At the opening keynote speech event of the South by Southwest festival, Megan Marle found herself in an awkward predicament.
Meghan, alongside her husband Prince Harry, had just delivered a stirring speech on Friday chronicling their journey from California to Texas. As Harry watched proudly from the front row, Megan delved into her personal experiences of overcoming bullying. However, just as the panel discussion was about to kick off, Megan attempted to share a hug with the moderator, Erin Haynes. Unfortunately, it seemed the hug wasn't reciprocated, leaving Megan seemingly denied.
The panel, titled "Breaking Barriers: Shaping Narratives - How Women Lead On and Off the Screen," featured Megan alongside journalist Katie Kurick, actress Brooke Shields, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant Nancy Wang Yuan. Critics on social media were quick to point out the irony: Megan, who had just spoken about online bullying, faced her own moment of rejection when seeking a simple hug from the moderator, Erin.
A clip of Megan's attempted embrace has been circulating online, with one user humorously noting, "Megan Markle goes to hug the woman and gets denied." Responding to the clip, one person said it was very telling, while another remarked on the smooth block. Another added, "She's really pretty good at recovering from hugs being rebuffed," with yet another suggesting that Megan needs to understand not everyone shares her penchant for hugs.
During the initial stages of her courtship with Prince Harry, Megan had the opportunity to meet his royal family members, including the late Queen, King Charles, and eventually Prince William and his wife, Catherine. There was hope that Megan and the Duchess of Cambridge would find common ground due to their shared experience of marrying into the royal family. However, it appears the two women didn't form a strong connection. Their distinct personalities prevented them from truly hitting it off. In fact, during their very first encounter, Megan experienced a startling moment upon seeing Catherine for the first time.
In episode two of the six-part Harry and Megan Netflix series, Megan explained her initial encounters with Prince William and Catherine, saying, "When Will and Kate came over and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner. I remember I was in ripped jeans and barefoot. I've always been a hugger. I didn't realize that it's really jarring for a lot of Brits. I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There's a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go, 'You can relax now,' but that formality carries over on both sides, and that was surprising to me."
In any relationship, the person with higher status is more likely to initiate physical contact, whether it's a pat on the shoulder or a touch on the forearm. This behavior is noticeable in Megan, who often reaches out to touch others. However, it can create an impression that she holds a higher status than those she interacts with, which can make people uncomfortable. Some recognize that her actions are not driven by care, compassion, or friendship but rather by a desire to assert her status. Interestingly, when someone who perceives themselves as having higher status is rebuffed, the discomfort intensifies, adding an extra layer of awkwardness.
