What caused the conversation in the media world?
He detonated a bomb. Not only in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom. It was a carefully planned interview with very explosive findings. Nowadays, whenever a high-ranking person starts saying something about racism and an accusation is made, everyone has to take it extremely seriously.
I was surprised at how a priori the British media, including the BBC, made a statement from Meghan Markle. For example, on the BBC website, her claims have the word “revelation”. Instead of there being an “accusation” – an accusation or an “allegation” – a statement. For most of the media, the information provided in the interview is true. But we’re not that far, these are things that Harry and Meghan must have known they couldn’t verify.
So is the media impartial in this case, or are they leaning to one side or the other?
The British media approach the interview according to whether Meghan Markle is either a fan or not a long-term fan. This, of course, mainly concerns the British tabloids. From the beginning of the interview, he turns against the Duchess of Sussex. But I agree that many aspects of the functioning of the British royal family are completely incompatible with the 21st century. And if Harry and Meghan’s interview somehow contributes to some of those ultra-conservative and rigid things getting blown up and moving on, it’ll be fine, of course.
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If journalists continue to address the allegations, how should they approach them?
Now the media has to wait and should tread on the topic extremely carefully and work only with bare facts. And there are an awfully small number of them. From the beginning, it was a collection of reactions, and unless the media stands and falls on reporting on the British royal family and its members, its role is essentially over.
Media interest in what fell in the interview was huge around the world. Was this to be expected?
Dalo. The price tag, which is hung for an interview, is also very characteristic. CBS Television had to pay seven to nine million dollars to Oprah Winfrey to get the interview. Harry and Meghan say they didn’t get anything for the interview. But for them, it’s a big investment in their personal PR and a huge advertisement for their future paid projects, because they have a contract with Netflix or Spotify.
In your opinion, did they decide, precisely because of the aforementioned advertisement, that they chose Oprah Winfrey from all the moderators in the world?
It was a bet that the conversation would resonate globally. Both in the United States, which is the site of Meghan and Harry’s activities, and in the United Kingdom, Prince Harry’s homeland.
There has also been criticism from presenter Winfrey. That she wasn’t well prepared, that she didn’t ask some questions. How do you think the interview was conducted?
Regarding Oprah Winfrey’s performance, I was surprised by the very positive reactions on the American side of the Atlantic, because it occurred to me that the conversation lacked a more critical dimension. There were passages in it that called for an additional question, and I would describe some parts of the conversation as acting etudes.
Not only by a professional actress, the Duchess of Sussex, but also by Oprah Winfrey. When it came to the alleged racist incident about little Archie’s future skin color, the presenter’s “What?” Really had something to do with acting, not journalism.
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At what other moments do you think the moderator should have asked?
For example, in a passage about mental health or members of the royal family. There was no counter-opinion. Or should the moderator at least ask: Is this your point of view? Do we really know that this was the case?
Oprah Winfrey claims that the couple did not know her questions in advance. Do you believe that?
I don’t think Harry and Meghan knew the exact nature of the questions. But I dare say that since the conversation had been going on for a long time, that Oprah Winfrey had been looking for him before their wedding, at least the circuits had been arranged. This is often the case with such significant conversations. And I think there was a mutual agreement on what Oprah wouldn’t ask.
One week after the interview aired, well-known presenter Pierce Morgan ended up on the British morning ITV show because he described Meghan as a liar. Did that surprise you?
Pierce Morgan is the type of person who has long gushed that he didn’t like Meghan Markle. He wasn’t paying attention to his mouth, his reaction was exaggerated. And not only what he said about the Duchess the day after the broadcast, but also what happened the day after he fled the live broadcast. But the second dimension is that, in my opinion, the famous moderator is right that he has a sacred right to say his own opinion.
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