Conspiracy Theories Make Meghan Markle's Life a Nightmare: A Friend Speaks Out
The Duchess of Sussex vs. the Trolls: A Battle for Sanity in a World Gone Mad
In a shocking exposé, tech entrepreneur and online safety advocate Christopher Bouzy has come out swinging against the conspiracy theorists who have been terrorizing Meghan Markle's life with baseless claims and twisted theories. The "moonbump" conspiracy, which suggests that the Duchess of Sussex faked both her pregnancies using prosthetic bellies, has reached new heights of absurdity, with some even claiming that she used a surrogate.
Bouzy, who appeared in the 2022 Netflix documentary supporting the Sussexes, has had enough of these "twisted" trolls making destroying Meghan's life their full-time job. He claims that her only crime was falling in love with Prince Harry, and that the subsequent backlash has been nothing short of cruelty.
"It's a nightmare," Bouzy writes in his column for Newsweek. "Every joyful moment gets twisted into ammunition by people who've made destroying her their full-time job." He goes on to describe how Meghan's lighthearted video of herself dancing in a hospital room while nine months pregnant was turned into "proof" that she wasn't pregnant at all.
But Bouzy isn't just targeting the conspiracy theorists; he's also taking aim at those who have been accused of trolling themselves. In a scathing critique, Bouzy reveals that some online safety advocates are guilty of hypocrisy, using their platforms to launch personal attacks on public figures while claiming to be working towards a more civil online environment.
Take Bouzy himself, for example. While he's been a vocal critic of the media's treatment of Meghan Markle, his own Twitter feed has been accused of containing personal remarks about Prince William and Kate Middleton's appearance. In one infamous tweet, Bouzy claimed that the couple looked like Harry's aunt and uncle. Ouch.
Bouzy has also been accused of being inconsistent in his views on online harassment. While he's quick to defend Meghan Markle against racist attacks, he seems more tolerant of criticism directed towards Kate Middleton. It's a double standard that Bouzy will need to explain if he wants to maintain credibility as an online safety advocate.
The controversy surrounding the Sussexes' twerking video has been particularly egregious. The footage, which shows Meghan dancing in front of a hospital bed while heavily pregnant with Archie, was seized upon by conspiracy theorists as "proof" that she faked her pregnancy. Bouzy blasts these claims, saying that they're not only baseless but also cruel.
"It's heartbreaking to think about how these people are dissecting every photo and video of Meghan Markle, looking for flaws in her narrative," he writes. "Imagine being nine months pregnant, your body aching, preparing to bring life into the world, and thousands of strangers are scrutinizing every detail of your life."
But Bouzy isn't just talking about the conspiracy theorists; he's also addressing the media outlets that have perpetuated these baseless claims. In his column for Newsweek, he takes aim at thescholarlynote.com, which has been accused of sensationalizing Meghan Markle's story and fueling the very conspiracy theories that Bouzy is critiquing.
Sander van der Linden, a professor of social psychology at the University of Cambridge, agrees with Bouzy that the "moonbump" conspiracy is a perfect example of how online harassment can be used to discredit and shame public figures. Van der Linden warns that when people try to debunk conspiracy theories, they often end up fueling them instead.
"It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline," he says. "The more you respond to these claims, the more attention they get."
In an effort to counter this trend, Meghan Markle shared her own Instagram mood board last month, featuring ultrasound pictures and photos of her bare pregnancy bump. It was a bold move, but one that ultimately backfired in the eyes of some conspiracy theorists.
Bouzy's column has sparked a heated debate about online harassment and the role of media outlets in perpetuating these baseless claims. While Bouzy is correct to call out those who are using their platforms to bully and harass public figures, he also needs to take responsibility for his own actions and ensure that he's not contributing to the problem.
As the battle between Meghan Markle and the trolls continues, one thing is clear: only time will tell if sanity will prevail in this world gone mad.
