Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah: Who took sides, who slammed them

Ever since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah was aired on Sunday, several celebrities have spoken in support of Harry and Meghan. There are also others who have questioned the authenticity of their claims. 

Here's looking at who said what post-Meghan and Harry's interview. 
 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's explosivce interview to Oprah Winfrey has opened up cans of worms for the Buckingham Palace and the royal family. Meghan and Harry not only discussed their strain relationship with other members of the royal family but also talked about mental health, issue of racism and the overbearing poresence of UK media in their lives- all of which compelled them to steap away from the monarchy and live a more peaceful, private life in the US. 
 

Evere since the interview with Oprah was aired on Sunday, several celebrities have spoken in support of Harry and Meghan. There are also others who have questioned the authenticity of their claims. 
 

Serena Williams will not be travelling to Tokyo for the Olympic Games, the 23-times Grand Slam singles tennis champion said without giving the reasons behind her decision.

American Williams, who will turn 40 in September, won the singles title at the London Olympics in 2012 and she has also picked up three gold medals in doubles with sister Venus -- in Sydney (2000), Beijing (2008), and London.

"Yeah, I'm actually not on the Olympic list, so... Not that I'm aware of. If so, then I shouldn't be on it," Williams told reporters on the eve of the Wimbledon Grand Slam.

 

America's youth poet laureate also extended her support to Markle and wrote, "Meghan was the Crown's greatest opportunity for change, regeneration, and reconciliation in a new era. They didn't just maltreat her light--they missed out on it."

The Pop Diva thanked Markle for being such an inspiration. "Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you," Beyonce  posted on her website. 
 

Billie Jean King urged Wimbledon on Wednesday to lift its ban on Russian and Belarusian players, saying "life is too short"

The NBC anchor reflected upon how no one knows what goes on behind close doors. "It’s true what Meghan Markle told Oprah, we don’t know what goes on in people’s lives behind closed doors. That’s something we can all remember," she tweeted. 

The highest office in the US too reacted on the interview. "For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage," President Joe Biden's press secretary, Jen Psaki, told reporters post the interview. 
 

The royal family reportedly had an emergency meeting post the interview and mulled over their reaction for a day before they issued a statement. "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning," the palace said in a statement released on the Queen's behalf.
 

Former Good Morning Britain presenter Morgan wrote, “This is an act of war by a bully-boy thug who doesn’t think the rest of the world has the guts or will to stop him... Shameful.”

The actress shared a throwback photo  with Markle and wrote, "You already know what time it is. I hope we all continue to rally around women who dare to stand up for themselves and others. We see you, we support you, we got your back.”
 

Markle's former 'Suits' co-star Pierce slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for sitting for an interview in the middle of a pandemic. "Today 3,000 people are going to die in America from Covid," Pierce said in a radio interview. "A couple of hundred people are going to die, even this hour, in the UK," and added that he found the interview "quite insensitive and offensive that we are all complicit in this sort of palace… gossip in the midst of so much death. I think it is insignificant."
 

TV anchor Meghan Kelly questioned Markle's comments on how she had Googled her future husband Harry and had no idea about how the monarchy works. "This is a person who had (George) Clooney and Oprah at her wedding even though she didn’t know them, and then covered herself in blood diamonds from the Saudi prince. So spare us that you’re not into any of the grandeur," Kelly said in her show as she slammed Meghan's interview. 

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, has also come out in support of the Royal Family. "I have great respect for the royals, and I don't think the British royal family are racist at all. I don't think the British are racist, I think Los Angeles is racist, California is a racist, but I don't think the Brits are."

"The thing about what colour will the baby be or how dark will the baby be; I'm guessing and hoping it's just a dumb question from somebody ... It could be somebody asked a stupid question. Rather than being a total racist," he told ITV. 

The Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess were visiting a multi-racial school in a deprived area of east London when they were asked about their opinion on the issue highlighted in the interview. To this, Prince William said, "We're very much not a racist family".