How the Media’s Imposed Juxtaposition of Meghan and Kate Exposed My Secret Traumas
You can’t outrun your shadow
Our obsession with dichotomies is both dangerous and confusing! My inner child weeps for Meghan Markle.
The tabloid newspapers have encouraged a feeding frenzy on Meghan. An ugly concoction of jealousy, racism, and snobbery with a sprinkle of false patriotism has prompted maligned stories to circulate over the years.
This vitriol has hacked open a chasm between two victims.
Meghan and Kate can exist in perfect harmony. They can both be demure, inspiring, and enchanting. They can both be engaging, intelligent, and interesting.
The beauty of one does not negate the beauty of another. But our society likes to pit people against each other. We build drama and incite hate.
Apparently, it has to be one or the other.
A sizeable chunk of the British public has weaved malicious energy with envious undercurrents through their rhetoric of Meghan.
I’m not fussed about celebrities or royals and don’t read gossip magazines. Yet, whenever I see some low-life journalist take a pop at Meghan, I feel impacted. It causes an inner disturbance in my usual equilibrium.
Clickbait headings are part of life; we can not evade them. I choose to pass them by. But I somehow feel connected with Meghan’s plight. Demeanative headlines about Meghan seem personal.
The realization of my discomfort left me stunned.
- I am Meghan.
- My twin sister is Kate.
- My dad is the media.
Whatever Meghan does, it is never good enough. She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
These are also the heartaches of my inner child. The stagnated emotions from my early years are still playing out today.
This article highlights headlines used to demonize Meghan while simultaneously exalting Kate.
Here’s a clear example; you may not be surprised to learn they are both from the Daily Mail!
Kate is our damsel, our Disney heroine. Meghan is our wicked witch, our villain.
The media tried to create a world of perpetual thunderstorms for Meghan while rolling out blue skies and sunshine for Kate.
But it isn't only tabloid vultures who salivate at the carnage and dine out on Meghan’s misery. People who consider themselves “upstanding” members of society use Meghan as a scapegoat for their own internal bile of anger and frustration. They vomit their confirmation bias views to all who will listen. Believe me, I’ve heard it.
Immeasurable and unnecessary cruelty! Where is the love?
The most recent vilification is the obsession of Meghan and Harry holding hands during our late Queen’s funeral procession. Meghan was tarnished with being “attention seeking.” While all other couples who held hands were intentionally overlooked.
If Kate and William had held hands, the same media would raise Kate up as a supportive, loving, and compassionate wife.
A few days later, when images of the funeral service circulated, a frozen moment in time shows Harry and Meghan not holding hands. The hyenas who initially criticized the hand holding now regroup and pile on the lack of hand holding!
Meghan doesn’t stand a chance!
I know this feeling. No matter what you do, you can’t do anything right. Life can seem confusing and impossible when you are a Meghan.
I have previously pulled back the curtain a little of my past experiences of growing up with parental favoritism. I’m still trying to make sense of a confusing and muddled era.
“Everything I do is wrong No word to me is good I just wish he’d treat me The way a father should!”
—An extract from a poem by 14- year- old- me
This article on childhood favoritism touched a nerve. It helps untangle the chaos of my experience of childhood favoritism.
The article says:
“… favored children are often robbed of some of the most substantial relationships in life — their siblings.”
And that is precisely it. His actions created a chasm between us! In fact, she does not have a relationship with any of our siblings!
I don’t blame her for her past bullying and callous behavior. I now recognize she is as much a victim as I am.
She was served entitlement for lunch and immunity from his wrath for dinner. Yes, she soaked it all up. She manipulated him and others to maintain her position, then turned on me with cruel taunts and silent smug expressions.
I recall feeling unnerved at her ability to switch from alluring to menacing as soon as backs were turned.
“People marvel at her beauty And despair at my misfortune. They absorb her effortless charm Ignoring my lingering shadow. They’re taken in by her harmony And leave my chords unnoticed. They would rather smell a rose Than a plain old daffodil Can they not see the thorns Threatening to inflict pain”
— An extract from a poem by 15-year-old-me
Not so long ago, I was in his company. Despite the close-to-estrangement state of the relationship between my twin and me, he decided to thrust the phone to me. Overlooking the elephant in the room and doing his cringeworthy best to “play happy families.”
The phone was on loudspeaker. For ten minutes, I ran the gauntlet. I did my best to avoid any land mines. I carried the conversation along while tip-toeing cautiously on eggshells. She was hostile and aggressive. She slurred her swear words and made several failed attempts at goading me into reacting to some of her absurd comments.
The whole conversation was a farce and surreal. When finally free from the imposed situation, I turned to him and said, “She’s been drinking.” He jumped to her defenses. Nothing else was said.
I later found out he had informed another family member that I was “horrific” on the phone with her. He didn’t have the guts to discuss this with me; instead, he slimed his way to someone else to try and secure an ally and undermine me.
Rage and incredulity filled my veins. Despite the circumstances, I was proud of how calm and reserved I managed to be during that phone call. Believe me, I have replayed the lunacy of that conversation repeatedly in my head. I would have the same conversation over again. I would choose the same words and tone a second and third time. I conducted myself with grace and dignity.
He listened to that conversation and thinks I was the one who was “horrific”!
When you are a Meghan, you will never win. No matter the situation. They will always find a way to turn you into the villain.
The only workable solution is to escape.
For my own well-being, I have minimal contact with them both. And as for Meghan, she did the only thing she could do to ensure her sanity and survival; she relented and allowed herself to be hounded out of the U.K.
Every so often, one of them rears their head, and I feel the familiar sense of disturbance, as the scars from old traumas resurface.
You can try and run from your past, but you will never outrun your shadow. Believe me; I’m an ultra runner!
🙏Thank you for reading my story Ali Hall
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