Some will argue, but I think the Sussexes’ Oprah interview was more of a “cultural reset” than Meghan’s The Cut profile. Maybe that will change as more people read and reread the profile and really analyze what she was saying. But the Oprah interview was just wall-to-wall impact immediately, even for weeks before the interview aired. I bring that up because the British media is still grasping for ways to criticize Meghan’s The Cut profile. So they focused on Meghan’s story about how she went to the Lion King premiere soon after she gave birth to Archie. According to Meghan, a South African cast member pulled her aside and “He said, ‘I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison.’” She was not comparing herself to Nelson Mandela, she was trying to capture the global interest in her marriage, and how big it was that a Black American woman married into this ancient colonizer family. So, the Daily Mail got in touch with Mandela’s grandson who (of course) blasted Meghan for thinking that she’s just like Mandela.
Nelson Mandela’s grandson today slammed Meghan Markle for suggesting her marriage to Prince Harry sparked scenes of joy in South Africa reminiscent of the 1990 release of the legendary anti-apartheid campaigner after 27 years in jail, telling MailOnline: ‘It can never be compared to the celebration of someone’s wedding.’
Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela has said he was ‘surprised’ at her remarks in The Cut magazine when she claimed that three years ago a cast member of the Lion King had made the comparison between her royal wedding and Madiba’s historic walk to freedom.
He said: ‘Madiba’s celebration was based on overcoming 350 years of colonialism with 60 years of a brutal apartheid regime in South Africa. So It cannot be equated to as the same.’ Referring to Meghan, he said: ’Every day there are people who want to be Nelson Mandela, either comparing themselves with him or wanting to emulate him. But before people can regard themselves as Nelson Mandelas, they should be looking into the work that he did and be able to be champions and advocates of the work that he himself championed’.
The furore was sparked by a 6,409-word article called ‘Meghan of Montecito’ published yesterday, where the former Suits star recalled an encounter she had at the 2019 London premiere of a live-action version of the Disney classic. She said an actor from South Africa pulled her aside and told her: ‘I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison’.
But MailOnline has learned that the story has astonished the Mandela family. ‘Mandla’ Mandela, an MP and Chief of the late South African President’s Mvezo tribe, said he was ‘surprised’ at her remarks.
First of all, it’s amazing to me that the Mail has been continuously noting the NUMBER OF WORDS IN THE CUT PROFILE. They are outraged about the fact that The Cut profile was so long! How dare a Black woman think she deserves WORDS?? As for what Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela has to say… it reminds me of a story I didn’t cover at the time, which was when the Mail did the exact same f–king thing when Prince Harry spoke at the United Nations. Harry was invited by the Mandela Foundation to speak for Mandela Day. The Mail interviewed one of Mandela’s relatives and quoted her as saying it was awful because Harry is white and he’s nothing like Mandela. The Mail did the same thing here – even though Meghan is simply recounting what someone told her (within a particular context), they’re desperately trying to make it sound like she believes she’s Nelson Mandela. (Now, do I also think that Meghan could have avoided this dumbass plotline? Yes. She’s smart enough to know how that particular story would get twisted.)
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN, Backgrid.
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (R) arrive to attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019.,Image: 536655781, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
HRH Prince Harry, The Duke Of Sussex and HRH Meghan Markle, The Duchess Of Sussex attend The European Premiere of The Lion King at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, London, England, UK on Sunday 14 July 2019. Picture by Justin Ng/Retna/Avalon.,Image: 536655802, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon 
** RIGHTS: ONLY UNITED STATES, BRAZIL, CANADA ** London, UNITED KINGDOM – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend The Lion King film premiere in Leicester Square. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 14 JULY 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: TIMMSY / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
** RIGHTS: ONLY UNITED STATES, BRAZIL, CANADA ** London, UNITED KINGDOM – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend The Lion King film premiere in Leicester Square. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 14 JULY 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: TIMMSY / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* 
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King at the Odeon Luxe cinema, Leicester Square, London on July 14th 2019 
Film premiere of The Lion King held at Odeon Leicester Square in London Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: London, United Kingdom When: 15 Jul 2019 Credit: WENN.com
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (R) arrive to attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019. 
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive on the yellow carpet at the European premiere of Disneys “The Lion King” on Sunday 14 July 2019 at ODEON LUXE Leicester Square, London. Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. /LFI/Avalon. All usages must be credited Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon. Picture by Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon. All usages must be credited Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcHBhbYN3e82eo6ynnpS6orrDnqOaq4%2Bcv6K6w6ymp5eYlsGmsL6drJyglajAoLnEoJ%2BapqOUwLW70bKWmpqfqsGgwMeelqWhn6OsrLXNoGY%3D