The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, did not find the recent “South Park” episode “The Worldwide Privacy Tour” amusing. The episode pokes fun at Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, for their decision to move to the United States to seek a more private life. The duchess is said to be upset and overwhelmed by the episode but refuses to watch it in its entirety.
There have been reports that Markle is annoyed with “South Park,” and one royal commentator went so far as to suggest that the episode could lead to a lawsuit. “Their legal team is casting an eye over the episode to see what is wrong, and what could be turned into something more sinister. This appears to be their course of action rather than laughing it off, enjoying the moment and showing the world that they get the joke,” royal reporter Neil Sean told Fox News.
In the “South Park episode,” an animated Meghan and Harry, based on the real-life Duke and Duchess of Sussex, embark on a global “we want privacy” tour, which is ironically launched on a spoof of “Good Morning America” called “Good Morning Canada.”
The episode provides some cultural comic relief in the aftermath of the couple’s real-life “worldwide privacy tour” to promote Prince Harry’s autobiography “Spare,” which “South Park” cleverly renamed “Waaagh,” as well as their new Netflix series, which consists of 6 straight hours of harsh criticism for the royal family.
It is not surprising that Harry and Meghan had an extreme reaction to being parodied. The couple has a history of retaliating against anyone critical of them. They previously sued the Daily Mail, and Meghan was personally involved in getting Piers Morgan fired from “Good Morning Britain.”
The issue of free speech in Britain, particularly for comedians, is a severe problem. Using snippets from House of Commons proceedings in a comedic or satirical context is reportedly illegal, which discourages British people from making fun of their leaders. The most significant threat to comedic free speech in Britain was the 2003 Communications Act, which outlines that sending or posting a “grossly offensive” or “indecent” message could result in punishment. With restrictions on free speech like this in Britain, it’s not surprising Harry doesn’t seem to understand the First Amendment, calling it “bonkers.”
Prince Harry Calls First Amendment ‘Bonkers,’ Slams Royal Family For ‘Genetic Pain And Suffering’ https://t.co/qtnwHCNPgM pic.twitter.com/rvhowHvU42
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) May 16, 2021
