Meghan Markle's speech on female empowerment at the Afro Women and Power Conference in Cali, Colombia, turned into an unfortunate spectacle, marred by an unexpected heckler and an awkward display of linguistic insecurity.
Accompanied by Prince Harry, Meghan took to the stage at the Enrique Buenaventura Theater, an event designed to honor the contributions and challenges of women in the Afro-Colombian community. Eager to impress the audience with her linguistic prowess, Meghan addressed the crowd in both English and Spanish. She hoped to endear herself to the local audience with her attempt at speaking Spanish, but her efforts fell short.
Meghan began her speech with a somewhat stilted Spanish introduction, apologizing for any grammatical imperfections. “I'd like to begin in Spanish because we are in your country,” she announced, her accent noticeably more European than Latin American. “Sorry if my Spanish isn’t perfect; I learned it 20 years ago in Argentina, but I’m trying because I can feel this community and this feeling, which is the best in the world.” Unfortunately, her attempt to connect through Spanish was marred by her shaky grasp of both the language and cultural nuances. This led to a cringe-worthy performance that drew more attention to her linguistic flaws than to her intended message.
The situation took a dramatic turn during Vice President Francia Márquez’s speech when an audience member interrupted with an unexpected heckle. This individual, clearly more interested in making a statement than engaging with the panel discussion, shouted a question about trans rights, directly disrupting Márquez’s address. The Vice President, displaying admirable composure, responded by emphasizing her focus on women in general while assuring that the program also supported trans women. Despite the disruption, the heckler was allowed to remain for the remainder of the event, overshadowing the intended discourse.
As for Meghan, the former actress found herself in the spotlight for different reasons. Her speech, which included praise for Harry and her daughter’s newfound voice, was overshadowed by her awkward handling of Spanish. Despite her attempts to show solidarity with the local culture, her accent and grammar seemed more like those of a celebrity putting on a bilingual performance rather than someone genuinely engaging with the audience. Critics quickly pointed out the disconnect between Meghan’s rehearsed Spanish and her actual fluency. Her explanation that she had learned Spanish in Argentina was seen as an inadequate excuse, given that her accent sounded more Iberian than Latin American.
This discrepancy added to a series of public relations missteps. Meghan's usual narrative of female empowerment appeared at odds with reported behavior behind the scenes. Known for a controversial management style, including NDAs for former staff, Meghan's public advocacy for speaking out seemed hollow to many. The contrast between her stage presence and reported backstage behavior only fueled the criticism. What was intended to be a celebration of women’s achievements and challenges devolved into a series of missteps and uncomfortable moments. From the heckling incident to Meghan’s lackluster Spanish performance, it was evident that the Sussexes’ attempt to enhance their public image in Colombia had encountered a significant setback.
