The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has opened up about the “cruel” online bullying she endured during her pregnancies with her children, Archie and Lilibet. Speaking at a panel discussion at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, Markle shared the intensity of the abuse she faced while pregnant and when her children were newborns.
Expressing concern about the harmful effects of such bullying, particularly during vulnerable times, she emphasized the necessity of implementing measures to protect individuals from online hate.
Describing the bullying as “not catty, it’s cruel,” Markle reflected on the challenge of comprehending why people would be so hateful, especially towards someone in the midst of pregnancy or caring for a newborn. Acknowledging her innate instinct to protect her children and herself, she believed this might have heightened her vulnerability to the pain of online bullying. However, she also stressed the importance of resisting toxicity, emphasizing the need for self-protection and mental resilience.
Markle’s comments were part of a broader discussion on the challenges women face, encompassing scrutiny, objectification, and bullying on social media. She highlighted the dual nature of social media platforms, serving as sources of insight and brilliance but also as platforms for hate, rhetoric, and conspiracy theories that can adversely affect mental health and physical safety. Expressing concern about the disturbing level of hate directed at women, she noted with dismay that much of this hate is perpetuated by women against other women.
Markle’s reflections on her experiences with online bullying during her pregnancies underscore the urgency of addressing cyberbullying, particularly in the realm of social media. She called for more efforts to ensure people’s safety online, recognizing the dual role of social media as a platform for both positive and negative interactions. Her comments serve as a reminder of the necessity for empathy, understanding, and support for individuals facing online abuse, particularly during sensitive phases in their lives.
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