Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'Tone Deaf'?
Opinion editor Kuba Shand-Baptiste called Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'tone deaf' after seeing their docuseries.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell brand is developing, and it's experiencing some growing pains. The pair recently announced the end of their partnership with Spotify, but one royal expert thinks the Sussexes' professional journey is a reflection of their privilege.
Kuba Shand-Baptiste provided a nuanced opinion about the Sussexes' public image. "We should never have entertained debates about the veracity of her mental health issues," Baptiste said in an opinion piece, in reference to the pushback Meghan received after confessing to battling suicidal thoughts.
Baptiste later discussed Meghan dissecting her experience as a biracial woman in America and how her upbringing differed from the reality she experienced in England.
"Nor should we, especially after their corny, at times tone-deaf but still illuminating Netflix documentary, have criticized her for coming to understand her blackness after being subjected to racism in the U.K., having been mistaken for a white woman in the U.S. for the majority of her life," the editor wrote.
Although the professional's approach was compassionate, she doesn't disagree with some of the concerns the public has about the Sussexes. "I don’t think recent charges of Meghan and Harry being 'grifters' or attention seekers — especially after that car chase — are fair either," she admitted.
The commentator later noted that the royal rebels are financially dependent on their role as public figures. "Whether we want them around or not, they do have to make a living somehow," the writer explained. "Unfortunately, they are stumbling over how best to do that. And that’s OK too. They are simply out of their depth."
The former Suits star and veteran signed several multi-million dollar contracts in 2020 after leaving the royal family, but the lucrative partnerships seem to be falling apart.
The Royal Observer previously reported Spotify ended their multi-year deal, and an insider claimed the pair received an ultimatum from Netflix to produce more high-performing content or their fate with the streaming giant would be similar.
However, Netflix dispelled those rumors with a statement.
"The bond with Archewell Productions is one we deeply value. Harry & Meghan launched as Netflix’s most spectacular documentary debut to date," the message read.
Baptiste wrote for inews.co.
