Meghan Markle Is Facing Baffling Backlash For Volunteering Amid The LA Wildfires, Because The Double Standard Is Thriving
People be normal about Meghan Markle on the internet challenge: Impossible.
Hopefully, you’ve noticed that conversations around Meghan Markle can be a little, ahem, biased (the woman can’t enjoy an avocado).
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images
I am referring to the like-for-like comparison that BuzzFeed News did between Meghan and Kate Middleton headlines in 2020, which you can revisit here.
So, what grave misstep has Meghan done this time to annoy the definitely-not-racist crowd? She’s…helped out with the California wildfires.
Eric Charbonneau / Archewell Foundation via Getty Images
Given that Meghan was born and raised in LA, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the wildfires have struck a chord. Alongside Prince Harry, Meghan has used the Archewell Foundation to make monetary donations to disaster relief. They’ve also opened up their Montecito home to loved ones who have evacuated.
Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Meghan has also delayed the release of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, due to the fires.
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said of their visit, “It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected. They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders.”
Ethan Swope / AP
They also met with World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, who the Archewell Foundation has worked with before. In 2018, Meghan similarly visited with some of the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
Mayor Victor further said that the two did not come out for “publicity” and had in fact been there “anonymously” earlier in the day, adding, “No one knew they were serving food with masks.”
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for W+P
Their visit incensed many, such as former actor Justine Bateman (yes, Jason Bateman’s sister) who accused the couple of being “ambulance chasers” and “disaster tourists.” It’s a narrative some tabloids went with, such as the British publication The Mirror, which had the headline, “Meghan and Harry branded ‘disaster tourists’ for ‘repulsive’ LA wildfires photo op.”
Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive “photo op” they achieved. They are “touring the damage”? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists.
Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire https://t.co/Kv6v6jSX4y— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 12, 2025
It’s worth noting that Meghan and Harry weren’t the only celebrities to volunteer, as Jennifer Garner was also photographed with World Central Kitchen. Plenty of other famous people have posted on social media about their donations and fundraising efforts.
In short:
Meghan Markle is a born and bred LA girl, the media made it a point to show how different she was from the Royal family cause she was from LA. And now they’re upset that she is out there helping her hometown? Please find other things to worry about and donate money.
— Caroline Renard (@carolinerenard_) January 11, 2025
