In a recent debate on Good Morning Britain, Imar Ayton, a well-known social commentator and anti-racism activist who played a prominent role in organizing Black Lives Matter protests in the UK in 2020, shared her thoughts on Harry and Meghan's public image. Ayton criticized the couple for allegedly exploiting race as a means to gain public support.
When asked why she no longer supports the couple, Ayton echoed the criticism voiced by Bill Simmons, the head of podcast innovation and monetization at Spotify, who expressed his discontent after the news broke that Harry and Meghan's multi-million dollar deal with the streaming giant had fallen apart. Simmons, who hosts his own podcast on Spotify, stated, "I wish I had been involved in the Megan and Harry leave Spotify negotiation.
The grifters – that's the podcast we should have launched with them." Ayton, during her appearance on Good Morning Britain, shared a similar sentiment, calling the couple "grifters." She further highlighted the couple's disputed claim from their 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they alleged that a member of the royal family made racist comments about the potential skin color of their future children.
"The one that irks me the most," Ayton expressed, "is when they decided to use black people as a weapon, as a tool when they needed support. That is my issue. Let's get support from the black community, let's talk about racism, and then three years later, let's say we didn't talk about racism. They brought us on that journey with them and then just kind of dumped us at the end. They used us."
Continuing the discussion on Harry and Meghan's public image, particularly in light of the Spotify revelation, Jack Royston, the Chief Royal Correspondent for Newsweek, weighed in and suggested that the couple could rehabilitate their reputation by choosing a different path. Royston acknowledged that their projects had garnered significant attention and likely generated revenue for platforms like Spotify and Netflix.
He remarked, "It's a real shame for them that everything has disintegrated, but they can pull it back." Royston also acknowledged the legitimacy of Ayton's criticisms and mentioned a shift in American public opinion in favor of Harry and Meghan. However, he emphasized the need for the couple to abandon their negative messaging and refrain from complaining.
When Royston proposed the idea of the couple returning to a more traditional royal role by attending charity events and presenting themselves splendidly, Ayton strongly disagreed. She emphatically stated, "No, they need to go away. They just need to go away.
Let's be honest with ourselves here – they got themselves into this mess. They talked about themselves for three years but then simultaneously said they wanted privacy. It's that dichotomy that has landed them in this position. They need to go away and go silent."
Despite their podcasting relationship with Spotify ending after just 13 episodes spread over three years, Harry and Meghan still have a significant media project on the horizon. Their production company, Archewell Productions, in collaboration with Netflix, will soon release their new docu-series, "Heart of Invictus."
This summer, the focus will be on Harry's Invictus Games and the remarkable athletes who competed at the 2022 event in the Netherlands. Beyond that, the couple has not publicly announced any further plans for content. However, in response to the news about Spotify, Megan's spokesperson informed the Wall Street Journal that The Duchess is exploring alternative platforms to connect with her podcast audience.
One commenter shared their perspective, acknowledging Imar Ayton's willingness to admit her mistake in supporting Harry and Meghan while also questioning her credibility. They pointed out that Ayton had previously been critical of the royal family and aligned herself with the racism allegations, but now seems to backtrack as negative press surrounds the couple. The commenter suggested that the royal family was not racist to begin with.
Another commenter expressed their lack of sympathy for Ayton, stating that she wholeheartedly embraced Meghan's narrative without any skepticism. They suggested that Ayton should have conducted thorough research on Meghan's background and motivations. They proposed that Ayton should have interviewed Meghan publicly and asked probing questions about her claims of racism and her own identity choices.
The commenter further criticized Ayton for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, claiming that Ayton was initially on board with the racism allegations against the royal family. They believed that Ayton was primarily upset because her support for the couple now makes her look foolish. The commenter stated that Ayton is no longer on Harry and Meghan's side.
Regarding Ayton's statements, another person speculated that Ayton may have felt used by Harry and Meghan. They suggested that Ayton expected a genuine conversation about structural racism and the impact of colonialism, but instead, she and her peers were exploited. They also mentioned that Meghan would likely only agree to an interview where she had control over the questions asked. They acknowledged that asking those hard-hitting questions in a live interview would have been important, but it's unlikely that Meghan and Harry would willingly put themselves in that position.
The commenter criticized Harry and Meghan, referring to them as shameless grifters seeking revenge against anyone they perceive as wronging them. They also expressed frustration over the couple's weaponization of the racism issue, blaming Oprah, Gayle King, and Tyler Perry for their role in amplifying Meghan's message. The commenter stressed the need to hold them accountable.
The opinions are divided regarding Imar Ayton's statements about Harry and Meghan. Some question her credibility, while others sympathize with her and believe she may have been taken advantage of. The discussion highlights different perspectives on the couple's actions and the broader implications surrounding race and media influence.
