When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left England for Canada before ending up in Santa Barbara, CA, they cited privacy as one of the reasons they were doing so. Perhaps that’s why many have been confused by their non-stop public relations blitz that has included sitting down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, releasing the six-part ‘docuseries’ Harry & Meghan on Netflix, and publishing Spare, a 400-plus page memoir, in an effort to tell their ‘truth.’
So, how has that PR tour been going? If the most recent episode of South Park is any indication, we’d say not very well. On Thursday’s program, Megyn and National Review’s Jim Geraghty and Michael Brendan Dougherty reacted to the episode that put the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on blast.
South Park Takes on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In an episode of South Park titled “Worldwide Privacy Tour,” the fictional Prince and Princess Canada (very clearly modeled after Prince Harry and Markle) go on TV shows and attend various events demanding privacy.
During one scene, the pair appear on a show called Morning Canada to talk about the prince’s new autobiography, which is cheekily named Waaagh. They march onto the set holding signs that state “We Want Privacy” and “Stop Looking At Us.”
“You’ve lived a life with the royal family, you’ve had everything handed to you, but you say your life has been hard and now you’ve written all about it in your new book Waaagh,” the host notes. The prince attempts to start answering the question, but his wife quickly jumps in. “I was like, ‘You should write a book ’cause your family’s like stupid and then so are, like, journalists,’” she says.
The host points out the hypocrisy of someone who hates journalists writing a book about their family and, later in the interview, addresses the irony that the pair claim to want privacy. By the end of the conversation, the royals decide they’ve had enough of Canada and announce that they are leaving.
PR Tour Gone Wrong
One has to assume that being excoriated by South Park was not what Prince Harry and Markle had in mind when they started their latest media blitz late last year. “You know it’s bad when your PR tour lands you a great skit on South Park,” Megyn quipped. “I feel this is a pronouncement that they have jumped the shark, and they are not beloved.”
In fact, they might be one of the few things that Americans agree on these days. “There was a moment where it seemed like Harry and Meghan were going to become the latest thing that Americans polarize over where all conservatives are critical of them and so all liberals have to embrace them,” Dougherty noted. “But now it’s like they’re just so cringe-worthy and so unsympathetic in a fundamental way that they’re of no use to anyone but their overpaid publicists and grifters.”
What’s Next for the Former Royals?
With that in mind, Megyn couldn’t help but wonder about what’s next for the pair that are rumored to have political aspirations. “Is it over for them in terms of their hopes for being the next Barack and Michelle Obama or political leaders or influencers here in the United States,” she asked. “[Markle’s] hopes of running for president are all but dashed… that’s not happening.” Her reasoning: “When South Park turns on you, there’s no recovering.”
At this point, Geraghty believes the former royals have worn out their welcome. “I do see them as roughly akin to the 1980s WarGames because they desperately want attention – even if you denounce them, you’re giving them the attention that they want,” he explained. “I am pleased to see that more and more of the public… is coming around to my position.”
Ultimately, Geraghty couldn’t help but see the historical irony of America’s present-day fascination with royals. “This country was founded by men who were willing to shoot other people in the head so that they wouldn’t have to care what the British Royal Family was doing,” he joked.
You can check out Megyn’s full show with Geraghty and Dougherty by tuning in to episode 495 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.