Justine Bateman (left) isn’t buying the narrative that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travelled from Montecito to Pasadena only to be helpful to victims of the devastating Eaton fire. Photos: TNS
Family Ties star Justine Bateman isn’t buying the narrative that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travelled from Montecito to Pasadena Friday (Jan 10) only to be helpful to victims of the devastating Eaton fire.
Bateman accused the self-exiled royal couple of using their “surprise visit” to Pasadena for publicity and a “photo op.”
The Los Angeles-based actor and filmmaker, who played Mallory Keaton alongside Michael J. Fox in the hit 1980s sitcom, also called the couple “ambulance chasers” on X for checking in on the Eaton fire response. Since Jan 7, the fire has killed at least 16 people, destroyed thousands of homes and was only 27% contained as of Sunday night.
“As the world has been following story after story Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers,” Bateman wrote on X. “What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved. They are ‘touring the damage? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire.”
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t respond publicly to Bateman’s post, a representative for the couple told Page Six that they found her comments “offensive” that “anybody would think this is merely a photo opportunity.” The source also said that Meghan, born and raised in Los Angeles, feels “completely” heartbroken “for all the lives that have been lost and for those whose homes have been destroyed in these fires.”
Bateman’s post came the day before Meghan announced that she was delaying the release of her new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, which was supposed to debut Tuesday on Netflix and show her in her lavish Montecito garden or demonstrating her cooking skills in a well-appointed kitchen.
In a statement released to People, Meghan said the show’s premiere would be delayed until March, “as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.” The Daily Beast’s European editor Tom Sykes wrote that Meghan, “often criticised for being out of touch,” probably realised that now would not be the right moment “to release a ton of aspirational footage of her whipping up cookies and cake with her celebrity friends.”
This image shows Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Mindy Kaling in a scene from her series 'With Love, Meghan.' Photo: Handout
In her post, Bateman seemed to emphasise the fact that they have no official government status. Pasadena’s Mayor Victor Gordo took time out to escort them around his city and show them affected neighbourhoods, according to the Orange County Register. He expressed gratitude to Fox 11 for their visit and praised them for being “as helpful as possible.”
But as Bateman suggested, his tour is the kind of service often afforded to local or national leaders, or members of the British royal family. As the Daily Beast’s Sykes also reported, such VIPs usually avoid visiting disaster scenes as first responders are still dealing with the crisis, because they don’t want to be a distraction for vital personnel.
As for Bateman calling out Harry and Meghan for not living in Los Angeles, even some of the couple’s critics cited Meghan’s local ties and her professed need to help her hometown.
But Bateman alluded to the ongoing criticism that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to be seen as influential do-gooders, as online celebrity news coverage over the past week pretty much shifted away from anything not having to do with the Los Angeles fires. Headlines focused on the many prominent stars who had to evacuate or mourn the loss of their homes and their lifetimes of memories.
A helicopter drops water while fighting the Auto Fire in Ventura County, California, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo: AP
Harry and Meghan, whose home is about 90 miles (144km) north of the wildfires, still kept their names in the news, mostly through reports about their response to the fires, some prompted by statements put out their representatives. It also happens that Meghan made a splashy return to Instagram on New Year’s Day, as she launched a PR campaign to promote With Love, Meghan.
In one statement on their official Sussex.com website, they said their foundation was working with Chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen, a longtime partner, to serve meals to first responders and victims of the fire. And like many other celebrities, they also shared a list of resources for victims and places where people can donate. Then came a follow-up story reported by People, in which their representatives appeared to confirm that they had opened up their US$29mil (RM130.51mil) home to “friends and loved ones” forced to evacuate.
On Friday and Saturday, multiple outlets reported on their visit to the Pasadena Convention Center and other locations. Early in their visit, the Sussexes, dressed “incognito,” were joined by Gordo and by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as they thanked Los Angeles County first responders, donated supplies and connected with affected families and elderly people, People and the Orange County Register reported.
The Orange County Register also described how the couple “caravanned” to the burn areas, where full neighbourhoods had been decimated, and then to the Rose Bowl, where first-responders had set up their their emergency response hub.
An aerial view of a fire truck near homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Photo: AFP
In footage published by FOX 11, the pair also were seen conversing with Gordo and with Jose Andres. “It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected,” Gordo told the news station. “It’s very important.”
Gordo insisted that Harry and Meghan “didn’t come out here for publicity. They came out here to work.” He said they initially served food “anonymously,” while wearing face masks. But, of course, their high-profile meant they couldn’t stay anonymous for long
Harry and Meghan’s visit sparked plenty of debate online, with Bateman becoming one of their most prominent critics. Bateman also has been on Fox News, fiercely criticising Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their fire preparation and disaster response.
In response to Bateman’s post, another Sussex critic cited reports that authorities had limited people’s access to their properties in Pasadena due to safety concerns. “Sickening people can’t see their homes but these two clowns and photographers were allowed to go through,” the critic said.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, right, speaks with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, centre, and Doug Goodwin, who's home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, California on Jan 10, 2025. Photo: AP
But the couple have had many defenders across different platforms. One person, commenting on the People story, said that “showing support in a crisis isn’t remotely out of place for members of our British royal family and would in fact, be expected.” The person also said, “If the issue is just ‘more celebrities showing up and making it about them’ – well, we’ve reached a sad place if famous people feel the need to hide their desire to help for fear of how it might affect their PR.”
When someone responded that there are plenty of celebrities “who are helping with the disaster but not having their pictures taken or asking for publicity,” another person said, “Few couples have the kind of high profile and crazy media interest that the Sussexes do. They don’t let this stop them doing good.”
Yet another person said, “They have donated money... opened their home to friends who have lost theirs and have now volunteered on the ground. I hate how people try to twist everything to do with them into a negative.” – The Mercury News/Tribune News Service
