It has come to light that Meghan Markle's claim of having 43% Nigerian ancestry may have been lifted directly from a 2021 memoir by Georgina Lawton. In her "Archetypes" podcast, Meghan spoke about discovering this ancestral connection through a genealogy test, describing it as a meaningful part of her identity.
However, Lawton's memoir "Raceless" documents her own journey of discovering her mixed-race heritage, including the specific detail of being 43% Nigerian. Lawton also mentions having Irish roots on her mother's side, a detail Meghan echoed when discussing her own ancestry.
The similarities between the two accounts are quite striking. Whether this was an intentional case of plagiarism or an uncanny coincidence remains uncertain. But many have accused Meghan of essentially co-opting Lawton's personal experiences and using them for her own brand-building and PR purposes.
Concerns have been raised that Meghan's actions may be denying authentic representation to actual Nigerian and African creators, as she inserts herself into a cultural narrative that is not entirely her own. There are questions about the sincerity of Meghan's connection to this aspect of her heritage, given her significantly different life experiences compared to Lawton's.
Ultimately, this controversy highlights the need for public figures to approach matters of identity, ancestry and cultural belonging with sensitivity and authenticity. While the full truth may be unclear, the optics of this situation have raised eyebrows and sparked debates around issues of representation, appropriation and transparency.
