Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, relocated to California last year to live a more independent life.
Prince Harry stated on Tuesday that the term “Megxit,” used by the British press to describe his and his wife Meghan’s decision to quit from their royal duties, was misogynistic.
Harry was speaking in a panel discussion called The Internet Lie Machine, which was organized by the US technology and culture magazine WIRED.
He described the term as an example of online and media hatred.
“Maybe people know this and maybe they don’t, but the term Megxit was or is a misogynistic term, and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew into mainstream media. But it began with a troll,” Harry said. He did not elaborate.
Last year, Harry and Meghan, formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, relocated to California to live a more independent life. Harry has stated that the racist treatment of Meghan, whose mother is black and father is white, by the British tabloid media was one of the reasons for their departure.
According to a study published in October by the social media analytics service Bot Sentinel, 83 Twitter accounts were responsible for 70% of the hateful speech and misinformation aimed towards Meghan and Harry.
Referring to the study, Harry said on Tuesday that “perhaps the most disturbing part of this was the number of British journalists who were interacting with them and amplifying the lies. But they regurgitate these lies as truth.”
Since then, Harry and Meghan have campaigned against social media negativity, which they claim is damaging people’s mental health.
Harry referred to misinformation as a “global humanitarian crisis” on Tuesday.
Harry also mentioned his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris while being chased by a paparazzi.
“I know the story all too well. I lost my mother to this self-manufactured rabidness, and obviously, I’m determined not to lose the mother to my children to the same thing.”
