Harry and Megan

[DJC]

Sorry to harp on about this but do folks have a breakdown on the demographics.
I generally think older white males don't get too worried about Meg and Harry.

They've got the young vote, no doubt... but my perception, reading some of the comments on social media and the news article comments, that most of the scathing criticism comes from middle aged to older females.

One recent poll in the UK found that 41 percent of those aged 55-64 viewed Meghan “very unfavourably”, while 52 percent of those aged 25-34 approved of her.  Conservatives voters don't like her but Labour voters do.

Another UK poll conducted after the Oprah interview found that 48% of those aged between 18 and 24 feel more sympathy for Harry and Meghan, while 15% are more sympathetic to the senior royals.  Britons aged 25 to 49 are split 28% to 24% between the Sussexes and the Queen.  Folk over 50 have more sympathy for the Queen by 46% to 13%, and 55% of those aged over 65 feel more sympathy for the Queen.  Those figures should change with Chuck substituted for Lilibet.

A 2020 International Women’s Day survey named Meghan as the most influential woman in the UK. The survey of 5,000 people had Meghan ahead of Greta Thunberg, Rihanna, human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai, and feminist campaigner Jameela Jamil.

A 2021 UK survey found that 55% of 18-24 year olds like Meghan, while 32% dislike her. Harry had similar results with 59% of Britons aged 18 to 24 having a positive opinion of him, with 28% disliking him. In contrast, 69% of people aged 65 and older dislike Harry and 83% dislike Meghan. 

I can't find any poll results by gender but the folk who are critical of Meghan are generally older white males.  Of course, that could simply reflect the over-representation of older white males in the English speaking media.

[DJC]

That type of statement highlights what i am referring too.

Question - Do you have a favourite comedian?

My favourite comedian was Bill Cosby … but he turned to be an entitled, sick, rapist bastard ?

[kruddler]

My favourite comedian was Bill Cosby … but he turned to be an entitled, sick, rapist bastard ?

I suppose its better than Rolf Harris?!

[Lods]

One recent poll in the UK found that 41 percent of those aged 55-64 viewed Meghan “very unfavourably”, while 52 percent of those aged 25-34 approved of her.  Conservatives voters don't like her but Labour voters do.

Another UK poll conducted after the Oprah interview found that 48% of those aged between 18 and 24 feel more sympathy for Harry and Meghan, while 15% are more sympathetic to the senior royals.  Britons aged 25 to 49 are split 28% to 24% between the Sussexes and the Queen.  Folk over 50 have more sympathy for the Queen by 46% to 13%, and 55% of those aged over 65 feel more sympathy for the Queen.  Those figures should change with Chuck substituted for Lilibet.

A 2020 International Women’s Day survey named Meghan as the most influential woman in the UK. The survey of 5,000 people had Meghan ahead of Greta Thunberg, Rihanna, human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai, and feminist campaigner Jameela Jamil.

A 2021 UK survey found that 55% of 18-24 year olds like Meghan, while 32% dislike her. Harry had similar results with 59% of Britons aged 18 to 24 having a positive opinion of him, with 28% disliking him. In contrast, 69% of people aged 65 and older dislike Harry and 83% dislike Meghan. 

I can't find any poll results by gender but the folk who are critical of Meghan are generally older white males.  Of course, that could simply reflect the over-representation of older white males in the English speaking media.

It's the gender one I'm interested in.
It's true Public figures like Clarkson and Piers Morgan are out spoken.
I still don't believe most older guys give it a lot of thought.

Women of influence will probably come out in support because they have battled male dominated professions and beaten it.

But how does Meghan play amongst the average older female.

My sister reckons Harry's a traitor and should be sent to the Tower (No, she doesn't want him beheaded  :  ;D )

[kruddler]

It's the gender one I'm interested in.
It's true Public figures like Clarkson and Piers Morgan are out spoken.
I still don't believe most older guys give it a lot of thought.

Women of influence will probably come out in support because they have battled male dominated professions and beaten it.

But how does Meghan play amongst the average older female.

My sister reckons Harry's a traitor and should be sent to the Tower (No, she doesn't want him beheaded  :  ;D )

I think you need to dig deeper into your hypothesis a bit Lods.

I reckon what you say is right, but i reckon for the wrong reasons.

More females would be vocal on the topic, because Girl Power and sticking together against Clarkson.
Older females would be more into the Queen because thats what they know and Megsie doesn't fit the stereotype so much. Perhaps moreso, its another case of the younger generation not respected their elders that pisses them off the most.
More males less so because, WGAF about the royals.

[LP]

But how does Meghan play amongst the average older female.

My sister reckons Harry's a traitor and should be sent to the Tower (No, she doesn't want him beheaded  :  ;D )

Yes she is not alone, and these people are silent in the debate because they aren't generally active on the internet, but they'll read Clarkson like columns in a newspaper.

Harkle's demographic lives in an echo chamber, and it's not one that puts a high price on many old world values.

[LP]

Not much commentary on the Ardern statement coming from the Harkle boosters, just going to let that slide are we?

Wasn't there a book titled appropriately about this very issue, something like "An Inconvenient Truth!"

[PaulP]

I agree with you. After several visits on business to England between 2010 and 2018 I became quite aware that elements of xenophobia and racial superiority were very close to the surface among the people we met.  When you add in Meghan's colour , she was in for a hiding from the media at the first opportunity.

I think this attitude has been a part of English culture for a long time, and it's been amplified and given additional licence in the bifurcated media landscape that was pretty much invented by Murdoch. It comes as no surprise that most of the attack dog tactics against Markle come from the Fox / Sky stable.

[Lods]

OK, so let’s break it down
"Old, male, white, conservatives are the problem".
They don’t like Harry and more specifically Meghan.

We can give the ‘Old’ a tickoff. They are mostly not in their camp…but let’s extend it to the middle-aged and older.

They have the support of the young, that’s a given

I’m not convinced gender plays an important part, in fact I think that amongst the older group women are more critical, and men don’t give them a great deal of thought…but I’ll stand corrected if that proves not to be the case in future polling. It’s a view very much framed amongst my own circle of friends and family and reading social media and news article comments.

Conservative v Labour is another given, but we know that will always break down in terms of monarchy/anti monarchy beliefs.

Racism is cited as a key factor. What has me confused is that if it was an important element then why did it take a year or two to turn things around. Meghan was hugely popular in those early days. Did folk not realise Meghan was black. I thought Charles walking Mum down the aisle would have been a giveaway. There may be some racial aspect, but it would exist at a very minor level in the greater scheme of things, and in those few entrenched who weren’t fond of Meg from the start. That’s not to say it may not have been a more important factor with some members of the extended Royal family.

I suspect the truth of the anti Meg and Harry feeling is as simple as the old “Yoko Ono effect”.
Yes, there may have been a racial aspect to that one too for a section of critics, but the main focus was to most people, rightly or wrongly, "Yoko broke up the Band”.

Same with Meg. Her arrival resulted in a rift between brothers and family. When one member leaves the band there is usually going to be a bit of shouting.
Now they can all go their separate ways and still make ‘some pretty good music’ on both sides, but it will never be quite the same.

What we’ve had from Meghan and Harry is their version. Some have accepted that without question. It’s unlikely we’ll get a formal rebuttal from the palace. That may come through some of their minions in the press, but into that void folks are pretty much free to make up their own minds.
Harry and Meghan look to have some good intentions for lots of positive work away from the Royal family. That’s to their credit. They also need to make a living and they’re high profile enough to earn a good income. They certainly won’t be in the 'poor house' after their various Netflix and book deals, but while that coincides with attacks on the Royal family there will always be criticism.

[PaulP]

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity...5c7tx.html

A very balanced assessment IMO.