The Truth About The Latest Growing Outrage Over Harry And Meghan
All eyes are on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's primetime TV interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021. The primetime special, which was announced in February 2021, will see Oprah interview the couple about "their marriage, their latest projects, and life since stepping from senior royal duties," according to CNN. Previews of the special have generated a lot of attention, with Prince Harry explaining their decision to leave the royal family was in fear of "history repeating itself" — which may be a reference to his late mother Princess Diana, who tragically died in a car crash while being chased by paparazzi.
The interest in Oprah's special with Prince Harry and Meghan is so big that ViacomCBS, the parent company of CBS, has licensed it in more than 70 countries, Deadline reported. ITV, one of the U.K.'s biggest television networks, has the exclusive rights to the interview. "This interview is already a national talking point and ITV is pleased to be able to offer U.K. audiences the opportunity to see it," Kevin Lygo, the managing director of media and entertainment at ITV, said in a statement.
While ITV is excited about airing the interview, there has been outrage about the timing of the interview. Keep scrolling to find out why people are disapproving of Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah.
The timing of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview has been deemed 'disrespectful'
According to the Daily Mail, ITV has "faced furious backlash at their decision to push ahead with broadcasting the interview" with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle because of Prince Philip's hospitalization. Harry's grandfather, 99, underwent a "successful" surgery for a heart condition on March 3, 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement to People. Prince Philip had been in the hospital for more than two weeks prior to his surgery, which has seen the media speculate about his health and question whether or not Prince Harry and Markle's interview is appropriate, timing-wise.
Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, along with other royal experts and fans, have asked Prince Harry and Meghan to postpone the air date for the interview, according to the Daily Mail. "Oprah is their friend and neighbor and would undoubtedly comply if asked and the gesture would I am sure be appreciated by the royal family," Fitzwilliam told the outlet. "If an interview has been extended, as this recently has, it can also be postponed, as this undoubtedly should be."
In a preview clip, Meghan called out the royal institution for "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and her husband — and according to Slate, the royal family is "terrified" about the interview.