'The Great Giveback with Melissa McCarthy and Jenna Perusich': How Meghan Markle inspired HGTV show host
Meghan Markle and actress Melissa McCarthy, the new HGTV star, have a wonderful bond that stems from their desire to help those in need. The two appeared together in a video commemorating the Duchess of Sussex's 40th birthday project - “40×40.”
This project was created to assist women who quit employment due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Duchess of Sussex launched the 40×40 project, inviting 40 of her friends to celebrate her birthday by volunteering their time to help others. Meghan unveiled the initiative on August 4, 2021, with a video posted to the Archewell website. Meghan also released a statement, “I believe mentorship is one way to help women regain confidence and rebuild their economic strength.”
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The Duchess of Sussex released startling data that the pandemic had forced over 2 million women out of the workforce. They also took on a significant amount of responsibility for homeschooling kids and caring for other family members. "With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well,” Meghan wrote in the statement.
How Meghan Markle has inspired Melissa McCarthy?
Meghan and McCarthy worked together on the video, which the 'Suits' actress uploaded on her birthday, to discuss how they were planning to work together to help women in need. McCarthy also mentioned being "inspired by the Duchess of Sussex." The new HGTV host expressed her admiration, commenting on the life Meghan and Prince Harry have given their kids Archie and Lillibet in California.
McCarthy was also inspired by Meghan's decision to celebrate her 40th birthday by rallying support for other women in need. Meghan and husband Harry frequently utilize special events to highlight their philanthropic endeavors, and Meghan's birthday was no exception.
Did Meghan Markle's 40x40 project succeed?
However, people online are saying that Meghan's 40x40 initiative has "bombed".
"It's completely bombed. There was a hashtag '#40x40,' if you look on Instagram, there's [minimal] movement since Meghan's birthday," Murky Meg, a YouTuber revealed in a vlog. Meghan, according to the YouTuber, expected all the celebs and influencers to wear the shirts on Instagram and essentially flood it with hashtags, thereby advertising the merchandise. "This didn't happen. Instagram was not flooded with all this merchandise at all," Murky Meg chimed in.
According to Daily Star, quoting the YouTuber, there was a frenzy of activity surrounding the project's announcement. Many female business owners have put policies in place to assist women in returning to work. While announcing the scheme, the Duchess of Sussex stressed the importance of assisting women who have lost their employment throughout the world as a result of Covid-19.
The 40x40 endeavor came after Meghan and Harry were allegedly excluded from former US President Barack Obama's 60th birthday celebrations. According to royal expert Angela Levin, the pair "won't get over" the reported snub. According to another online tabloid, the absence of Harry and Meghan from Obama's birthday invitation list is most likely owing to family feuds. As per the article, the former president was upset by the Sussexes disparaging of the royal family during their infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey.
What initiative is next on the line for Melissa McCarthy?
McCarthy and her cousin, actress Jenna Perusich, have undertaken more than their fair share of charitable work. The two "design-obsessed" ladies have partnered up for the new six-episode series 'The Great Giveback with Melissa McCarthy and Jenna Perusich,' which premieres on June 13 on HGTV and Discovery+, and in which they will offer surprise property transformations to nominees who have gone above and beyond to support others.
"It was a great reminder that there is so much good, so much kindness in the world. It's out there," McCarthy told PEOPLE. "We just wanted to celebrate these amazing people. And be reminded that we all can really make a difference."