Thomas Markle Jr has sharply criticized the Netflix series "With Love, Meghan," which features his half-sister, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
According to the Daily Mail, The show launched with eight episodes, portraying various aspects of Meghan’s life, sparking controversy and family dissent.
In a recent interview on TalkTV with journalist Kevin O’Sullivan, Thomas expressed his disapproval and concern for their father’s health in response to the show. He highlighted discrepancies in Meghan’s portrayal of her upbringing, impacting public perception and family relations.
According to Thomas, the series falsely depicts Meghan's background, claiming it could potentially harm their father's health, who has not been allowed to watch the show.
Meghan describes herself as a "latchkey kid" who grew up relying on fast food, but this contradicts the family’s actual financial situation.
The Markle family was considered middle class and lived in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Thomas Markle, her father, even won $750,000 in the lottery, which supported Meghan’s education at the prestigious Immaculate Heart Catholic School.
Thomas Jr. accuses Meghan of embellishing stories for sympathy, especially from her new royal family connections.
The displeasure from Thomas Markle Jr extends to strong visuals and terms, where he uses vivid imagery to express his disdain for the show.
"Dropping bricks on my pinky toes would probably be better," he remarked about his viewing experience, signaling extreme dissatisfaction.
The series, according to him, is so dramatically flawed that "it’ll be the worst critically acclaimed episode of all time."
Thomas didn’t shy away from describing the emotional toll on their father. Concerned about his health, Thomas remarked, "I didn’t have enough heart medication for him to watch it. I didn’t want him to kick the bucket, so I’d have to go refill the prescription before I let him watch it."
This statement underlines the potential impact of the series on Thomas Markle Sr.’s health, based on the son’s perception of the distressing content.
The series has drawn various reactions, not just from the family but also the public and media commentators.
The narrative shift Meghan has chosen in the Netflix series not only revisits her version of past events but also continues to spark diverse reactions.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond referred to the family’s public dissent as possibly feeling like "the ultimate betrayal for Meghan."
Adding to the complexities are comments from Damian Collins, ex-Tech and the Digital Economy Minister, urging social media companies to tackle harmful content, linking these familial public disagreements with broader issues of media responsibility.
"It’s not just your freedom of speech, Meghan, it’s everybody’s freedom of speech. So if you don’t like it, don’t watch, right? I’m gonna be riding those coat-tails, baby - oh yeah, if it wasn’t for Meghan Markle I don't know what I’d be doing," Thomas concluded.
His parting words encapsulate his critical but opportunistic view of the fallout from the series, indicating an ongoing saga that might not conclude soon.
As the series continues to unfold, the differing views within the Markle family and their impact on public and private narratives remain a focal point of interest and discussion.
