Entertainment
Holly Willoughby defends Meghan Markle after suicidal revelation during Oprah interview: ‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate on how wealthy you are’
Holly Willoughby has defended Meghan Markle after she revealed life as a royal drove her to constant thoughts of suicide during her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan and Prince Harry spoke with the US talk show host on Sunday, with Meghan breaking down in tears and saying she ‘just didn’t want to be alive anymore’ while pregnant with son Archie.
Following the interview, Piers Morgan has said he ‘doesn’t believe’ Meghan’s revelation – but Holly came to her defence on Monday’s This Morning.
The presenter hit back at guest Julia Hartley-Brewer, who criticised Meghan and Harry by saying: ‘I do think multi-millionaires sitting with a billionaire in their multi-million pound mansion complaining about how terrible their life is is tone deaf. In this day and age when so many people are struggling.’
Holly replied to say that mental health can affect anyone, regardless of background or wealth.
The 40-year-old said: ‘Mental health doesn’t discriminate on how wealthy you are. Haven’t we got past that thought process by now?’
Julia added: ‘I get it, especially being a mum-to-be in a foreign country and not feeling support from her new in-laws and the palace staff.
‘That would have been incredibly difficult… and the fact they weren’t offering her help. I don’t understand why she was not able to get help herself.’
After the comments, guest Matthew Wright praised Holly for her words, saying: ‘I’m very glad that Holly’s pointed out that the wealthy can be affected by negative mental health.
‘History books are filled with the rich and famous killing themselves, either deliberately through suicide, or by default through drugs and alcohol abuse.’
In the revelatory Oprah interview, Meghan also claimed a member of the family ‘raised concerns’ about ‘how dark’ her son Archie’s skin would be.
Earlier today, Trisha Goddard issued a scathing takedown of Piers Morgan in a tense debate about the interview, arguing the presenter might understand the Duchess’ ordeal if his own sons were to marry a Black woman.
Piers also got into another heated debate with Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu who branded him a ‘disgrace’ for his comments about Meghan.
The Oprah interview, which originally aired on CBS, will be shown on ITV at 9pm tonight.
This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV.
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MORE : Good Morning Britain’s Alex Beresford tells Piers Morgan to ‘lay off’ pregnant Meghan Markle
Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview: Key moments
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have spoken to Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview about their decision to step back as senior working members of the Royal Family.
Here are the key points from the interview, which UK viewers can watch at 9pm on ITV on Monday, March 8.
- Meghan says it was Kate who made her cry over flower girls, not other way round
- Meghan says Harry was told there were ‘concerns how dark’ Archie would be
- Harry and Meghan reveal the gender of their baby due in summer
- Meghan sobs as she says pressures of royal life drove her to the verge of suicide
- Prince Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls after he quit Royal Family
- Harry says Meghan saved him from being ‘trapped’ like Prince Charles and Prince William are
- Princess Diana would be ‘sad and angry about how this has panned out’
- Meghan and Harry share adorable new video of son Archie at the beach
- Harry confirms terrible rift with William and says their relationship is now just ‘space’
- Queen ‘ghosted Harry during Megxit talks and got aide to say she was too busy’