Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of controversy, this time during her appearance at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital Gala.
Dressed in a bold, statement-making red gown, Meghan’s choice of attire quickly caught attention, but it wasn't only the usual tabloid critics and social media commentators weighing in. This time, it was reportedly members of the Hollywood elite who gave her the cold shoulder, with Jamie Lee Curtis, no less, seemingly leading the "no-thanks" brigade.
The gala, a prestigious biannual event that draws Hollywood stars who genuinely aim to support charitable causes, swiftly became focused on Meghan. It’s hard to ignore someone dressed in a fiery red gown, especially at a charity event where a more understated fashion choice might have been expected. Yet, Meghan seemed undeterred by the potential incongruity of her look and appeared more than ready to claim the spotlight.
According to entertainment correspondent Neil Sean, Jamie Lee Curtis, a legendary Hollywood figure with an illustrious career and a baroness title by marriage, was among the stars who kept their distance from Meghan. Curtis, who has never been one to flaunt her aristocratic title, along with other high-profile guests, reportedly avoided mingling with the Duchess. One can only imagine the inner dialogue if Meghan had tried to one-up Curtis in a game of title comparison: "Oh, Jamie, you're a baroness? How quaint. I'm a Royal Duchess, and, of course, a princess."
Meghan’s team had an explanation ready for why she didn’t mingle with other A-list stars like Curtis. Allegedly, Meghan avoids posing with fellow celebrities to prevent distracting from the charitable cause. However, given her previous social encounters with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, this explanation seemed less convincing. It's difficult to believe that someone so well-versed in the art of public relations would suddenly become concerned about sparing others from the glare of social media.
Interestingly, Meghan’s royal title doesn’t seem to be earning her much favor in Hollywood. While she may still relish the air of exclusivity that comes with it, Jamie Lee Curtis could likely teach her a thing or two about carrying titles with grace. Curtis, who has navigated decades in Hollywood, has never used her baroness title to boost her status, nor has her husband, Christopher Guest, who also holds an aristocratic rank. They seem content to leave their titles out of the limelight.
In contrast, Meghan appears to be waving her Duchess status like a VIP pass, seemingly hoping it will open doors to Hollywood’s inner circle. For Meghan, the gala could have been an ideal opportunity to showcase her genuine commitment to philanthropy. Yet, as so often happens, the focus shifted away from the cause she was there to champion, and back to her fashion choices and what some interpreted as a desire to remain in the spotlight.
Observers couldn't help but note that, once again, Meghan’s actions overshadowed the very cause she claimed to support. Her relationship with Hollywood’s elite feels like an ongoing saga of "She’s Just Not That Into You," as Meghan's efforts to be embraced by top-tier celebrities seem to fall flat, eliciting more cringes than applause.
Meghan appears to be walking a fine line between fame and philanthropy. But with few A-listers lining up to befriend her, it seems she’s facing an uphill battle in gaining acceptance among Hollywood’s top players. Still, perhaps Meghan is unfazed by the backlash. Having grown accustomed to being a polarizing figure, she has carved out a unique niche for herself as a royal-turned-Hollywood-socialite—a role that garners as many eye-rolls as it does admiration.
Will Meghan ever be fully embraced by Hollywood’s elite? For now, it seems she may have to continue rubbing shoulders with B-listers and C-listers, sidestepping photo ops with Jamie Lee Curtis, and hoping that one day the A-listers will give her the nod of approval she seems to seek.
