After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Appearance at the Espy Awards, Users Expressed Concern for Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left some people with questions when they made an appearance at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Some social media users picked up on something about the Duchess that had them concerned.

On July 11, 2024, Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, dressed up to attend the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre. One news outlet shared an Instagram picture of the royals smiling and sitting together while Meghan rested her hand on her husband’s knee.

The Duchess looked stunning dressed in a white halterneck dress while Harry was dapper in a black suit and tie. The news outlet captioned the photo, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have royally cute date night at 2024 ESPYS.”

At first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the image, but some netizens found something to criticize. One person who analyzed the photo focused on Meghan, saying, “She looks stressed… she skinny, bad PR [Public Relations]… bad pic.”

Although the Duchess had a broad and happy smile on her face, someone else said, “She’s looking old and tired now.” The negative judgments didn’t end when a different publication uploaded the same picture on its Instagram account.

Adding two teary-eyed laughing emoticons, a viewer wrote this about Harry’s wife, “Her arms are very thin! She should quit the Ozempic… I guess she needed to be invited to those ozempic parties her pals were throwing.”

Another person used the same emoticon for their comment and questioned, “[Is] She sick? Why so skinny? Thought she and her meganuts loved her ‘thick.'” A viewer who also thought the royal was using the diabetes medication shared, “Somebody is shooting ozempic.”

Reiterating what others had mentioned, a fifth person noted, “She has Ozempic face.” Despite many negative comments about Meghan’s look, some netizens who saw the couple’s images only had nice things to say about the pair.

Responding to one of the outlets’ posts, one person defended Meghan against critics, writing, “Here we go, why are people ready to bash her.” The social media user continued, “Megan is a thin woman who looks fantastic. Stop with the nonsense.”

Another fan applauded Meghan and wrote, “Meghan looks fantastic.” The reader also included several hashtags supporting the couple, including, “#iloveprinceharry #princeharryandmeghan #princeharry.”

Another netizen also had positive things to say about the couple, who celebrated six years of marriage in May, With a red heart emoticon, the netizen stated, “They look amazing.”

The pair was photographed several times at the event. One picture showed them smiling while Meghan kept her hand on Harry’s knee. Two more images showed them walking together and they appeared to be holding hands.

Besides being an attendee at the awards, Harry also won the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The accolade was for his work with the Invictus Games which caters to wounded, injured, or sick service members. When called up, he clutched his wife’s hand in celebration before walking on stage.

Meghan stood up to proudly clap for him with the rest of the audience, who gave him a standing ovation. The Duke hugged the three presenters, Kirstie Ennis, Israel Del Toro, and Elizabeth Marks, who presented him with the award and asked them to remain on the stage.

He started his speech by thanking the trio before expressing his “deep gratitude” to the people who worked at the Pat Tillman Foundation. Harry said he was honored that the leader of the foundation, Marie Tillman Shenton, who appeared on camera, was there that night.

He then acknowledged the Tillman family, giving a specific mention to Pat’s mother, Mrs. Mary Tillman. Meghan’s husband honored Mary for her advocacy for her late son’s legacy, which he described as “deeply personal and one that I respect.”

The royal noted how the bond between a mother and son “is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.” He shared how he wasn’t just standing before the audience as a prince and the recipient of the award, but as a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation.

Harry received the award, citing the veterans and service personnel from all over the world who made the Invictus Games possible. The royal humbly noted that the award belongs to them and not to him.

It was important for the Duke to mention the athletes, allies, and their families “for their achievements, spirit, and courage.” Especially on a night like the ESPY Awards where he was in front of such notable attendees.

“Moments like these help us reach those that need Invictus most and reduce more than 20 veterans a day taking their own lives in this country alone,” he expressed.

Duchess Meghan’s husband also explained that “Invictus” is a Latin word that means “undefeated or unconquerable.” He revealed that the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, credited the poem of the same name for giving him strength to endure almost three decades in prison.

The Duke said that just like the poem, penned by poet William Ernest Henle, “the spirit of the Invictus Games transcends time, race, and borders.” He added, “It is born from unity and exudes purpose.”

Harry also noted that in 2024, they were celebrating ten years of seeing “life-changing impact and healing through sport.” So much progress has been made since the first Invictus Games but “the world outside seems to be in an even more precarious state.”

Harry mentioned how polarized and divided the world is with conflicts raging, adding, “Anger and resentment towards those who are different seems to pervade societies everywhere.”

He further stated, “Our community proves that unity is not just possible, but formidable. The beauty of the Invictus Games lies in how it brings people together, no matter one’s nationality, background, and personal struggles.”

The Games was described as a “collective” that is “built from courage and mutual respect where athletes discover time and time again, the common denominator of their humanity.” Prince Harry praised veterans, saying they form a tight-knit family after enduring the trials of combat and working to heal from their experiences. He highlighted that they showcase the best of human qualities.

Quoting what he called “a military expression” from the Roman era, he said it roughly translated to “leave no one behind.” The words held significance to the US Army Rangers and Harry believed Pat and his fellow mates lived by them.

The Duke promised on behalf of all the Invictus Games Foundation members that no matter what they will face, “we are here for you” and “we will leave no one behind.” In concluding his speech, he held up the award as the crowd cheered and clapped.