Meghan Markle Sparks Online Backlash Over Latest Decision Involving Father

 

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is once again at the centre of a heated online debate after reports emerged that she has chosen to draw a firm line under her long-estranged relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. The decision — coming at a sensitive time while her father is recovering from serious health issues — has sparked a fresh wave of backlash on social media and in celebrity news circles.

According to recent reports, Meghan has no plans to renew contact with her father despite his ongoing health challenges, including a recent leg amputation that required urgent surgery. Although sources say she reached out once via a private letter after his hospitalisation, she does not intend to meet him in person or resume communication.

The news has ignited strong reactions online, with many social media users questioning the duchess’s motives and urging her to keep deeply personal family matters out of the public eye. Critics pointed out that regardless of past disputes, showing compassion towards an ageing and ailing parent should be a priority. Others have accused her of being cold-hearted and unsympathetic.

One comment widely shared on social platform X described Meghan’s actions as “harsh,” insisting that Thomas, despite past issues, had apologised and deserved some degree of reconciliation. Another user echoed frustration, arguing that the public should not be distracted by celebrity family disputes when so many ordinary people face real-world struggles every day.

At the same time, some fans have defended Meghan, emphasising that her relationship with her father has been deeply troubled for years. They note that their estrangement dates back to controversial events in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, when Thomas Markle staged paparazzi photos that embarrassed the family and later suffered health setbacks of his own.

Royal experts have weighed in by suggesting that Meghan’s decision may be less about callousness and more about protecting her emotional wellbeing. Long-standing disputes and repeated publicity from Thomas Markle regarding private family matters have taken an undeniable toll. From this perspective, the decision to close that chapter once and for all is seen as one rooted in self-preservation rather than malice.

However, the timing of this latest decision — coinciding with Thomas’s health crisis — has intensified public scrutiny. Many feel that families should put aside past grievances when a loved one is facing serious medical challenges. Critics argue that offering even a small gesture of goodwill under such circumstances could go a long way in healing decades-old wounds.

Supporters of Meghan counter that privacy and personal boundaries matter, too. They contend that reconciling with someone who repeatedly made private matters public may not be as straightforward or healthy as some critics suggest. Instead, they argue that genuine reconciliation requires sincere effort from both sides, not just one.

The controversy shows no sign of fading soon, as online debates continue to swirl over the duchess’s choice and what it means for her public image. As always with celebrity family disputes, opinions are deeply divided — and there’s little consensus about what the “right” decision would have been.