While they've been keeping a relatively low profile since their explosive Oprah interview, Meghan ventured out to a local event last night that ended up getting quite the hostile reception. Now, the annual summer solstice celebration in Santa Barbara is a treasured community tradition that draws huge crowds each June. People take to the streets joyfully dancing and singing as the longest day and shortest night of the year approaches. It truly feels like a celebration of light and rebirth.
According to attendees I spoke to, this was Meghan's first time attending since moving to Montecito with Harry last year. Considering her high-profile locally as a celebrity neighbor, she likely hoped to introduce herself to the community in an organic, low-key way at this welcoming event. But boy, did things take a turn.
Multiple witnesses say her entrance was met with a chorus of deafening boos and hisses, rather than the usual cheers and hula hoops. People jeered and heckled from all sides as Meghan watched on in apparent shock, according to onlookers. But it didn't end there—several brave souls even pelted Meghan with rotten eggs, which she narrowly dodged, clearly mortified and in disbelief. Aides scrambled to shield her as a rattled Meghan hastily retreated amidst the chaos, with Harry, who witnesses say appeared livid, shouting obscenities at detractors.
Police had to intervene to calm tensions and ensure their safe exit from what quickly descended into an ugly scene, overshadowing the night's joyful spirit. Now, locals have spoken out to share what exactly enraged crowds to such a point. Many say that after the Oprah bombshells, most in their community feel deeply misled and used by Meghan's portrayal of herself as a naive victim who endured unspeakable torment. They feel she conveniently omitted her own troubling behavior, like bullying staffers and massive privacy breaches, to paint only the royal family negatively. Meanwhile, others simply resent the couple constantly injecting themselves into political controversies here, like advocating for paid leave, saying they should stay out of local issues.
Of course, some hecklers were just there for the spectacle, while a minority voice support. But what's clear is deep-seated resentment remains among many in Santa Barbara towards the Sussexes and their alleged deceitful tactics for fame and profit, which some argue continue even after exiting the UK.
For their part, Harry and Meghan have kept mum on the ugly incident, with their spokesperson declining all comment. No charges were laid against vocal protesters, as authorities say freedom of speech was rightly upheld during this impromptu display of community sentiment, however hostile it appeared.
While shocking in many ways, perhaps this rotten reception simply reflects a growing backlash from regular folk who feel used and gaslit whenever this couple loudly claims victimhood to stay culturally relevant via media circuses. They seem to court controversy wherever they land. Only time will tell if Harry and Meghan properly learn from such public rejections abroad as well as locally, that their actions have real-world consequences beyond raking in Netflix deals.
