Meghan has been an avid supporter of the project, attending an LA tastemakers event back in November where she engaged with the director and the film's lead actor, David ULU. The film has already received several awards this season, including Best Short Film at the Astero Film Awards and recognition from the African-American Film Critics Association. Mison's directorial debut premiered at the opening night of the Holly Shorts Film Festival on August 10th, where it also won Best Live Action.
The Oscar nominations include "The," along with other films like "Invincible Night," "Of Fortune," "Red, White, and Blue," and "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." A source revealed through a blind item that Meghan had asked Mison to accompany her to the Oscar red carpet, but he declined due to what were described as her unreasonable demands. The source claims that Meghan, if invited, would demand final say on presenter scripts to ensure no jokes about "Harkle" (Harry and Meghan's nickname) and to insist on receiving praise. The source alleges that Meghan is not on the invited list and highlights her absence during the SAG after strike, where she neither walked the picket line nor showed social media support. The source suggests that Hollywood hasn't forgotten this, indicating that Meghan's actions have alienated her from the industry.
The blind item further suggests that if Mison doesn't take Meghan as his plus one, it could negatively impact his career. The source argues that being openly associated with Meghan and Harry might not garner positive attention in Hollywood, given the concept of being "markled." The source questions Mison's understanding of the situation and speculates about the award category's significance, hinting at the possibility that it may not be part of the televised main event. The source concludes by implying that Meghan may be frustrated, especially considering her father's collection of awards, while Mison receives an Oscar nomination, reinforcing the idea that Meghan may only receive awards that are perceived as bought and paid for.