Meghan Markle's awkward reaction to Brooke Shields' 'prostitute' role at SXSW
Meghan Markle had an awkward moment with Brooke Shields during a panel discussion at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
The Duchess of Sussex was one of the speakers at the event, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On And Off The Screen, along with journalist Katie Couric, actress Brooke Shields, and diversity consultant Nancy Wang Yuen.Meghan shared her experience of being a target of online bullying and abuse, especially when she was pregnant with her children, Archie and Lilibet.
She also talked about how she wrote a letter to Procter & Gamble when she was 11 years old, asking them to change a sexist advertisement for dishwashing liquid.However, when she finished telling her story, Brooke Shields made a surprising remark that left Meghan speechless for a moment.
"When I was 11, I was playing a prostitute," Shields said, referring to her controversial role as the daughter of a sex worker in the 1978 film Pretty Baby.Meghan mumbled something inaudible, then said with a smile:
"A little different."
She quickly composed herself and continued the conversation, but the awkward exchange did not go unnoticed by the audience and the viewers online.
Some people commented on how Meghan handled the situation gracefully, while others criticized Shields for making such a comment.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"Brooke Shields was so rude and insensitive to Meghan. She was trying to make a point about women empowerment and she just threw that in her face."
Another user wrote: "Meghan Markle is a class act. She didn't let Brooke Shields' comment get to her. She just smiled and moved on. That's how you deal with haters."
Prince Harry, who was sitting in the front row, also showed his support for his wife by clapping and cheering for her throughout the event.
Meghan and Harry have been living in California since they stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.
They have been working on various projects, such as their Archewell Foundation, their Netflix and Spotify deals, and their upcoming book, The Bench.
