Meghan reveals relentless ‘cruel’ abuse while she was pregnant

Meghan Markle has revealed she suffered from relentless online abuse while she was pregnant — and she’s calling for change.

Meghan Markle was the victim of “hateful” bullying while she was pregnant with her two children.

The Duchess of Sussex spoke about the horrific social media and online attacks during an International Women’s Day panel at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas today.

Meghan took the stage for the keynote panel with Hollywood star Brooke Shields, US journalists Katie Couric and Errin Haines and sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen.

The panel addressed the topic ‘Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen’.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals at the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Picture: AFP

Meghan revealed that she “keeps her distance” from social media because of the “toxicity”.

“The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lillie, and with a newborn, with each of them,” she said.

“And you just think about that, and you really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty it’s cruel.

“Why you would do that, certainly when you have a newborn, as mums, you know it’s such a tender and sacred time. And I think, you know, you can either succumb to it, or nearly succumb to how painful that is. And maybe in some regards, because I was pregnant, that mammalian instinct just kicked in, do everything you can to protect your child, and as a result protect yourself too.”

She said there was “so much work to be done” to keep people safe, especially children.

“What I find the most disturbing, frankly, especially as a supporter of women, is how much of the hate is women, completely spewing that to other women, and I cannot make sense of that.”

Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have spoken about the relentless bullying aimed at Meghan. Picture: AFP

She noted that the panel was being streamed and would be uploaded to social media, adding that was a good thing as it would allow people to view the discussion.

“At the same time it’s a platform that has quite a bit of hate, and rhetoric and incentives people to create pages where they can churn out inciting comments and conspiracy theories that can have a tremendously negative effect on someone’s mental health, their physical safety.”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric and Brooke Shields speak onstage at the 2024 SXSW conference. Picture: AFP

She called for systemic changes to the operation of social media platforms, and for a “cultural” change in the way people act.

“If you’re reading something terrible, terrible about a woman, why are you sharing it with your friends? Why are you choosing to put that out in the world?” she questioned.

During an explosive chat with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan broke down in tears as she revealed the extent of her mental health breakdown while she was pregnant.

Her husband Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, said that Meghan had told him she had been contemplating suicide because of her struggles with mental health, but that she didn’t want him to lose another woman in his life.

Prince Harry also accused the Royal Family of trying to “smear” Meghan and said the palace was at fault for making her “cry into her pillow” at night.

Harry and Meghan left the United Kingdom for the US in 2020 in an event dubbed Megxit.

Harry said he left to protect his family because there was no “possibility to keep them safe when they are on UK soil”.

Meghan herself has been subject of bullying allegations.

British journalist Valentine Low claimed in the book Courtiers: the Hidden Power Behind the Crown that Meghan allegedly “screamed” at a female staffer, leaving her “shaking” with fear — and prompting an intervention from Prince William.

Additionally, former royal aide Jason Knauf raised concerns about the way Meghan was treating junior staff.

The Palace investigated the claims but did not make its findings public.

Those accusations were denied by Meghan and the Sussexes published a 25-page report to refute the claims.

Originally published as Meghan reveals relentless ‘cruel’ abuse while she was pregnant