The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, otherwise known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have told the editors of the big four British tabloid newspapers that they will no longer deal with their bullshit. Here for it.
Harry and Meghan essentially cut off all ties with The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, and Daily Mail, in a letter to the editors of each respective outlet on Sunday night.
“There will be no corroboration and zero engagement,” they said in the letter, adding that this also applies to their communications team.
“The policy is not about avoiding criticism. It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting. Media have every right to report on and indeed have an opinion on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can’t be based on a lie. They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.”
Harry and Meghan look forward to working with journalists and media organisations from around the world, engaging with grassroots media, regional and local media, and young journalists on the rise to spotlight issues that need acknowledging.
“What they can’t do is offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion,” they said. WOOF.
NEW: In a Sunday night letter, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have written to editors of the four major British tabloids – The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Mirror and Daily Mail – promising never to work with them again, barring all access into the future. The letter in full: pic.twitter.com/V4CWc8jKu5
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) April 19, 2020
“It is gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media, over many years, has sought to insulate themselves from taking accountability for what they say or print – even when they know it to be distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason. When power is enjoyed without responsibility, the trust we all place in this much-needed industry is degraded.”
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know – as well as complete strangers – have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.”
Harry and Meghan officially stepped back as working members of the royal family on April 1. The couple named the “intense scrutiny” from the media as one of the reasons for their departure.
The couple’s letter comes just days ahead of the first hearing in Meghan’s legal action against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online. If you don’t know the story here, Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers over an article which reproduced parts of her handwritten letter sent to her father, Thomas Markle. The hearing will be conducted remotely.
Harry and Meghan have since relocated to Los Angeles. Over the weekend, the couple were spotted delivering meals to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. According to CNN, they volunteered through Project Angel Food, a nonprofit that prepares and delivers food to people impacted by serious illness.
