Since the beginning of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has shared a bittersweet connection with the media, especially the British tabloids. Now and then, there have been reports of the Duchess of Sussex not liking what media houses write about her. There was one time in 2017 when the Vanity Fair October issue left the former American actress furious and outraged.

Meghan interviewed for the magazine hoping for them to highlight her work in the drama Suits and her contribution to the world as a philanthropist and activist. Though Meghan Markle looked enchanting in the cover picture, the front-page headline blew her mind so much so that she was all set to fire her public advisor.

What was wrong with the Vanity Fair cover featuring Meghan Markle?

Vanity Fair released the October 2017 issue of the magazine with Meghan Markle as the face and the headline, “She’s Just Wild About Harry.” The Suits alumnus found the headline to be demeaning and racist. Notably, it is a blackface number that was performed in the 1993 film Babes in Arms. 

In her upcoming book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, the royal author Valentine Low has claimed that both Harry and Meghan were absolutely miffed with the latters’ representation. Following the release of the cover, the Duchess also wanted to fire Kaleigh Thomas of Sunshine Sachs as her PR.

“Harry and Meghan tried to get it changed online, because [they thought] it had been racially motivated,” a source told Low as mentioned by the Daily Mail.  Notably, Meghan had to convince Harry for the interview by telling him it would celebrate the 100th episode of her popular legal drama series. 

Back then, the actress could not speak publicly about politics, sensitive topics like race, and her relationship with Harry. The only reason she did the cover was after she assured the Prince that the interview will be about her show Suits. Following all the controversy, Vanity Fair editor Sam Kashner confessed that he was only concerned about Meghan’s relationship with Harry. Sam denied knowing anything about the TV Show and the actress before the rumors of her dating the Duke surfaced. 

Do you think the Vanity Fair cover projected Meghan Markle in the wrong light? Share your thoughts in the comments.