to watch that ghastly show anyway or anything he is in. Before you even get to work you are bombarded with more than your daily ration of drivel.

    A complete narcissist of the worst kind. A loudmouth who lacks any intelligence. As in the maxim it you know nothing best to keep your mouth shut. Let us not forget the roll of honour from this man as well. Faking photographs of Iraqi prisoners placing soldiers at risk, the Milly Dowler phone hack scandal and his constant bullying. He is a classic psychopath. Unfortunately like many of his ilk they seem to prosper but they are not the way forward for humanity. Self serving, sly, cunning and a desire for power of whatever kind.

    Must not forget his former sidekick Susanna Reid another empty head who tried to hold the BBC to ransom over her salary. Such a rare unique priceless skill to be able to read an autocue.
     
  30. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Normally I'd be the last person to defend Piers Moron - he should have been hung for treason for his performance during Gulf War 2 when he was at the Mirror - but its come to something when someone is forced to quit their job on the grounds that they don't believe something somebody else has said.
     
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  31. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    $$$$$$$$$$$...it's their way of becoming financially independant....
     
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  32. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    Didn't he resign?
     
  33. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    It is true that freedom of speech or to think outside of what is deemed conventional or the current zeitgeist is being curtailed. If you voice an unpopular opinion or different train of thought then it can spell the end of a career, loss of prestige, positions and legacy. Rather Orwellian to be frank. Individuals are being muzzled which is far from healthy. Books are being burnt or banned. People should be allowed to have freedom of thought, expression and it is up to those with common sense to undermine and destroy those opinions although some cases are completely hopeless as with some flat earthers. Voltaires maxim is more than needed.

    Not that I care one iota about Morgan. He and Markle are cut from the same cloth. Attention seeking narcissists with no discernible talent for anything.
     
  34. davisp2

    davisp2 Reservist

    Total lack of class from Harry and a Meghan airing their dirty linen. Pretty much every family has fallouts and disagreements, but deal with it in private. They have taken advantage of the fact that they can say what they want and the Royal Family are never going to get into a public disagreement. Harry in particular is a complete disgrace for doing that to his family, he could have dealt with it very differently. Meghan has fallen out with her family and now the Royals - she is the common denominator.
     
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