Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has recently opened up about her experience with online bullying and abuse during her pregnancies. Speaking at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Meghan revealed that she faced a significant amount of cruelty on social media platforms during her pregnancies with Archie and Lili.
For the sake of her own well-being, Meghan has chosen to distance herself from social media. She expressed her disbelief at the level of hate and cruelty she encountered, stating, “And you just think about that and you have to really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty. It’s cruel.”
Meghan’s first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on May 6, 2019, followed by the arrival of Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021. The duchess’s revelation sheds light on the challenges she faced during these significant moments in her life.
The issue of online abuse directed towards Meghan and other members of the royal family is not a new phenomenon. In March 2019, the British royal family issued a statement urging social media users to show “courtesy, kindness, and respect” when engaging with their online posts. This plea came after numerous instances of online abuse targeted at both Meghan and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. The abuse included sexist and racist comments, prompting Kensington Palace to seek assistance from social media platforms in combating this disturbing trend.
To protect Meghan from further abuse, palace staff began dedicating more resources to filtering and deleting hateful comments and blocking abusive accounts on Twitter and Instagram. However, the duchess’s recent revelation highlights the need for a broader change in society’s approach to online behavior.
During her speech at SXSW, Meghan emphasized the importance of recognizing our shared humanity in the digital space and media. She called for a shift in mindset, stating, “In the digital space and in certain sectors of the media, we have forgotten about our humanity. And that has got to change. Because I understand there’s a bottom line, and I understand that a lot of money is being made there. But even if it’s making dollars, it doesn’t make sense.”
Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, made the decision to step back from their roles in the British royal family in 2020 and relocated to California with Archie. Since then, they have been vocal about their concerns regarding press intrusion into their lives in both the UK and the US. In fact, the couple filed a lawsuit in California in 2020 over paparazzi photographs of their young son, Archie.
Meghan’s candid admission about her experience with online bullying and abuse during her pregnancies serves as a reminder of the harmful impact of such behavior. It highlights the urgent need for society to address this issue and foster a more compassionate and respectful online environment. As we navigate the digital age, it is crucial that we remember our shared humanity and treat others with kindness and empathy, both online and offline.