Meghan Markle is the world’s royal darling but she seems to be in hot water right now. The Duchess of Sussex is loved for her truth-telling and acts of defiance against the establishment. In 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry distanced themselves from the British Royal Family after an onslaught of negative press and media attacks on the former suits actress, as well as a feeling of “a lack of support and lack of understanding” from The Firm.
Of course, the world rallied behind the pair, encouraging them to use their voices for change and not allowing archaic rules of the monarchy to dictate their lives. However, the tides seemed to have shifted slightly after Meghan made two controversial remarks about the family’s South African trip in 2019.
In an exclusive interview with The Cut, Meghan indirectly compared herself to one of South Africa’s most prominent struggle icons, Nelson Mandela. Safe to say Mazansi was not impressed, including Madiba’s grandson, Mandla.
In the interview, Meghan recalls how she and Harry had attended the premier of Disney’s live action film, the Lion King in London, when one of the cast members approached her and revealed how South Africans had “likened” her royal wedding to a historically significant moment in the country.
“He looked at me, and he’s just like light. He said, ‘I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison”, she said.
This comment however, had the Twitterverse in some histerics, while Mandel Mandela has also chimed in on the action:
Madiba’s celebration was based on overcoming 350 years of colonialism with 60 years of a brutal apartheid regime in South Africa. So It cannot be equated to the same”, he said in at interview with MailOnline.
“We are still bearing scars of the past. But they were (Mandela’s celebrations) a product of the majority of our people being brought out onto the streets to exercise the right of voting for the first time,” he concluded.
Here are some of the outraged comments on Twitter:
Meghan Markle,whose biggest ambition in life was to marry rich and marry up,believes that marrying Prince Harry generated the same excitement and hysteria as when Nelson Mandela was released from prison after having spent 27 years of his life behind bars for fighting apartheid
— Jordan (@Jordan43572657) August 30, 2022
The narcissistic comparison with Mandela is especially gross. The man was incarcerated in a remote prison, and Meghan Markle felt she was held prisoner by charity galas and Royal receptions in Britain. Trading in Queen & Country for Whackery & Wokery in Hollywood.
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) August 30, 2022
I am not entirely convinced Meghan Markle isn’t part of a plot to make the Royal family look good. I just can’t believe publicly comparing oneself to Nelson Mandela would be entered into without some kind of hidden inducement.
— Victoria Freeman (@v_j_freeman) August 30, 2022
If Meghan Markle comparing herself to Nelson Mandela isn't a sign of narcissism then IDK what is
— Meghan (@meghan_mary19) August 29, 2022
Why would South Africans celebrate the same way they did when Nelson Mandela was released from prison when Meghan Markle married into the Royal Family. Last I heard, South Africa was a republic.
— Nmesomachi (@Nmeso4dworld) August 29, 2022
Of course, there are those who understood the message behind what she was saying - in that her marriage into the Royal Family was truly a moment that communities of colour thought they would never see in their lifetime. Just like Mandela’s release from prison, the event has sparked a disruption of the status quo and a change in centuries of oppressive and restrictive regimes.
