Omid Scobie's ambitious plan to ascend to a new echelon of fame through his explosive revelations in "Endgame" about the royal family has unexpectedly boomeranged, triggering an overwhelming wave of online negativity directed not only towards him but also impacting his relationships, notably with friends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The duo, who initially brought the issue of racism within the royal family into the limelight during their groundbreaking interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, now find themselves entangled in the aftermath of Scobie's contentious book release.
Once labeled as Meghan's mouthpiece, Scobie launched a scathing attack on senior members of the royal family in his recently published book, which saw a Dutch version briefly hitting the shelves before being pulled back.
The book purportedly revealed the names of two senior royals who allegedly expressed concerns about the skin tone of Harry and Meghan's son, Archie, prior to his birth. This revelation, however, didn't sit well with royal enthusiasts, with accusations of Scobie orchestrating a sales-boosting stunt at the expense of the royal family's reputation.
Following the substantial backlash, not only did Scobie experience a decline in public opinion, but the popularity of his friends, Harry and Meghan, also took a hit. In contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine emerged as favored figures among Americans. The ensuing online discussions continued to reflect a surge in negativity surrounding Harry and Meghan.
In response to the backlash, Scobie took corrective action by revising the Dutch version of his book. The second edition boasts numerous changes, including alterations to the overall tone and the removal of specific references. Notably, the first edition had named King Charles and Princess Kate as the royals expressing concerns about Archie's skin tone, contradicting Scobie's earlier denials. Journalist Rick Ever, who uncovered the original names, reported their removal in the revised version, among hundreds of other changes.
Despite these revisions, concerns persist about Scobie potentially going rogue. Royal expert Neil Sha suggested that Harry and Meghan should be ward of Scobie's actions, drawing parallels between him and Meghan in their pursuit of revenge. The possibility of Scobie disclosing further secrets has raised alarms among insiders, leading to a potential fallout with the Sussexes.
Duncan Lham, a prominent royal commentator, believes that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are actively seeking distance from Scobie in the aftermath of the book's controversy. Lham noted signs of strain in the Sussexes' relationship with the royal family, citing Meghan wearing a diamond tennis bracelet gifted by King Charles.
Despite her public display of the bracelet, Lham argued that "Endgame" has created setbacks, possibly hindering any imminent reconciliation. While he doesn't dismiss the potential for future reconciliation if issues are resolved, the fallout from Scobie's book has certainly complicated the dynamics between the Sussexes and the royal family.
