And the conduct complained of did not occur at the gala. It’s based on the idea that the press can follow them wherever they go, and it’s their own fault.
The amount of victim-blaming in this thread is astounding, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Who was a victim here, and what were they a victim of?
For sure that whole emotional scene that is perpetually rehashed anytime there’s a camera in the vicinity of the California couple is way past it’s expiration date.
It’s time people put that narrative to rest.
Megan is not Diana. The circumstances of Diana’s life and death do not correlate with Megan’s. And who fucking gives a rip about the tabloids they should not. Yet it’s strange to me to see on this board the same folks who airily toss aside any reporting or cite from a tabloid as trash, seem to take to heart the trashy reporting on H&M. 
I’m not sure at this point this is a matter of ambition. They seem more like codependent paranoids.
I generally give Harry a pass on minor indiscretions or exaggerations. I’ve never been a Royal (or ex-Royal)-watcher, but from what I have read of Harry, he seems like a good egg—one of the good Royals.
Sure, he was born into extreme luxury, but when you’re born and raised into it, it’s simply your normal. He didn’t ask to be born a Royal, and he seems to have done a good job of distancing himself from the buffoonery of Royal life. As a Royal, his CV is admirable and he seems like the kind of guy you could down a few pints with at the pub and take the piss out in good humor.
Having your mother killed when you are young as a result of being pursued by rabid paparazzi can certainly make you hypersensitive to them. And be scared of them. And hate them. I can certainly understand having your mind turn being pursued by them into something more dangerous than it really was.
I say, give him a pass.
Nobody said nothing out of the ordinary happened. But I’d really like to know which unnamed law enforcement source was there to see scooters and bikes zooming down the sidewalk and did nothing about it.
Look, I don’t necessarily believe what the photographers said ( that one of Harry’s escort vehicles was driving recklessly) , but neither do I necessarily believe what the spokespeople and security people said.
What I do believe is that if there were a dozen vehicles chasing them and jumping curbs and running red lights for even 10 minutes, some video would have surfaced. Bikes and scooters on the sidewalk , not so much because how would passers-by distinguish paparazzi riding bikes and scooters on the sidewalk from the every day sight of food delivery people riding on the sidewalk.
OK, I’ll play. Harry and Meghan were the victims, along with a couple of police officers who were nearly harmed, according to the law enforcement source quoted above. Harry and Meghan were victims of harassment (not using that term in a legal sense) by overly aggressive paparazzi. Here’s why I think that:
From the CNN article posted above:
“Thomas Buda, a private security contractor who was hired to help Harry and Meghan, said that … the paparazzi wanted to find out where the couple was staying in the city and that vehicles ran red lights while pedestrians were in crosswalks, drove into oncoming traffic and drove the wrong way down one-way streets.”
Sounds overly aggressive to me.
From the NY Times:
Around 9:50 p.m., the family left the theater to return to the Upper East Side, where they were staying, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the matter.
Concerned that paparazzi who had gathered outside the theater would follow them, they left in a private security vehicle with a police escort, the official said. They were driven around for about an hour, traveling up the F.D.R. Drive at one point, but they could not shake the paparazzi.
The police then escorted them to the 19th police precinct on the Upper East Side, the official said.
When you have to get escorted by police to a police station to shake the people following you after an hour of trying to lose them, I count that as unreasonable harassment. And it is entirely reasonable of them not to want all these jackals finding out where they are staying.
After they tried (and failed) to leave unnoticed in a cab - they literally had to change cars like a spy thriller to try to evade these people - the police then had to block traffic to prevent any cars from following them. This is according to the NY Times, again. That happened at 11:30pm, 1 hour and 40 minutes after they left the theatre and initially tried to go home.
But sure, it’s their fault and they’re making it all up.
They should have just led the paparazzi to their friend’s house so they could camp out and peep in the windows all night. You know, control the narrative.
How many wealthy and well connected people live on the Upper Eastside? I’d say those that do can live quiet private lives while entertaining or hosting other wealthy and well connected people. Who don’t need a security detail and a cop escort just to make it to the building.
What a match those two are. Deserve each other.
That’s a rather odd standard.
How much money would anybody pay for a photo of any of those wealthy and well connected people? And if the answer is non-zero, do they also pay for security details?
What followed was a quote from someone employed by Harry and Meghan. The NY Times says they left the theater with a police escort. If anyone following them ran red lights while pedestrians were in crosswalks, drove into oncoming traffic, or drove the wrong way down one-way streets why weren’t they arrested or at least ticketed by the police?
And finally, why do they have the right to travel on the public streets without being observed by others? You and I don’t have that right. Maybe all of us should have that right, but why would you start with people who live off their celebrity status?
Maybe because they wanted to stay with the people they were escorting instead of giving out tickets?
“Observed.” That’s cute.
You mean, why didn’t their police escort stop escorting them so they could give out traffic tickets instead?
You’re serious. You think a cop is going to stop escorting the child of our closest ally’s head of state to give out a ticket.
Posting over the top reactions to Megan is a strong virtue signal. It’s certainly aligned with political beliefs. Basically a one to one overlap with the same people who blowup crates of bud light etc.
That’s my question. Were they headed to some secret destination? What was the point of the 1-hr attempt to lose the paps while adhering to all traffic laws?
Not blaming any “victim”. But I’m trying to figure out the mindset of anyone who is 20 minutes from home, but would rather ride around in a car for an hour before getting there, just to avoid having a pic snapped of them as they walk from car to destination. This is after they posed for any number of photos at the gala. They are all dressed/made up, not like running out for mile in their sweats, or shitfaced at 4 a.m. And, if they are that concerned about a car-to-door photo, they could make the effort to stay where there is restricted access - such as an underground garage w/ security.
I make NO defense of paps. I would support great restriction of their actions. I’m just wondering how the description makes any sense.
Agreed. There are many, many famous people that the paparazzi hound. I don’t hear news stories about every time Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt drive home from dinner. Why the big damn secret about where they are staying? Presumptively, its either a private home or upscale hotel that will prevent any unwanted guests from coming in.
AIUI they were not objecting to the press/cameras at the gala, they were objecting because the paparazzi were following them home which, in my mind, was completely uncalled for and intrusion into the couples’ privacy. And yes, even public figures do have some right to some privacy.
Megan was onstage last night there’s lots and lots of pictures of her on that stage. But get her and H in a car and Zowie they can’t stand to be recognized all of a sudden. Instead they escalate the situation to near catastrophic proportions.
So what if people see where they went home to? What’s gonna happen, the hordes will storm the castle?
NYC police have 36,000 officers and radios. Surely there was a way to deal with crimes occurring their presence.
That’s what it is. They’re out in public. They have no special right not to be seen.