Meghan Markle defended by This Morning viewers as video for 40th birthday branded ‘cringey’

Meghan Markle has launched a campaign for her 40th birthday, but not everyone is convinced, with This Morning’s Matthew Wright branding it ‘cringey’.

The Duchess of Sussex is celebrating her 40th by asking 40 of her friends to take 40 minutes to mentor women going back into the workplace after Covid-19.

While she said she agrees with the principle, Beverley Turner, who appeared on the show to chat to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, declared there was ‘too much Meghan Markle’ in the video, saying she would expect someone who’s turning 40 to have more wisdom.

‘She’s just not very funny,’ she added.

Matthew was a little more generous, saying Meghan’s got her message across.

‘It is kind of naff, the comedy is a bit cringey but the message she’s getting out there…is a really important one,’ he said.

However, many This Morning viewers weren’t impressed with the comments, sticking up for the Duchess.

‘There’s a lot of Meghan Markle in this” in a segment about Meghan Markle’s 40th birthday,’ one pointed out.

‘Does it really need to be funny to get out a good message in mentoring and helping women? Bored of women not hyping each other up,’ another said.

One more added: ‘Obviously the video she put out wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, why they analysing every second of it?’.

In her first appearance since she gave birth to baby Lilibet, Meghan has released a video via her and Prince Harry’s Archewell website.

While joking around with her friend actor Melissa McCarthy, a smiling and relaxed-looking Meghan launched 40×40.

The global project encourages people around the world to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women.

Meghan has asked 40 activists, athletes, artists and world leaders to participate by contributing 40 minutes of mentorship to women re-entering the workforce after the Covid pandemic.

More: This Morning

Among those who have signed up to mentor a woman in their community are singer Adele, poet Amanda Gorman, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and fashion designer Stella McCartney.

Meghan’s video shows her trying to recruit Melissa as one of the mentors.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

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