Harry and Meghan are facing accusations of exaggerating an incident with paparazzi, with photographers involved claiming that it was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's security team that may have caused the situation to escalate. Notably, the royal family has not reached out to the photographers involved.
The events involving Lady Diana's son and Meghan Markle in New York last Tuesday night, where they alleged a two-hour chase by paparazzi, have become a topic of discussion on both sides of the Atlantic. While many initially believed and sympathized with the couple's statement denouncing the incident, there is a growing group questioning the details presented by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Piers Morgan, a vocal critic of the couple, took the opportunity to discredit them, stating on Twitter, "There was no two-hour chase. His story is falling apart minute by minute." Journalist Megyn Kelly also raised questions about the timing and feasibility of a two-hour trip in Manhattan, emphasizing the abundance of traffic lights and places for safety.
Caitlyn Jenner, a television personality and relative of the Kardashians, dismissed the idea of a two-hour pursuit by paparazzi, expressing skepticism and suggesting that Harry and Meghan tend to complain excessively on Twitter. Publicist Rob Shuter criticized the couple and their security team for not taking more reasonable measures to escape the photographers, stating in an interview, "What they did was unreasonable."
Adding to the skepticism, local police sources reported that they have reason to believe the incident may not have been accurately described by Harry and Meghan. Contrary to their statement of multiple near collisions and a dangerous situation, the police did not receive reports of any collisions or emergency calls related to the incident.
Richard Kay, a royal editor, speculated that Harry and Meghan might be using this incident to boost their brand amid declining popularity ratings in the United States. He suggested that the dramatic incident, reminiscent of Lady Diana's tragic death, might be a deliberate move to capture attention and sympathy.
On the paparazzi side, the photographers involved have offered their version of events. The driver of one photographer described the chase as "tense" and blamed the driver of the car carrying Harry and Meghan for making it a catastrophic experience. A celebrity agency, Backrid, claimed that images from four freelance photographers showed reckless behavior from the prince's security team, attempting to block the street.
