Meghan’s bump sparks bizarre online debate

“No pregnant woman poses like this!” Meghan Markle’s latest appearance has sparked a fierce and very strange debate online.

Meghan Markle sparked a global debate about baby bump cradling after her surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards this week.

The Duchess of Sussex, 37, posed in a way at the style-centred event that some interpreted as hammy and others as maternal, as she presented an award to her wedding dress designer, Givenchy artistic director Clare Waight Keller.

Cupping the bump? WHOB DOES THIS? #MeghanMarkle who the hell does she think she is #Madonna and child? Something VERY creepy going on in this woman's head pic.twitter.com/RL5LzMeIq3

— Treacle (@CallMeTreacle) December 11, 2018

“#MeghanMarkle holding on to that bump like someone’s about to snatch it,” another quipped.

“Seriously, no pregnant woman poses for photo like this. Ever. She’s such an actress.”

Meghan and bump. Picture: Getty

Still holding on. Picture: John Phillips/BFC/Getty

Careful, it might fall out. Picture: Joe Maher/BFC/Getty

“She should learn from Kate on how to pose regally when pregnant. Both hands discretely [sic] under the bump. Not cradling like Demi Moore. #Crasspregnancy,” another wrote.

Others were equally critical:

If I see one more photo of Meghan Markle cradling that bump I am going to vomit. I swear she and Beyoncé think they are the only women in the world to get pregnant.🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 You are pregnant......WE KNOW! pic.twitter.com/9PVF3QrcJJ

— hashhag (@vviivviieennnne) December 11, 2018

Looking at Meghan holding her bump @KensingtonRoyal #MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/Mwk27z1BSd

— ThotsAloud (@ThawtsAloud) December 10, 2018

When will Meghan "Duchess of Sussex", stop constantly cradling her bump! Like the whole bloody world doesn't know shes pregnant & it's not like she doesnt get enough attention she's craves. "I'm here to give an award but il make sure the attention is on me not the winner" #BFA

— ChelseaFordham (@Chelsea_Bun07) December 11, 2018

Others simply pointed out the absurdity of both the pose and the obsession with it, including an account dubbed @MarkleBabyBump.

Guys relax she was just waiting to make her shot geeze #duchessofsussex #meghanmarkle pic.twitter.com/JiCh4v5odG

— auntjemima (@wafflesbegone) December 11, 2018

I'm Meghan Markle's cradled baby bump and I'm famousss! #MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/n655N0XPcR

— MeghanMarkleBabyBump (@marklebabybump) December 11, 2018

Others defended the former Suits starlet, pointing out that pregnancy is inherently uncomfortable and that there’s nothing wrong with cradling the tiny, living human being in her body.

Bump is not used to the hooping and hollering it heard in that arena full of people last night.
Bump is used to the peace and serenity of country life in the Cotswolds.
So, Meghan tried to calm Bump down. Makes perfect sense. pic.twitter.com/lD2dMsCYWn

— Baby Sussex’s Au Pair (@freepeeper) December 11, 2018

This post is dedicated to all the unhappy people who are trying to come for Duchess Meghan and her bump. I feel sorry for you if you can’t let a woman enjoying her pregnancy the way she wants. Her body, her bump. Deal with it. #DuchessOfSussex pic.twitter.com/IviuW8if4h

— Rachelleworld (@bachelleworld) December 10, 2018

lol imagine being mad at meghan for putting her ~own hands~ on her ~own baby bump ~ wow you lot have time

— Bim Adewunmi (@bimadew) December 11, 2018

In the supposed era of Body Positivity, there seems to be people who have an issue with Meghan cradling her baby bump. All of the people criticizing Meghan Markle for cradling her bump need to get a LIFE! It’s her body, it is her baby, and she can cradle it as much as she wants. pic.twitter.com/CkypWA31nn

— Style Files (@ZendayaStyleFil) December 11, 2018

Not sure why there are people questioning Meghan cupping her baby bump 🤔 It's her first pregnancy and, even if it was her twelfth, it's her body and her bond with her baby so frankly it's nobody's business whether she cups her bump or not! #MeghanMarkle #mindyourowndamnbusiness

— SuzyV (@SuzyV29) December 12, 2018

But it’s her stomach. a stomach. So now there are rules on how often a woman can hold her baby bump? Does that even make sense?? If she wants to hold her bump 24/7 it’s her body damn #meghanmarkle #DuchessofSussex pic.twitter.com/YegqidXPTv

— Let’s Fangirl (@letsfangirlbout) December 12, 2018

Oh my God, she is in a loud environment. People seem to forget the bump is not an inanimate object, there's a living being on the other side. She is soothing him/her. Is the dislike for this lady so great, that people forget to use their critical thinking skills. #meghanmarkle

— valerie moore (@valeriegayle) December 11, 2018

Her bump wasn’t the only controversial aspect of Markle’s appearance at the BFAs: She also broke royal protocol with her dark manicure.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Meghan’s bump sparks bizarre online debate