The Sussexes strike again with their trademark brand of "disaster tourism." This time, the setting is Pasadena, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allegedly cleared out over 100 volunteers for a brief 17-minute photo op. According to reports, the couple asked real volunteers to vacate the scene so they could "help" with wildfire relief—but mostly to ensure they looked good doing it.
Because, of course, the most effective way to aid those impacted by a disaster is to make sure no one else is around to actually do the work while you pose for the cameras.
Eyewitnesses claim the couple arrived at the Altadena Distribution Center donning their ever-so-charming masks, strolling around for the perfect photo opportunity. However, no actual volunteering or hands-on assistance was involved—just two celebrities walking through a crisis for a fleeting PR moment. Those 17 minutes of "help" were apparently less about impact and more about headlines.
One Reddit user, citing details from the *Jimmy Paro* podcast, shared an especially juicy tidbit. The co-host revealed that his daughter, who was volunteering at the site, witnessed the disruption firsthand. The couple’s arrival reportedly forced the evacuation of hundreds of volunteers so Harry and Meghan could pretend they were contributing meaningfully.
*"Take a break, everyone—these two are here to stage their moment of charity,"* seemed to be the message. Because nothing says “helping” quite like clearing out those who are actually qualified to assist, just to pose for Instagram-worthy shots.
Real-life volunteers were reportedly asked to step aside while Harry and Meghan paraded through the area, escorted by a full security entourage. Volunteers who’d been hard at work were sidelined, leaving the couple to stage their act of "humanitarian effort." Even worse, their so-called "volunteers" were allegedly handpicked and brought by the couple themselves to fill the gaps for their photos.
Meanwhile, the real victims—the homeowners displaced by the fires—were left waiting to access their burned-out properties. But Harry and Meghan? They had more pressing concerns: capturing just the right angle to show their "compassion."
The couple reportedly spent their 17 minutes hugging people brought specifically for the photo op, leaving without engaging in any meaningful relief work. This isn’t just tone-deaf—it’s downright disrespectful to those impacted by the disaster.
Unfortunately, this is hardly the first time Harry and Meghan have been accused of such antics. From the immigrant women's Thanksgiving event to the children’s cancer fundraiser, they seem to have a knack for turning solemn occasions into self-serving PR stunts. And who could forget their visit to Uvalde, which critics dubbed a blatant attempt to capitalize on tragedy?
With every such event, the narrative stays the same: clear out the real people doing the real work so the Sussexes can take center stage. This latest photo op in Pasadena isn’t just tacky; it’s an egregious display of narcissism disguised as charity.
It’s time to call it what it is—a shameful exploitation of human suffering for personal gain. If this is the brand they want to build, Hollywood and the public should take note. True charity doesn’t need a red carpet, and it certainly doesn’t displace those who are genuinely trying to help.
