BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Gayle King faced backlash for saying it was "troubling" that the public is "downplaying" Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's alleged two-hour paparazzi chase in New York City that happened earlier this week. Harry, 38, Meghan, 41, and her mother Doria Ragland, 66, were allegedly hounded by the press on Tuesday night, May 16. Reps said the trio was "extremely upset and shaken" after the incident that took place while they were traveling in Manhattan after leaving Ziegfeld Theater where the 'Suits' alum was honored at the Women of Vision Awards.
The group was reportedly traveling in an SUV when they were allegedly followed by nearly 12 paparazzi. Harry reportedly recorded the chase on his cellphone and security also recorded the incident to gather evidence. Many, however, found the claims rather suspicious and called the couple "press hungry" since it was difficult to believe the chase went on for two hours in a congested place like New York City. However, King, 68, felt otherwise.
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“I think it was a very unfortunate incident,” the CBS journalist told Page Six on Saturday, May 20, at the 148th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. “It’s troubling to me that anybody would try to downplay what that would mean to them. That’s very troubling to me.” She took a shot at the numerous celebrities and media figures who pushed back against the narrative that the Duke and Duchess were "chased" in the streets of Manhattan, saying it's unsettling that some were trying to “minimize how [Harry and Markle] felt in that moment.” King added, “I’m just really sorry it happened and very sorry they had to go through it. Everybody can have all of their opinions but I always go back to, ‘How did they feel in that moment?’”
However, the veteran journalist was excoriated on social media for defending the couple. "It’s troubling that Gayle King is enabling her Sussex children’s fantasies. Meghan Markle & Prince Harry are middle-aged. Time they grew up," one tweeted. "It's troubling that she does not believe their cab driver," another wrote. "@GayleKing when pray tell are you going to realize by sticking up for this devious duo you are also becoming comic relief like they are," someone else offered. "It’s troubling that Gayle King is troubled over people not being troubled. Get a life, Gayle. Do some social work, and make a contribution to the homeless veterans. Investigate the trafficking of children, etc. You know, Real Problems," another chimed in.
It's worth noting that King met Harry and Meghan through her close pal, Oprah Winfrey, 69, and has been friends with the duo ever since. As mentioned, the royal couple claimed they were chased by paparazzi through the streets of Manhattan on May 16 and at some point hopped out of their SUV to get into a cab hoping to evade the cameras, but the pursuit allegedly continued.
“Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi," a rep for Harry and Meghan said in a statement to Page Six the following day. “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers. While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety.”
However, a slew of media personalities refuted the claims, including “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg who slammed the royal couple’s use of the word “car chase," adding, “I think people in New York know if it was possible to have car chases in New York, we’d all make it to the theater on time." Meanwhile, veteran journalist Megyn Kelly also called out the Sussexes in an episode of 'The Megyn Kelly Show,' saying, “There is no way of having a two-hour car chase in New York City, in Manhattan. There just isn’t.”
That said, King has a history of fiercely supporting Harry and Meghan. Last year, she pushed back against talk show host Andy Cohen when he jokingly called the Netflix series, 'Harry & Meghan', reality show during an episode of 'Watch What Happens Live'. King, who was a guest on the show, responded by saying, “It’s not a reality show. It’s not.”
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.