In a sarcastic tone, Morgan congratulated Meghan and Harry on their nomination for an award that apparently revolves around trashing their families on TV. He ironically remarked that it was truly heartwarming.
The debut Netflix documentary series, titled "Harry and Meghan," has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association TV award. The docu-series was recognized in the category for the best streaming non-fiction series.
The association made the announcement on its official Twitter handle, revealing the nominees for the 2023 HCA TV Awards in the aforementioned category. Alongside "Harry and Meghan," other contenders include Eugene Levi's "The Reluctant Traveler," Wayne Wilson's "Geography of Bliss," and Jeremy Renner's "Renovations."
When the news initially broke that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were residing in Tyler Perry's mansion in LA, it sparked some surprise. However, as time went on, it became apparent that Perry, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry known for his films and TV shows centered on stories of black people, had a close connection to Meghan and Harry's new American life. This connection was highlighted in Perry's Instagram post from August. But it wasn't until the Netflix docu-series "Harry and Meghan" that the three friends openly discussed how they met.
Perry's role in the couple's lives, as well as in the series, started to make perfect sense. He revealed that he initially reached out to Meghan after noticing her father, Thomas Markle, seemingly cooperating with the press. Over time, they developed a friendship, as Perry validated Meghan's concerns about safety and helped her find a place for the family to spend their early months after officially stepping back from their royal duties.
For those familiar with Tyler Perry's body of work, there is undoubtedly a deeper significance to his connection with Meghan and Harry. Themes such as family, betrayal, abuse, and rescue are prevalent in Perry's works, including his early films like "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Madea's Family Reunion." Tamika Carey, an associate professor of English at the University of Virginia, focuses her academic work on black women's literature, alongside more mainstream self-help texts like those by Oprah Winfrey and Jan Levansand.
In her 2016 book, "Rhetorical Healing: The Re-Education of Contemporary Black Womanhood," Carey conducted a close reading of Tyler Perry's works to explore how his portrayal of betrayal, abuse, and overcoming or responding to such challenges reflects broader themes in American life. While critical of Perry's occasional reliance on stereotypes about black women and families, she also acknowledges the resonance of his work.
Vanity Fair recently interviewed Carey to gain insight into the connections between Perry's body of work and his role in Meghan and Harry's lives. She discussed how understanding the stories presented in "Harry and Meghan" could foster greater empathy. Carey contemplated the concept of sanctuary and its significance for highly visible public figures, exploring how the attention given to their escape should encourage a better understanding of the complex lives these individuals lead. She raised questions about the additional sensitivities and literacies that we, as spectators of the royals, could develop in our relationship with them.
