Loose Women panellists Charlene White and Jane Moore got into a very heated debate on the lunchtime chat show on Monday as they discussed Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey which aired in the US last night, but will air on ITV in the UK Monday night at 9pm.
Charlene began by asking journalist Jane how damaging she thought the interview had been for the Royal Family.
Pausing to consider her answer, Jane began: “It’s difficult isn’t it, because Meghan has very much said it’s her truth – or their truth – but the question remains whether it’s the truth of the institution and whether the institution is going to respond.”
As both panellists reflected on some of the major issues raised in the chat, the duchess’s comments about her experience of race within the royal family created a very tense atmosphere between the pair.
Loose Women panellists Charlene White and Jane Moore got into a very heated debate on the show today
“The real bombshell was about race of course. I struggle with the lack of context, with how vague it was,” Jane continued. “As by not being specific you’ve sort of condemned the entire family and if you think about it it could have been an out and out racist comment, or it could have been a more senior member of the family – everyone’s got someone in their family who might make a casually racist comment.”
“But that’s not what Meghan has said in that,” Charlene cut in, clearly fired up. “She’s said some members of the royal family expressed concerns [over the colour of Archie’s skin]. You perhaps would be ok with casual racism but…”
Indignant, Jane fought to clarify her previous comments, repeating again that she had a problem with the “very vague context” of Meghan’s claims, but Charlene wasn’t having any of it.
“No, no, they have chosen, as I see it, not to mention the person who had their conversation, which is a very different reason as enquiring over the skin colour.”
Charlene White said it was important for people to listen to the truths of black women
Passionately sharing her opinions on the topic, Charlene went on: “I know I keep coming back to it but I just don’t think we are very good at talking about race here [in the UK].
“I just don’t think we are, and I think there’s been a lot of disbelief, it can’t be true, rather than listening to a lot of minorities who are saying, when we’re talking about an aggressive black woman, I have been there. I have experienced that.”
“But I get called aggressive all the time and I’m not black. It’s just sexist isn’t it?” Jane insisted.
As the tension in the room got even more heated, Charlene shut down her co-panellist as she said: “Jane you’re doing… again it’s coming down to, I’m telling you my truth as a black woman and for many black women across the country who’ve experienced something to be told ‘that’s not true’…”
“I’m not saying it’s not true,” Jane declared. “But women get called… you know, it’s something you have to put up with as a woman isn’t it? A woman makes a point and we can say ‘oh it’s because you’re aggressive’.”
Jane Moore said she believed the issue was about “a family” rather than about race specifically
“Or we can sit and listen and actually take in what a lot of black women are trying to say across the country and have done,” Charlene hit back, as Jane shook her head and insisted that “we do”.
Jane went on to say that for her the issue is that it’s about a comment that was made within a family, and assumed from Meghan’s words she’d meant an “elder” member, which prompted Charlene to warn the TV personality she had no evidence for that.
Finally shutting down the debate, Charlene added: “The person was concerned, not interested, concerned, there is a very different… it’s a completely different thing – it’s a completely different thing.”
Like what you see? Then fill your boots…
There’s MUCH more where that came from! Want all the jaw-dropping stories from the world of showbiz and up to the minute news from TV and soaps?
Well, we’ve got you covered with our showbiz, TV and soaps newsletters – they’ll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
We’ll bring you the inside track from telly expert Ed Gleave and soap specialist Sasha Morris. Oh, and your daily fix of Piers, Katie Price, Demi Rose and all your other Daily Star favs.
You can sign up here – you won’t regret it…
As today’s show went on, the group continued to talk about the other issues raised by Meghan in her interview with Oprah, including her mental health struggles.
At another moment, Nadia Sawalha admitted she’d been “surprised” Meghan and Harry chose to lift the lid on there being racism in the royal family, but that she wasn’t “surprised” it “exists”.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV, and Oprah with Meghan and Harry will be shown tonight at 9pm.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
