On June 18, 2024, a significant event unfolded at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, a revered venue where entertainment icons have left their indelible marks.
The ceremony, designed to honor the legacy of entertainment giants, drew a host of actors, directors, musicians, and beloved stars who came to immortalize their presence on the theater's iconic forecourt. Amidst the glitz and glamour, an unexpected moment of tension arose when Jimmy Kimmel publicly challenged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to apologize to the royal family.
Kimmel's words were sharp and direct: "You need to kneel down and bow your head to apologize to the royal family members for what you have done. They were very hurt by your fake, stabbing words." His challenge cast a spotlight on the royal couple, who had been invited to leave their handprints and footprints as a recognition of their charitable work and global success, including their popular Netflix documentary series, "Harry & Meghan."
Known for his bold commentary, Kimmel did not shy away from addressing what he perceived as the couple's moral hypocrisy. He pointed out their simultaneous pursuit of opulence and their public complaints about a lack of privacy. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am truly honored to be here tonight to celebrate the remarkable careers and legacies of some of the biggest names in entertainment," Kimmel began, his voice a mix of sincerity and mockery. "We have legends like Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Hemsworth, and of course, we have Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex." The audience's polite applause was quickly silenced by Kimmel's raised hand.
"Now, hold on a minute, hold on," he said, mischief flickering in his eyes. "Before we get too excited, I think we need to have a real talk about these two and their incredible ability to have their cake and eat it too." With that, Kimmel launched into a scathing critique of the couple's penchant for courting attention and enjoying lavish privileges while simultaneously complaining about their lack of privacy.
"These two really are something else," he quipped. "One minute they're living it up in their multi-million dollar mansion, jet-setting around the world on private planes, and making lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. The next minute they're giving tearful interviews about how hard it is to be a royal and how the media is just so mean to them." The audience roared with laughter and applause, clearly enjoying Kimmel's fearless takedown.
He continued, "I mean, pick a lane, you two. Do you want to be Hollywood A-listers soaking up all the perks and glamour, or do you want to be humble, down-to-earth charity workers shunning the spotlight? Because you can't have it both ways." Kimmel delved into specific examples of the Sussexes' perceived hypocrisy, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
"Let's talk about your much-celebrated eco-friendly credentials," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You lecture the rest of us about our carbon footprints, but how many times have you flown privately this year? Oh, that's right, you don't want to tell us. And let's not forget your beautiful $14 million mansion. Very eco-friendly, I'm sure."
Turning to their claims of wanting privacy, Kimmel added, "And then there's this whole thing about wanting privacy," shaking his head in mock exasperation. "You know, most normal people, if they wanted privacy, they wouldn't go on Oprah and spill all their family drama to the entire world. But hey, at least it got you that sweet Netflix deal, right?" The audience erupted in laughter and applause once again, relishing Kimmel's unapologetic humor.
"I'm sorry," Kimmel continued, "but you two can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't be global superstars cashing in on your royal titles and then complain that you just want to be left alone. It just doesn't work that way." He then urged the royal couple to approach the ceremony with a bit more humility and self-awareness as they prepared to cement their handprints and footprints, underscoring the event's primary purpose.
