By Zainab Shafiq 
During a keynote speech at the SXSW panel for International Women’s Day, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, opened up about her experience with social media toxicity and revealed instances of bullying she endured while pregnant.
Prince Harry also attended the event, showing support for Meghan from the front row. Speaking on the importance of maintaining distance from negative comments for wellbeing, Meghan highlighted the loss of humanity in certain media and digital spaces.
She disclosed that the bulk of the bullying occurred during her pregnancies with Archie and Lilibet, expressing disbelief at the cruelty displayed by some individuals online. The event, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On And Off The Screen, featured discussions on diverse representation and portrayals of motherhood in entertainment.
“The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili”, she explained.
“You just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful – it is not catty, it is cruel.”
Panelists included Errin Haines, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, and Nancy Wang Yuen. Meghan emphasized the need for empathy and urged against sharing negative content about women, stressing the importance of humanity.
“If you’re reading something terrible about a woman, why are you sharing it with your friends?” she asked.
“If it was your friend, or your mum or your daughter, you wouldn’t do it.
“I think that is the piece that is so lost right now (with) what is happening in the digital space and in certain sections of the media – we have forgotten about our humanity and that has got to change.”
She encouraged the audience to consider the impact of their actions and highlighted the power of advocacy and speaking up. Actress Brooke Shields added humor to the panel, underscoring the diverse experiences of women.
“This is one of the ways we’re different, when I was 11 I was playing a prostitute,” referring to her background as a child actor and role in 1978 film Pretty Baby.
Meghan’s poignant speech resonated with the live audience, sparking conversations about the need for change in digital spaces and media portrayals. Her words serve as a reminder of the importance of kindness and compassion, especially in an age where negativity can easily proliferate online.