Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have denied claims that they’re considerng suing the creators of South Park over a recent episode that appeared to mock them.
The episode entitled The Worldwide Privacy Tour aired on Comedy Central in the US on February 15, and depicts the “Prince of Canada” attempting to escape the public eye with his princess.
Although the pair weren’t named in the episode, similarities to the former royal couple were hard to ignore as the cartoon prince sported red hair, and his wife donned an outfit similar to that of Markle’s at 2018’s Trooping the Colour.
Viewers also watched the cartoon couple appear on the fictional show Good Morning Canada holding placards that read: “We want our privacy!” and: “Stop looking at us!” whilst the talk show host introduces a copy of the prince’s book, titled Waaagh.
Many interpreted the episode to be a swipe at the Sussexes, who recently aired a six-part Netflix series about their relationship and Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare.
After the cartoon aired, speculation mounted that the couple were planning to sue the creators of the show, something their rep has now denied.
A spokesperson for The Sussexes told People: “It’s all frankly nonsense. Totally baseless, boring reports.”
The South Park episode is one in a long line of media narratives that have long assumed that the couple left royal life for one of privacy, something that those close to the couple have denied.
The Sussexes’ global press secretary, Ashley Hansen, said in December a "distorted narrative" had been created and that the couple never cited privacy as a reason for their decision to leave.
In a written statement to the BBC, Hansen wrote: "The Duke and Duchess have never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back. This distorted narrative was intended to trap the couple into silence.
"In fact, their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties. Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series.
"They are choosing to share their story, on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created an entirely untrue narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion. The facts are right in front of them."
In their original announcement to step back from royal life in January 2020, the pair shared in a statement: “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages.
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."
At the time, this statement was interpreted by some commentators to suggest that their decision was influenced in part by the press intrusion, surrounding their then newborn son Archie.
During their Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Markle addressed the invasions of privacy that they had been subjected to when asked.
She shared: "I think everyone has a basic right to privacy. Basic. We're not talking about anything that anybody else wouldn't expect."
