Duchess Meghan responds to twerking video backlash: ‘You have to be authentic’
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Duchess Meghan responds to twerking video backlash: ‘You have to be authentic’
Duchess Meghan sat down with British businesswoman Emma Grede’s “Aspire” podcast. She said she watched the viral video of her dancing with Prince Harry “20 times” The video received criticism online from social media users and public figures. Meghan responded by pointing out that the video was a few years old, seemingly brushing off backlash the family has received since stepping back as senior working royals in January 2020.”I’m just grateful that now, being back on social as well, I can share it on my own terms,” Meghan said. “With all the noise or whatever people do, there’s still a whole life – a real, authentic, fun life – that’s happening behind the scenes,” she added.
After the As Ever founder posted an Instagram video earlier this month of herself and Harry dancing before the birth of their now-4-year-old daughter Lilibet, the domestic duchess sat down on British businesswoman Emma Grede’s “Aspire” podcast to discuss the discourse.
“You have to be authentic,” Meghan told Grede, who said she watched the clip “20 times,” on the June 17 episode. “Did you see my ‘Baby Momma’ dance?”
Grede responded: “Is that Prince Harry there with the fingers? … I was like, OK … good on Harry, let’s go. But that’s you, right? Like that’s you in a way that we kind of haven’t been able to see you before.”
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In the cellphone footage, Meghan and Harry glided across the hospital room to the “Baby Momma” dance song and Meghan captioned the post on Lilibet’s 4th birthday, “Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!”
“I did like a little secret cheer, because I was like, well, that’s what I kind of want to see from you. Like I want to see that happiness and that honesty and that ‘I don’t give a (care) kind of thing,'” Grede told Meghan on the podcast.
The video received criticism online from social media users and public figures alike. Daily Mail editor Charlotte Griffiths called the video “so embarrassing” and “so raunchy.” Former Fox News host and right-leaning commentator Megyn Kelly said Meghan was on an “ego trip” that “is disrespectful” to “the moment” and “to the child.”
The Duchess of Sussex responded by pointing out that the video was a few years old, seemingly brushing off backlash the family has received since stepping back as senior working royals in January 2020.
“That was four years ago, so it’s also a really great reminder that with all the noise or whatever people do, there’s still a whole life – a real, authentic, fun life – that’s happening behind the scenes,” Meghan told the Good American CEO and co-founder.
“I’m just grateful that now, being back on social as well, I have a place where I can share it on my own terms,” Meghan added.
Five years after their royal exit, dubbed “Megxit” by the British media, Meghan plugged back in and pressed play on public life earlier this year by returning to Instagram on New Year’s Day with the eponymous handle @meghan and launching her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan.”