Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, did a live interview on British television discussing his daughter and their relationship. He apologized for lying about speaking with the press saying he’s apologized “at least a hundred times.” People are calling him toxic and manipulative for the things he’s said.
Thomas Markle’s Interview
In the sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle spoke about how her father lied to her when she asked him if he had spoken to the press.
Thomas Markle told Good Morning Britain that he hadn’t heard from Meghan or Harry. He then goes on to say, “when they say I’m taking advantage of the press, basically what I do is, I do a story for the press. If I don’t hear from them in 30 days, then I do another story for the press.”
He discusses the staged photos he released before Meghan and Harry’s wedding and releasing part of the letter Meghan sent him to the press.
Markle said that he regretted his actions. “I wish I hadn’t done the whole thing, but here’s the other side of this coin: It’s like, no one took any time to protect any member of our family. We were attacked. Nobody was there to care for us,” he stated.
When he was asked about Meghan’s interview when she talked about the racism that she experienced and the questions about her son Archie’s skin color, Markle seemed to dismiss the idea of it being racist. “It could have been just a stupid question from someone, someone who doesn’t understand, you know.” He continued, “A black person marries a white person. What do you get? You never know, but you get a baby.”
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He said that he hadn’t spoken to his daughter in about four years and wants to be able to meet his grandson Archie. Meghan and Harry live about 70 miles from Thomas Markle now. He expressed that he would really like to get together.
He concluded the interview by apologizing to Meghan again.
“I apologized for it as many times I possibly can. However, I love my daughter very much. Had I known she was having psychological problems, I would have been there for her. Biggest problem here is she’s pretty much ghosted all of her family on her mother’s side and on my side. She really had no one to reach out to. She would have had us if she kept us.”
Internet Backlash
The things that Thomas Markle stated really angered people. Many people tweeted out their frustration with him. The statement that really stuck out to people was saying if he didn’t hear from his daughter after thirty days he will go to the press. Markle was called manipulative and toxic.
It disgusted people that a father would do the things that he’s done to his own daughter. Some people even related their own experiences with family members to the situation with Thomas.
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My mother hasn’t spoke to her dad since she was 21. We were talking today about how absolutely furious she would be if her estranged father was given the platform Thomas Markle has. It’s emotional abuse. https://t.co/PMLWasMChD
— Lydia Stephens (@Lydiarosesteph) March 8, 2021
Thomas markle: “I don’t think Britain’s racist. I don’t think the royal family is racist” man who’s never met the royal family nor stepped foot in Britain. This is hilarious. Jokes are writing themselves.
— 2TUN (@2tunnn) March 9, 2021
This is BLACKMAIL
Thomas Markle’s threat to continue to go to the press every 30 days – after having sold her letter previously
He’s clearly not well & ITV’s commitment to mental health takes another hit following Piers Morgan’s comments on #Meghan
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) March 9, 2021
While Thomas Markle is happy to turn up at the opening of a fridge door so he can trash his daughter let's give thanks to Meghan's mum Doria Ragland who has behaved impeccably since she started dating Harry ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/fewckBBIa4
— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) March 9, 2021
Thomas Markle. A constant reminder that you really can’t choose your family.
— Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) March 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/Mario_Falcone/status/1369207693370613760?s=20
https://twitter.com/Mancunian_Mum/status/1369028967248912389?s=20
Why does Thomas Markle have so much to say to the press all over the world, ALL the time, yet the Duchess of Sussex’s mother has not said one ???????? word ????????
If my dad went on international television to sell a story on me, I would NEVER talk to him again.#GMB #MeghanandHarryonOprah
— Funmi Olutoye (@FunmiOlutoye) March 9, 2021
Thomas Markle’s History Of Drama
Weeks before Markle’s wedding, pictures of her dad were all over the place. There were pictures of him trying on tuxedos for his daughter’s wedding, reading British tourism books, and looking up pictures of Meghan and Harry online. He looked so excited about the wedding but it came out that the pictures were staged.
Her father claimed that the press had spoken to him about the pictures and he thought it was a good idea. He wanted to look better. After that, Thomas Markle told the press that he wasn’t going to attend the wedding because he was embarrassed about the photos and expressed his regrets about taking them.
Markle then suffered a heart attack six days before so he wasn’t able to attend the wedding. Meghan Markle confirmed that in a statement saying, “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding.”
“I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,” she concluded.
Meghan Markle’s Response
Meghan spoke about her father in the interview. She was asked if she felt betrayed by her father especially before her wedding but Markle wanted to clarify how she felt betrayed.
“If we’re going to use the word betrayal, it’s because when I asked him when the comms team told us this the story was coming out, we called my dad and I asked him and he said, ‘No, absolutely not.'”
Meghan even said that she tried to speak to him about the situation but he wouldn’t tell the truth. “I just need you to tell me, if you tell me the truth we can help. And he wasn’t able to do that… that for me has really resonated as a mother.”
She reflected on her own feelings as a parent by adding, “I look at Archie and I can’t imagine doing anything to hurt my child. I can’t reconcile that.” As many people compared her parents, she too explained that she has had no issues with her mother going to the press.
“Everyone has accountability. Look [the tabloids] hunted my mom down. You’ve never heard her say a word. She’s remained in silent dignity for four years watching me go through this.”
Do you think that Meghan is right in the way she is handling the situation? Is her father taking things too far?
