09 March 2024 , 10:37
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Meghan Markle appeared on stage during the keynote event of the SXSW Festival in Texas where she addressed important issues including the "toxic" trolling she received while she and Prince Harry were still senior royals.
The Duchess of Sussex got emotional as she discussed her two pregnancies and highlighted the "cruel bullying and abuse" she and her husband faced on social media. Meghan appeared on stage alongside journalist Katie Couric, actress Brooke Shields and diversity equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen.
Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast, moderated the event's opening keynote, titled 'Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen'. But social media users pointed out two awkward moments during the event - Meghan's reaction to a joke made by Shields and what looked like a hug snub.
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Prince Harry was in the audience at the event (Getty Images)'Prostitute' comment
While on stage, Meghan shared a story about how she took action over a commercial she felt was sexist when she was just 11 years old. She explained: "I was about 11 years old and I had seen a commercial on TV for a dishwashing liquid that said 'women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.
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"The boys in my class at the time said 'yeah, that's where women belong, in the kitchen' - and at 11 I just found that infuriating. I wrote lots of letters and put pen to paper and they ended up changing the commercial to 'people all over America.'
She added: "It's funny to look back at it now because that was before social media where you had a reach that was so much greater. It was just an 11-year-old with pen and paper.
"But it just goes to show that if you know that there is something wrong and you are using your voice to advocate in the direction of what is right that can really land and resonate and make a huge change for a lot of people. Your voice is not small, it just needs to be heard."
Shields jokingly said: "When I was 11, I was playing a prostitute. I wish I had known you." 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.
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.
Meghan spoke about important topics including mental health and social media (Getty Images)Awkward hug 'snub'
Another awkward moment social media users pointed out happened just before the debate. Meghan seemingly went in for a hug with the moderator before it was "denied". Responding and reacting to the clip, one person said it was "very telling", while another said it was a "smooth block". A third then said: "She's really pretty good at recovering: hugs rebuffed, grabbing for a microphone."
A fourth added: "She still hasn't realised that just because she is a 'hugger', many others are not. And many only hug people they know and like." While someone else said she needs to "get over the hug thing".
But many X users stuck up for the Duchess amid her alleged snub, with one defending Meghan when they penned: "You know it's international women’s day today. Maybe take a break from being a being bully to a woman you don’t even know."
Meghan was seemingly snubbed when she was 'denied' a hug, according to critics (SXSW/YOUTUBE)
Some people praised Meghan for her reaction (SXSW/YOUTUBE)Another said: "No she doesn't [get denied a hug], you're really clutching at straws now. As you can see Meghan just puts a hand on her shoulder!" While a third said: "How positively she had handled the situation."
The Duchess previously described herself as "a hugger" when describing the first time she met Catherine, Prince William's wife. Speaking in episode two of the six-part Harry & Meghan Netflix, Meghan explained: "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.
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"I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go 'You can relax now', but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me."