So, who was behind these mocking billboards? It turns out it was an anonymous fan of the royals who went by the name "Welcome to LA" on their social media profiles. This person reportedly spent over $116,000 of their own money to have the billboards erected in four different locations around Santa Barbara for a month, as a playful way to tease Harry. "Welcome to LA" stated that they put up the billboards to highlight the irony of Harry seeking privacy in California but still attracting attention through their messages. They also wanted to emphasize that celebrities don't necessarily gain more privacy by leaving London, suggesting that the spotlight is just as bright in LA
Unsurprisingly, the billboards caused a stir online, with royal fans and observers debating whether it was just a harmless prank or if it crossed a line by disrespecting Harry's privacy. Supporters argued that it was a lighthearted reminder to Harry that he's still very much a celebrity wherever he goes, while critics contended that it undermined Harry's efforts to lead a quieter life away from the media frenzy.
But how did Harry and Meghan react to being mocked on these billboards? According to reports, they found the whole thing quite amusing and took it in good fun. Sources close to the couple mentioned that they actually had a good laugh over the tongue-in-cheek messages and didn't feel personally attacked or bothered by them at all. So, in that sense, the anonymous fan behind the stunt may have achieved their goal of pointing out the irony in a light-hearted manner without causing genuine offense to the Sussexes.
However, some argue that these billboards serve as a reminder to Harry that public curiosity around his life isn't likely to disappear completely, given his royal status. To provide context, let's look back at Harry's journey over the past couple of years. In 2019, Harry and Meghan expressed their struggles with living under intense tabloid scrutiny as senior working royals in Britain. They officially stepped back from their royal duties in early 2020, citing privacy and freedom from media intrusion as priorities. Since moving to Montecito, they've largely stayed out of the headlines, apart from planned media engagements, but the area is still frequented by journalists and tourists curious to catch a glimpse of them.
Harry has been candid about the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, under the pressure of constant paparazzi attention in 1997 and his desire to protect his own family now. Against this backdrop, some argue that these mocking billboards undermine Harry's goal of finding more privacy overseas, even if they were intended as a harmless joke. On the other hand, some point out that celebrities in California still face immense pressure from the paparazzi and public interest, suggesting that the fan behind the billboards might have a valid point.
Ultimately, as long as Harry and Meghan weren't genuinely offended by the billboards and saw the humor in them, perhaps it wasn't as much of a privacy invasion as some had feared. Time will tell if their lives in California become significantly less high-profile over time, as they aim for in stepping back from their roles as senior royals.
