Celebrities have been left divided by Oprah’s bombshell interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with some stars heaping praise on the Royal couple as others slam the Duchess as a ‘liar’ and a ‘gross disaster’.
Former Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel caused controversy prior to the interview’s airing on Sunday night, mocking Meghan for attempting to attract sympathy even though she had been ‘suffering in a palace with tiaras and a seven-figure wedding’.
But the reality star backflipped after watching the intimate interview, during which Meghan confessed to contemplating suicide amid pressures of Royal life.
‘I watched Meghan & Harry sit down,’ Frankel wrote.
‘Emotional distress & racism must feel suffocating & powerless. I’m a polarizing, unfiltered (often to a fault) flawed person with a voice. When I heard of the interview,during a pandemic, it felt like a surprising choice. I’m sorry if it hurt or offended you.’
Celebrities have been left divided by Oprah’s bombshell interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with some stars heaping praise on the Royal couple as others slam the Duchess as a ‘liar’ and a ‘gross disaster’
Bethenny’s back flip: Frankel caused controversy prior to the interview’s airing, mocking Meghan for attempting to garner sympathy. She changed her tune after watching the sit-down
Earlier on Sunday, Frankel said she had no sympathy for Meghan because she was ‘suffering in a palace’
However, not everyone was sympathetic to the story Meghan and Harry told about being ‘trapped’ in the Royal Family.
Former FOX star Megyn Kelly appeared less than impressed by the interview, initially expressing skepticism at Meghan’s claim that she wasn’t too familiar with the Royals prior to meeting her now-husband.
‘Meghan Markle had no idea the Queen was different than a Hollywood celebrity? And she never googled Harry? Umm… ?’ Kelly tweeted out in apparent disbelief.
She concluded by criticizing Oprah’s interview style, claiming the talk show queen failed to follow up properly on a series of stunning revelations made by Harry and Meghan.
During the chat the couple claimed that there some members of the Royal Family were ‘jealous’ of Meghan’s popularity during a trip to Australia and that there had been racist discussions about the ‘skin tone’ of their son, Archie.
Kelly tweeted: ‘Oprah stayed too broad-I wanted more. Be specific. Who was jealous of Meghan after Australia? How did you know that? What do you mean your family haven’t ‘educated themselves’ the way you have? They’re racists? WHO?’
Elsewhere, Harry and Meghan repeatedly stated that racism played a major part in the negative press they garnered.
African-American commentator Terrence K. Williams appeared skeptical that race was a major reason for Meghan’s negative publicity.
He told his 1 million followers: ‘This royal family drama is so stupid. Meghan Markle is a gold digger & super liberal. She’s accusing the Royal Family of racism. She’s wants us to believe she was a slave in the U.K. Well she is one wealthy slave. The race card is getting pretty old.’
While much of the criticism was reserved for Harry, FOX News star Kennedy took aim at Prince Harry, claiming that he ‘comes off like a big dumb baby’.
Meanwhile, conservative commentator Ben Domenech – who is married to The View’s Meghan McCain – called Meghan Markle a ‘liar’ and bluntly wrote: ‘Meghan Markle is a gross disaster and she will absolutely divorce Harry within the next year. ‘
But there were plenty of stars who voiced their support for the Royal couple – including Meghan McCain herself.
‘Monarchy has been an archaic and toxic concept since 1776,’ McCain wrote, including a clip from the musical Hamilton, which is set during the Revolutionary War.
Amanda Gorman and Meghan McCain came out in support of Harry and Meghan following their bombshell interview
Star supporters: Meghan McCain, Amanda Gorman and Serena Williams praised the Duchess
Serena Williams led the support for her friend Meghan Markle in the wake of her bombshell Oprah interview
Joe Biden’s inauguration poet Amanda Gorman wrote: ‘Meghan was the Crown’s greatest opportunity for change, regeneration, and reconciliation in a new era. They didn’t just maltreat her light–they missed out on it.’
She added: ‘Unclear if this will change the Royal family, but Meghan’s strength will certainly redefine family everywhere. Think of the women who will be inspired to stand up for their lives, the partners who will be kinder & more courageous than the kin they were born into.’
Meghan’s close friend Serena Williams also released a lengthy statement to Twitter after the interview aired.
Williams described the Duchess as a ‘selfless friend’ who ‘teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble’.
‘Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced,’ Williams wrote.
‘I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us. We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. ‘
Meanwhile, New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb tweeted out: ‘ These people really didn’t realize they were dealing with a grown-ass woman. I’m pretty sure they do now. #MeghanMarkle’
MSNBC’s Chris Lansing wrote: ‘What’s shocking is that even after all Harry and Meghan have said..the blatant racism, cruelty, lies, abandonment, jealousy — you still get the feeling they could say MUCH more.’
Celebrities were split in their opinion of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah on CBS Sunday night
