Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior working members, they have been the focus of controversy and criticism. Their sensational interview with Oprah in 2021 revealed the racist attitudes they faced as working members and cemented their status as rule-breakers in the royal family.
But it's not just the two of them playing this game. Comedian Simon Brockin, who is now clearly on the opposite side of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, caused an uproar with jokes about the couple during his recent comedy gig. In a ** uploaded to the Internet, Brogin criticized the interview between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and supported Prince Andrew in a light-hearted way, which angered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's loyal supporters.
Since the beginning of their fairytale romance, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have amassed a passionate following that has quickly rallied against what they consider to be Simon Brockin's "cheap jokes" that damage the couple. Others, however, believe that comedy should be able to mock all sides, even the couple who betrayed the "royal family".
So, what kind of line should be drawn between light-hearted ridicule and mockery?When it comes to comedy, are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle really the ones you can't joke about?Or does their royal status make them the object of fair play like other public figures?
Let's break down the details of why fans of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are so angry about this. In the controversial comedy show, Brockin criticized Prince Harry for describing a date with Meghan Markle as "the night we detonated the grenade." The comedian then went on to say that he was "actually more willing to support Prince Andrew" than Prince Andrew compared to Prince Harry.
For those who don't know, it must be said that Prince Andrew is accused of committing crimes against Virginia Giffrey in 2019 during Epstein's Circle of Epstein, who "committed suicide in fear of crime," when Giffrey was a minor. While Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing, he has been widely criticized for not expressing remorse for his friendship with Epstein in a disastrous BBC Evening News interview.
Therefore, mentioning Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, Meghan in the same sentence is considered very inappropriate and cruel. Comparing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to those accused of being involved in aggravated crimes is seen as ** and cruel. On Twitter, fans referred to Brockin's joke as "cheap" and said it was inappropriate to put Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a par with Prince Andrew under such serious allegations.
Many also pointed out that Meghan faces cyber attacks and death threats almost daily, and they believe that exacerbating such bad rhetoric is crossing an important line. As one disgruntled fan argued: "You know the hatred they've received has already led to death threats against Meghan, so why exacerbate it?."”
However, there are also those who hold a different view. Advocates of free speech believe that comedy has no holy object and that all public figures, even royalty, should be subject to easy ridicule and imitation. They consider it disingenuous to compare a minor joke to **abuse.
As one Twitter user countered, "Comedy often pushes boundaries and makes people laugh and think." Equating a minor joke with cyber abuse is disingenuous. ”
For these defenders of the freedom of comedy, laughter should trump any offense that may arise, especially for such an informal comedy show that is not a personal attack.
So, who's right?Are those fans who just want to enjoy the laughter, or those who are staunchly supportive of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, determined to protect them from any remarks deemed offensive?
As with many debates about comedy versus "** culture," rational people disagree on where to define humor or not.
After all, while Brockin's joke about Andrew being on a par with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may seem a bit offensive to some, his overall joke about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seems rather mild and in the spirit of comedy – mocking the royal family's lavish life and rebellious attitudes rather than maliciously mocking them. And if we're really going to be consistent, the same jokes about Prince William and Kate Middleton shouldn't be curtailed either, from a free speech perspective.
Context, on the other hand, is key. Considering Andrew's serious issues and rumours of ongoing mental health issues related to abuse, Meghan's fans have made more sensitive points. Many believe that jokes involving direct threats or criminal misconduct have crossed the line of many people.
Ultimately, there are good reasons on both sides, and there is no clear consensus on the extent to which a line should be drawn when humor involving public figures should be drawn. Perhaps the healthiest approach is to make fun lightly when possible, but avoid mentioning more serious things, and accept that not all jokes will cater perfectly to all audiences.
Comedians have to make a trade-off between offending the few and pleasing the majority, while fans can become more cheeky with mild parodies with no intent to harm directly. Whether you're wearing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's scarlet outfit or proudly waving the Windsor flag, the ability to laugh together and respectfully express dissent may be the best tip to enjoying royal humor.
Ultimately, this confusion is more a reflection of our polarizing debates than the royals themselves. So to control these reactions, the supporters of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the die-hards of Windsor are the same. A little less resentment on both sides, a little more royal banter, and perhaps in the near future we can even find humor in the dukes and duchesses of our opinion.