Meghan Markle awkwardly reacts to Brooke Sheilds 'prostitute' comment at SXSW

08 March 2024 , 21:09

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The two actresses came together at SXSW Festival today

Meghan Markle delivered an empowering speech at South by Southwest Festival in Texas on Friday, which came as Prince Harry, the doting husband, supported his wife from the front row.

But while partaking in a discussion with the esteemed panel, Meghan awkwardly reacted to one of the fellow participant's stories. The Duchess of Sussex took part in a keynote speech titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen.

Also joining Meghan on the panel were journalist Katie Couric, actress Brooke Shields and diversity equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen. While chatting on the panel, Meghan touched on how she advocated for Procter & Gamble to change a dishwashing soap advert when she was 11 due to the sexist connotations its television advert had.

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Meghan Markle spoke at the SXSW Festival key note speech today (FilmMagic)

Brooke made a comment about how she played a sex worker in a movie when she was 11 years of age (AFP via Getty Images)

But after sharing her story, Meghan appeared a little taken aback when panellist Brooke Shields joked: "When I was 11, I was playing a prostitute." When Brooke was a youngster, she starred as the daughter of a prostitute in the 1978 film Pretty Baby, which was based on a true story.

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Meghan could be heard making an inaudible mumble before laughing as she said: "A little different," with a huge grin on her face as she composed herself quickly before continuing with the discussion.

Brooke appeared on the panel alongside Meghan (SXSW)

During the discussion with the esteemed panel, Meghan spoke about the online bullying she has received over the years. She noted how this was especially prevalent while she was pregnant with her two children - Archie, four, and Lilibet, two. "The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online, was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili," Meghan said, also revealing the sweet nickname she has for her youngest.

She went on: "And you just think about that and really wrap your head around what people would be so hateful. It's not catty, it's cruel, why you would do that? Certainly when you're pregnant and you have a newborn," she went on, touching on how it's a tender and sacred time.

Mollie Quirk