How America fell out of love with Meghan Markle: The 5 turning points that doomed the love-in
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: New polls reveal that Meghan Markle’s popularity in America is waning steadily, and she currently has a net approval rating of just minus 2.
Per a recent rating by Newsweek, following several unfavorable incidents, the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity has hit an abysmal low.
The same news outlet previously conducted polls on Meghan Markle’s popularity in America, which yielded an impressive +23 rating in December 2022.
In the latest poll conducted by Newsweek involving 1500 adult Americans, 31 percent responded they like her. People with an unfavorable opinion of Prince Harry’s wife are more in number, with 33 percent vouching against her, per Daily Mail.
In this article, we look at five pivotal incidents that may have had a negative impact on Meghan’s approval rating on the American side of the Atlantic.
Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview
Following the royal rift in January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat for an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 where the Duchess spoke about her struggles with mental health, which allegedly even led her to contemplate suicide.
In the interview, Meghan recounted of her suicidal thoughts, “I was ashamed to have to admit it to Harry,” before adding, “I knew that if I didn’t say it, I would do it. I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
She further added that when she talked to a senior royal regarding the possibility of seeking care, she was told it wasn’t possible because it “wouldn’t be good for the institution,” per The New York Times.
She also talked about gossip among the palace staff before Archie’s birth. Meghan said, “We have in tandem the conversation of ‘He won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title’ and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
Netflix's ‘Harry and Meghan’
The Netflix series ‘Harry and Meghan’ drew a lot of attention, but probably not the kind the royal couple wanted.
In April 2023, Washington-based foreign policy expert and royal enthusiast Nile Gardiner told Daily Express, "There has been a huge backlash against them in the US.”
He added, "Opinion polls show they are deeply unpopular figures and their standing has absolutely plummeted since the release of the Netflix documentary series and Harry's book.”
Gardiner commented, “They are probably two of the most unpopular figures in the US today. On both sides of the Atlantic, they are increasingly hated celebrities.”
The couple discussed the difficulties they faced in the palace along with the purported racial attacks, and a scathing critique of the British tabloids.
Even The Guardian called the docuseries "a one-sided PR effort,” per NPR.
The ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ alum and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel criticized the show for trying to be a “money” grab and assailed Meghan by saying, “It seemed like they really wanted to be humanized. They wanted us to know that they are real human beings.”
She continued, “It felt like this entire documentary was about how famous we are … it’s relentless,” before adding, “If you are being trolled by the media, the royal family gave you the advice to say nothing because that’s the advice that most very famous people are given,” per Page Six.
Frankel explained, “If you add gasoline to a fire, the fire blows up even bigger. It feels like they — and Meghan in particular — just keep wanting to tell us more.”
Prince Harry’s book ‘Spare’
Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir ‘Spare’ too contributed to the couple's negative image.
During his interview with Daily Express, Gardiner said, "The US people really see through their character, which is one of tremendous selfishness, arrogance and being incredibly rude and disrespectful.”
"They are incredibly unpopular in the US, and I suspect that is only going to get worse,” said Gardiner.
He added, "Harry and Meghan struck a raw nerve here with their criticisms. Americans don't generally attack the Royal Family.”
He continued explaining, "The Royal Family is very popular in the US and the late Queen Elizabeth II especially was extremely popular.”
Gardiner said, "If you have them firing pot shots from California, this doesn't look good and most Americans disapprove of that."
Harry and Meghan’s ‘near catastrophic’ car chase
On May 17, 2023, a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement, “Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi.”
The alleged car chase happened in New York when they were leaving the Ms Foundation 50th anniversary gala, per Town & Country Magazine.
However, the couple received backlash for their account as a photographer who was on the scene said the pursuit was not “near catastrophic.”
They told People, "Nobody got a ticket or arrested...I don't see how it was near catastrophic other than crazy hyperbole."
Meghan and Harry’s paradoxical desire for privacy and publicity
As The New York Times noted, Harry and Meghan have a paradoxical desire for both publicity and privacy, which leads to a confusing narrative.
While on the one hand they ask for privacy, on the other hand, they also seek publicity by giving information about their private life, per the outlet.