David Bridges
It looks like Piers Morgan isn’t Meghan Markle’s only critic anymore since the release of her new Spotify podcast series entitled Archetypes on Tuesday. She’s gained equally as many – if not more – haters as she has fans. From celebs to news presenters, and most importantly, SA tweeps who had #VoetsekMeghan trending on Twitter.
Also read: Here’s the latest on the Meghan Markle – Piers Morgan bad blood saga
During an interview with tennis ace, Serena Williams, in the first official episode of the long-awaited Spotify podcast, Meghan spoke about the double standards women face when being labelled ‘ambitious’ and revealed her traumatic experience of having to continue with official engagements after a fire in the nursery broke out during the first day of her royal tour in South Africa with Prince Harry and her then four-month-old son.
A vast number of news outlets have reported that Meghan allegedly twisted and exaggerated some of her facts, stating that other members present during the trip seem to recall a very different version to the story that Meghan presented in the episode.
In a Sunrise News Youtube video, a UK Sunrise editor who was also on the South African royal tour trip states that while there’s no recollection of any fire, there was a heater that was smoking. That heater however, was already unplugged but dealt with regardless.
Additionally, Archie was not in the room when the heater started to smoke. Nonetheless, the Duchess of Sussex was left “shaken” and “in tears” after the incident, she says in the podcast. She and her family were then subsequently moved to a different accommodation as the tour continued.
According to the Daily Mail, sources have defended Meghan over the incident, saying it would have understandably affected any parent.
There would of course be an expectation for Meghan and Harry to continue with official engagements given the months of planning that went into the tour. However at the end of the day, they would have had the final say on continuing, as senior royals.
The editor in the Sunrise YouTube video also says that if in fact there was a fire, he believes no one would have forced her to continue with any official engagements.
Additionally, a source told the Daily Telegraph that any announcement about Archie being at risk of fire – or having to cancel an event where they spoke to people about Apartheid – would have overshadowed the couple’s work.
Closer to home, South African tweeps have not taken too kindly to Meghan’s exaggerations, expressing their sense of betrayal and offence on Twitter.
South Africa 🇿🇦… You’re amazing – the #VoetsekMeghan tag is brilliant. She’s single handedly offending the world country by country! Shame really when most of her fanbase is in SA…oopsie! 😂
— Fi 🌸🐾 (@Fibutton) August 26, 2022
Following the hashtags #MeghanMarkleIsALiar and #MeghanMarkleIsANarcissist that has been trending in the US and UK, South African tweeps brought up a chair and proceeded to takeover the entire discussion.
#VoetsekMeghanMarkle – an offensive term meaning ‘go away’ – rose to Twitter’s number one spot on the trend list and even featured on some Twitter platforms internationally.
According to SA Tweep investigations, this are why Meghan Markle’s story has left a sour taste in our nation’s mouth:
— NarcExposer (@OW94537118) August 25, 2022
Insulted us, Auntie. Said Archie was carried in a mudsling. Referred to the colonial mansion of the British High Commissioner that could accommodate 30 of the Nyanga families she gave a speech to as a housing unit. Lied about a fire when an oil heater was just heating up. #Tsek
— Shades of Grey (@XennialEyeRoll) August 26, 2022
And apparently in South Africa we have no smoke detectors. The baby was never hurt… but almost. How we never heard of this fire and what what… gurl purlease. #VoetsekMeghan
— Justine Fairground ✨❤️ (@JustineFairgro1) August 26, 2022
I am also from South Africa and was also confused about her ” mud cloth” , like really she should at least get her facts right #VoetsekMeghan
— lizette greeff (@lizette_greeff) August 26, 2022
I don’t care abt the fire incident but the statement: coming to South Africa was the bravest thing she has done. Speaks volumes. As if she was coming to some apocalypse state or something. She should elaborate on wt was brave about it, is it because is in Africa?#VoetsekMeghan
— Karen_The_Afrikaaner (@sanah2_0) August 26, 2022
So after the supposed fire , Meghan could have taken Archie to their engagements in South Africa. Catherine did it in Australia and New Zealand without issue. Why could she not? You know why?Because then it would no longer be just about her! #VoetsekMeghan pic.twitter.com/QcVW3qLjZz
— LouLou LA -Flying the Flag for our British Royals (@LouLouLa10) August 27, 2022
Some – patriotic, one might argue – South African tweeps didn’t even need much background information or deeper contexts to share the collective sentiment towards Meghan’s offensive and derogatory expressions.
#VoetsekMeghan is the most south african trend ever lmao. I duno what Meghan Markle did but if my people says she must voetsek then she must voetsek with immediate effect 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/v2n0kCNOBS
— ♡ Miché (@mishakez) August 26, 2022
On his YouTube channel, commentator Dr Todd Grande said the topics of the podcast was chosen by the former actress “deliberately in order for her to even the score” against the Royal Family and anyone who criticised her.
If that’s the case, we wonder if South African Twitter will be making a guest appearance on one of her next podcast episodes.
Picture: Cape {town} Etc
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Maya Kensington
Tessa Everly
