Meghan Markle received a scathing reaction to her seemingly innocuous video update, which is being dubbed as “insensitive” and “disrespectful” to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana.
The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance in France on Saturday to attend the Paris Fashion Week, supporting her designer friend Pierpaolo Piccioli as Balenciaga’s new creative director.
Following her appearance, the As Ever founder recorded herself going back to her hotel, putting her feet up in the car. What was supposed to be a casual video turned to drama quickly as many social media users believed that Meghan was passing through a tragic site.
It is a tragedy that continues to haunt Prince Harry and his estranged Prince William.
Stephanie Sidley had lashed out, “If driving towards Princess Diana’s death scene is a message to Prince William then Meghan Markle is the devil.”
Another said that they were “disgusted” that “honestly horrified” that she’d film herself driving past Pont de l'Alma in Paris – the site known for the car crash where Princess Diana was killed.
Plenty of other hate comments and remarks flooded social media.
Although, amid the sea of negative comments, many Internet sleuths pointed out that it was not the same bridge that people have assumed it to be. There were maps drawn to figure out the exact location.
Following the clapback, some of the influencers had to retract their statement.
User, According2Taz, issued a correction, posting on X, “Ok, correction here! the bridge Meghan filmed from her care at night, was The Pont Alexandre III and NOT the Pont de l'Alma where Diana was in a crash. Whilst the bridges are very close, approx 1.4 km apart, it is not the same bridge.”
Sidley also stated that she was not claiming that Meghan had filmed the crash site but was rather in close proximity to it.
Although, Meghan seemed to be passing bridges including the Pont Alexandre III and the Pont des Invalides, which is not the actual site.
The next bridge along the Seine is the Pont d'Alma, next to the Pont d'Alma tunnel, is where Diana’s fatal car crash took place in August 1997.