Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Blasted as 'Disaster Tourists' After Visiting Wildfire Wreckage -- But Not Everyone Agrees
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were blasted for helping with the wildfires, but others were quick to defend the former royals.
Royal family
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have long been dedicated to helping people in times of need, but not everyone is so happy to see them helping out.
by Julia Mullaney
Published on January 14, 2025
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been living in California since 2020; itâs also the place Meghan was raised. So when the wildfires began tearing through homes in the Los Angeles area, Harry and Meghan wanted to be on the ground to help. While some people have been so appreciative of the couple, it hasnât gone over as well with others.
Actor Justine Bateman just blasted Harry and Meghan for helping out, calling the couple âambulance chasers.â
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation/Getty Images
When Harry and Meghan were royal family members, it wasnât uncommon for them to tend to disaster. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexâs job was essentially to lend a helping hand, raise awareness around charities, and make royal appearances. However, things in the United States donât work quite the same way, and while Harry and Meghan are determined to help those affected by California wildfires, not everyone is happy about it.
Harry and Meghan were recently photographed surveying damage to homes in the Pasadena, California area, a couple of hours from where they live in Montecito. But one actor, Justine Bateman of Family Ties, called out the couple on X for being present where she thinks they shouldnât be.
âMeghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers,â Bateman tweeted. âWhat a repulsive âphoto opâ they achieved. They are âtouring the damageâ? Are they politicians now? They donât live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists.â The tweet was in response to a news video showing Harry and Meghan looking at the damage caused by the Palisades Fire.
The replies to Batemanâs tweet were mixed. Some people agreed with the actor, while others took the duchessâ side and understood that Meghan and Harry were only trying to help.
âYouâre aware she was born and raised in LA, right?â one user replied, calling out Bateman for saying the couple doesnât âliveâ in the LA area.
âLife is too short to be this nasty,â someone said in response to Batemanâs tweet.
Others took Batemanâs side, with one user saying, âYou arenât lying ⊠Itâs not their neighborhood,â and another person adding, âThey had no business going to LA especially when other people couldnât even tour their own homes to see if they were still standing.â
In the wake of the fires, Meghan has made the decision to postpone the long-anticipated arrival of her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. The show was supposed to premiere on January 15, but Meghan has now pushed the launch date to March 4.
âIâm thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,â Meghan said in a statement about her decision. Meghan and Harry will likely continue to be on the ground, despite what haters say, and lend a hand where necessary to help people impacted by the fires.