Harry and Meghan’s US support ‘collapses’ after Spare ‘attacked the royals so cruelly’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s popularity is “collapsing” in the United States as they become “figures of fun”, an expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were ruthlessly mocked in an episode of South Park, entitled The Worldwide Privacy Tour, which saw the pair reimagined as the Prince and Princess of Canada holding placards saying “We want our privacy!!” and “Stop looking at us!”
And while the controversial cartoon has made a splash online, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes the episode itself is the least of their worries.
READ MORE: Harry and Meghan should be ‘flattered’ at being ‘butt of the joke’ in South Park
“It’s not a matter of the episode being damaging,” Fitzwilliams told the Daily Star.
(Image: Getty Images)
“If a recent Newsweek poll is true, their support has collapsed in the United States after the publication of Spare, Harry’s memoir, which, together with interviews he did when it was published, attacked the royal family so cruelly.
“There was plenty to laugh at in Spare, Harry’s penile frostbite, his losing his virginity in unusual circumstances and describing the effects drugs had on him making him the object of countless jokes.
“The Sussexes may find they are becoming figures of fun. It’s their own fault, because of their narcissistic and selfish behaviour. That won’t help their brand.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Harry’s memoir sent shockwaves through the palace and the British public alike when it hit shelves on January 10, containing dozens of allegations against his family and revealing intimate secrets about his drug-taking past, losing his virginity, and seemingly countless confrontations with his brother, Prince William.
Adding to the mountain of claims were the promotional interviews the prince took part in with the likes of ITV and Good Morning America prior to and after the book’s release.
(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In one, presenter Michael Strahan asks: “There’s a quote in the book where you refer to your brother as your ‘beloved brother and archnemesis.’ Strong words. What did you mean by that?”
In response, Harry says, “There has always been this competition between us, weirdly. I think it really plays into or always played by the “heir/spare.’”
And the tell-all interviews seem to be proving a pretty poor strategy, if polls are to be believed.
A Newsweek poll on February 19 found Harry was liked by just 32% of respondents and disliked by 42% of those polled, giving him a net approval rating of -10.
Meanwhile, Meghan was liked by 27% of Americans and disliked by 44%, amounting to a net rating -17.
And much like the Duke and Duchess themselves, Harry’s book wasn’t safe from South Park scrutiny – the fictional Prince of Canada had his own autobiography, Waaagh, which bore an eery resemblance to Harry’s book.
(Image: Comedy Central)
Rumours have swirled since the episode’s release last week (February 15) that the couple could sue the makers of the controversial cartoon after a royal commentator claimed legal teams were “casting an eye” on the book.
However, a spokesperson has since denied the claims, calling them “baseless and boring”.
“The prospect of them suing South Park is a rumour which the Sussexes have denied,” Fitzwilliams told the Star.
“However the episode will make a lot of people laugh at a couple whose behaviour has been so ruthlessly controlling and so self-centered.”
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