Royal Rift: Norway's 'Rebel Princess' Sparks Controversy with New Netflix Doc

Scandal Rocks Norwegian Royal Family: Durek Verrett Slams King Harald and Queen Sonja

In a shocking new documentary, American shaman Durek Verrett has unleashed a scathing attack on Norway's royal family, accusing them of racism, hypocrisy, and outright betrayal. The self-styled spiritual guru, who married Princess Märtha Louise in August 2022 amid widespread public outcry, claims he was subjected to racist online attacks after their engagement and faced constant criticism from the royal family.

In a bombshell interview for Netflix's new docuseries "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story", Durek revealed that King Harald V and Queen Sonja were completely out of touch with his lifestyle and views, admitting that "pretty much everything I did was wrong" in their eyes. He claimed that the royal family would constantly let Märtha know that he was wrong and that they didn't welcome him into their fold.

Durek, who is of Norwegian, Indian, and Haitian descent, said he felt extremely judged and ostracized by the royal family, particularly after facing racist online attacks on Instagram. He claimed to have experienced racism at a royal dinner in Denmark, where a guest pointed out the portraits on the walls were of "people who enslaved your people". Durek alleged that members of the Norwegian Royal Family would look at him like he was crazy when he spoke about racism.

The Shaman also accused his in-laws of doing nothing to help him against offensive coverage, including when a publication used a racial slur in a story about Durek. It wasn't until Meghan Markle's infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey that King Harald reached out to Durek, and even then, it was only because he was worried that Durek would be the next royal to go public with his grievances.

"I said yes (that I felt treated unfairly), and they were like, 'Okay we need to have a family discussion'," Durek recalled. "And of course, my family was like 'They don't want to have a discussion because they don't want to treat you that way. They want to have a family discussion 'cause they're afraid you might be the next one on Oprah.'"

The docuseries, which takes an intimate look at the tumultuous relationship between Durek and Märtha, also includes footage of Durek looking bored at a Belgian equestrian event attended by Princess Astrid. He admitted it was "awkward" adjusting to Märtha's life and struggled with royal protocol, even getting corrected by Princess Astrid when he addressed her incorrectly.

"I mean, I'm trying to be respectful here," Durek said in the documentary. "I don't know what to call them sometimes. Is it Your Royal Highness or Your Majesty? It's like, I want to be polite but also be myself."

Durek also expressed his disdain for the "controlled" atmosphere at royal gatherings, where attendees are expected to have certain mannerisms and conversation topics. He claimed that conversations were "very flat" and lacked nuance.

The Shaman has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career, facing backlash after claiming cancer is a choice and promoting unfounded medical practices. He was also accused of assaulting Swedish father-of-two Joachim Boström in one of his spiritual sessions, an allegation he strenuously denied.

Durek's past antics include selling a $222 Spirit Optimizer medallion that he claimed helped him overcome Covid-19. He has also been embroiled in controversy over audio recordings obtained by Norwegian newspaper Se og Hor, which revealed he performed oral sex on one of his male clients after their session and helped a woman "clean" her vagina after she had "violent" sex with her partner.

The documentary's release comes as Princess Märtha Louise faces mounting pressure to renounce her title after Durek's past views sparked widespread criticism. The royal family has allowed Märtha to retain her title, but she will not be able to use it in any future commercial partnerships with Durek.

As for Durek, he remains unapologetic about his lifestyle and views, saying "I'm not going to change who I am just to fit into a certain mold." The question on everyone's mind is: what's next for this unconventional couple? Only time will tell.

The Royal Family Responds

In response to Durek's claims, King Harald V released a statement condemning the "racist attitudes" he had endured. Prince Harry praised the monarch for "leading by example", while Meghan Markle has yet to comment on the matter.

The release of "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story" has sparked a national conversation about the role of royalty in modern society and the challenges faced by those who dare to be different.

What's Your Take?

Do you think Durek Verrett is right to speak out against the Norwegian Royal Family? Share your thoughts with us on The Scholarly Note.