# Harry and Meghan New York Car Chase.....Bullshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184 "2023-05-17T19:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/1 "2023-05-17T19:24:32Z")
[This is pinging my bullshit meter](https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/americas/harry-meghan-car-crash-intl/index.html). I mean, a two hour car chase through New York City involving multiple traffic violations and near miss car crashes and nobody notices? I’m thinking maybe a photographer followed these two drama queens for a little while, but that wouldn’t have garnered enough attention for the ex-royals, so suddenly it’s a scene from _Bullitt_ according to them. The fact that Harry’s mom died in a true occurrence of what these two are trying to describe makes the pair even more disgusting than they actually are. Or do you think this actually happened to Harry and Meghan the way they tell it? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/2 "2023-05-17T19:28:49Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > The fact that Harry’s mom died in a true occurrence of what these two are trying to describe makes the pair even more disgusting than they actually are. Just reading the article, I’m not seeing a single quote from Harry or Meghan, just other sources. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/3 "2023-05-17T19:32:01Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Just reading the article, I’m not seeing a single quote from Harry or Meghan, just other sources. It says their spokesperson is saying this, so I imagine the two of them have a say in this story as well. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/4 "2023-05-17T20:39:36Z")
Highly recommend not aiming your bullshit meter at meaningless celebrities, for fear of breakage or at least mis-calibration. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/5 "2023-05-17T20:43:22Z")
If it is indeed bullshit, [the NYPD and the mayor are in on it.](https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-prince-harry-car-chase-nypd-statement/) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/6 "2023-05-17T20:45:19Z")
> Harry’s spokesperson said: "Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi. > > "This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers. Other accounts describe them being followed but **not** at high speed. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/7 "2023-05-17T21:12:44Z")
Yeah, the NYPD says the photographers made the couple’s transport “challenging”, which has a far different meaning from the spokesperson’s use of the term “catastrophic”. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/8 "2023-05-17T22:18:59Z")
I’d cut them a little slack considering his mother was killed under similar circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/9 "2023-05-17T22:37:56Z")
2 questions: What kinda photos do the paparazzi hope or that couldn’t be defeated by heavily tinted iwindows? Do police aggressively ticket and heavily fine paparazzi for reckless driving? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/10 "2023-05-17T22:44:13Z")
Two minutes? Maybe. Two HOURS? I call BS. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/11 "2023-05-17T22:55:08Z")
What if they held a desperate, high speed, out of control, chase and the driver didn’t notice? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/12 "2023-05-17T23:01:08Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > What kinda photos do the paparazzi hope or that couldn’t be defeated by heavily tinted iwindows? The intent may well not be to take pictures of them while in the car; it’s more likely to follow them to their destination, making sure to not be shaken off by their driver or cut off in traffic, so that they can get that candid paparazzi photo once they leave the car. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/13 "2023-05-17T23:06:37Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > Or do you think this actually happened to Harry and Meghan the way they tell it? Just because you don’t like the two of them does not rule out paparazzi chasing them. The fact that just such a pursuit killed Harry’s mom just makes it worse. I don’t think they’re lying, although personal fears and past trauma might have made a shorter chase seem longer, which is an entirely human and understandable reaction that could happen to anyone. As noted - the mayor of New York City has spoken out against the behavior of the paparazzi in this case, which lends credibility to the accusations. According to _The New York Times_ (gift link below) they drove for about an hour trying to “shake” the paparazzi and when that did not work got a police escort to the 19th Precinct. Upon leaving the police precinct somewhat later the paparazzi again pursued them even though they were in a different vehicle and the police had already been involved. They wound up back at the precinct. The police had to block traffic in order to get the pursuing photographers to stop pursuing them. So yes, I’d say that was a serious problem and the whole business probably did take two hours. It likely wasn’t quite as serious as the Sussex’s spokesperson implied, but I could definitely see how the death of Princess Diana could lead to Harry becoming extremely upset. Gift link: > **[Prince Harry, Meghan, the Paparazzi and a Chaotic Night in Manhattan](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/nyregion/harry-meghan-car-chase.html?unlocked_article_code=yB2L7ZUQWH4UihHVRKPLSfYCNYcCkVvh7sxVsBDHdZCDvXYb_htCkwoknLnL06N_vtPXaZVHj2WO0o-gwfj_LIMFeCs9gwkG66aKHKPd1LK6GHAPeAGoFEJgYSnXDG_NR-eKH3Kl2zyuv9XDrPtupAAglVA4wWX37zZtgKk3QJubihhzxpYAXSW4o7zGeqVkpU7pKryHplGZDzj9_BQCQXeux0P8Z10EvmuSK-hGBxq_-Xj3dlCKUvk5SpbH9E-4bvf6CU1KmRKKg7Q97fYmfB-rOnY5mbwCWXnGmS9yeFbEli0CPp7hdD2WJBHsp-lKiBNF3nuVEtc6FdC-9n9ofZ8&smid=url-share)** > > The initial description of the episode in Midtown Manhattan recalled the chase that killed Harry’s mother, but the fuller picture was more complicated. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/14 "2023-05-17T23:10:31Z")
Just because the person driving their car didn’t notice the chase doesn’t mean it didn’t happen either. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/15 "2023-05-17T23:15:21Z")
At least some people think this might be BS: [https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2023/05/blind-item-1\_17.html](https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2023/05/blind-item-1_17.html) Quote from there: > Sometimes things go too far and then everyone realizes they have been played. The alliterate one and her puppet of a husband must have been taking Jussie Smollett lessons if they think anyone will believe their story. They do know there are a million cameras in the city right? **My take** : Probably not FAKE but embellished and exaggerated a lot ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/16 "2023-05-17T23:17:11Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > > Sometimes things go too far and then everyone realizes they have been played. The alliterate one and her puppet of a husband must have been taking Jussie Smollett lessons if they think anyone will believe their story. They do know there are a million cameras in the city right? That source impeaches itself with “alliterate one and her puppet of a husband”. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/17 "2023-05-17T23:43:17Z")
Paparazzi chased their car in NYC. Though called ‘a near catastrophic’ event by spokescritters there is no evidence of any catastrophe near or otherwise. Harry and Meghan’ once again successfully continued their career as professional celebrity victims. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/18 "2023-05-17T23:52:28Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I’d cut them a little slack considering his mother was killed under similar circumstances. I’m generally for giving slack. At this point they are basically private individuals and do not need to be treated like politicians. Also, there might have been a chase before the taxi ride that has been the focus of some news stories. However, his mother’s death was carefully investigated, and was not really a similar circumstance: [Wikipedia — Death of Diana, Princess of Wales](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales) > [@](#): > > In 1999, a French investigation found that [driver] Paul lost control of the vehicle at high speed while intoxicated by alcohol and under the effects of prescription drugs, and concluded that he was solely responsible for the crash. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/19 "2023-05-18T08:57:01Z")
Sure, but the paparazzi in pursuit did not help the situation and Harry grew up being told the press killed his mother. Harry could be reacting emotionally rather than rationally to the situation. In fact, given the effect his mother’s death had on him as a child, he almost certainly is. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/20 "2023-05-18T12:16:06Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I’m generally for giving slack. At this point they are basically private individuals and do not need to be treated like politicians. “Harry and Meghan appeared Tuesday night at the Ziegfeld Ballroom as Meghan [received the Ms. Foundation’s Women of Vision Award](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/meghan-markle-steps-gold-receive-award-new-york-99379027) at the foundation’s annual gala.” Really - can’t people attend galas in peace and privacy anymore? > **[Police sources weigh in on Harry and Meghan's 'car chase' in NYC](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/harry-meghan-pursued-highly-aggressive-paparazzi-car-chase-99391446)** > > The duke and duchess' spokesperson said the "car chase" lasted two hours. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184.md?page=2)