‘Disaster Tourists’: Meghan and Harry divide by volunteering amid horrific fires

Meghan and Harry can’t seem to catch a break and the couple have divided over their act during the horrific bushfires.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry can’t seem to do anything right in the eyes of the public. The couple has just been slammed for helping in Los Angeles amid the horrific fires that have caused mass destruction and devastation.

The pair, who live around 145 kilometres north of the city, over an hour’s drive were spotted at the Pasadena Convention Centre wearing hats and hospital masks and handing out food and supplies alongside volunteers.

Of course, because Prince Harry is a Prince, local camera crews filmed their appearance, and it made the news that they had rolled up their sleeves and were helping out but their volunteer work hasn’t gone down well with everyone.

The pair, who live around 145 kilometres north of the city, were spotted at the Pasadena Convention Centre. Picture: YouTube

Their volunteer work hasn’t gone down well with everyone. Picture: YouTube

Filmmaker Justine Bateman, who got her start as an actor on Family Ties and is also the sister of Hollywood actor Jason Bateman, best known for Arrested Development and Ozark, has taken to X to slam the couple.

A popular X account reposted some video of the couple helping out and dubbed the former working royal members “disaster chasers”.

Ms Bateman then reposted the tweet, called the couple “ambulance chasers” and claimed they were volunteering to get a “repulsive” photo opportunity.

“Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists?” She asked.

Ms Batemen shared her views on the couple. Picture: X

People were divided. Picture: YouTube

Her tweet kicked off a significant debate, with some claiming they were genuinely trying to help out a devastated area and others accusing them of using a natural disaster as a chance to try and regain positive PR.

Markle’s Netflix television series With Love Meghan has received a lukewarm reception at best, and the show hasn’t even dropped yet.

So instead of being applauded for their efforts, the couple’s appearance went down as well as when actor Mandy Moore reshared a GoFundMe for her brother-in-law after he lost his home in the fire.

There was a mixed reaction. Not everyone was anti-the former working Royal’s appearance.

“So disgusting,” one wrote.

“Would you rather they didn’t support at all?” another asked.

“I’m sure they just wanted to come and get their faces on TV and have some photos taken,” one claimed.

“I cannot believe they are using this disaster for PR,” someone else wrote.

“Well, credit where credit’s due: if they can help, why not?” one tried to reason.

Someone else said they’ve clearly taken “time” out of their lives to help out, and that shouldn’t be seen as a negative, but another claimed it was just for “attention.”

One called their volunteer work “embarrassing,” while another said, “at least they are there,” and then pointed out that other celebrities weren’t volunteering.

Someone said we should give them credit where it is due.

While others claimed it was a PR stunt. Picture: YouTube

The relentless fires in LA have ravaged entire communities, countless GoFundMes have been launched for families that have lost everything. The destruction that has impacted celebrities like Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson have been brutal.

Actress Jennifer Garner was seen on television sharing that she had a friend who “didn’t get out in time”, and Dennis Quaid, 70, was captured frantically collecting his family’s belongings as he attempted to flee his Brentwood home.

A-list couple Adam Brody and Leighton Meester lost their entire family home, and Paris Hilton shared she was “shattered” that the home she’d been raising her young children in was now a pile of rubble.

Almost 200,000 people have been displaced, and around 10,000 structures have been destroyed, along with 35,000 acres of land.

The bushfires occur as California has been locked in a dire drought since 2022, with barely any rain and no sign of relief.

Originally published as ‘Disaster Tourists’: Meghan and Harry divide by volunteering amid horrific fires