Some stories come with a built-in hazard. Whenever I write anything that pushes back on the prevailing view of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, I get branded a Sussex propagandist. For the record, I’ve criticized their press strategy plenty, and I will again.
But as the story of Meghan’s estrangement from her father has unfolded this week, the pile-on has run ahead of the facts. A woman who appears to have cut off her father over allegations of child abuse has spent eight years being called heartless for it. That deserves a second look. So below, I compare how she was judged with how the palace handled one of its own, and I’ve included the fair criticisms of her too, because there are some.
One disclosure, since it’s relevant: at People in 2019, I oversaw the cover story in which Meghan’s friends defended her, the piece Thomas Markle cited when he handed her private letter to the Mail on Sunday. Read what follows with that in mind. Also this week: I dug into Selma Blair’s legal case with a former federal prosecutor, who explains what happens next. I hope you get something out of it. Have a great week.
