Meghan Markle is slated to deliver a high-profile keynote address at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas. But the Duchess of Sussex's upcoming appearance alongside media personalities like Katie Couric and Brooke Shields is already facing intense backlash online from critics slamming her as a "grifter" who "contributes nothing but empty words."
The conference organizers announced the Women's Day panel titled "Breaking Barriers, Challenging Stereotypes, Working Toward a Healthier Society" in an Instagram post last week. "On March 8, International Women's Day, join Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, @katiecouric, @brookeshields, @nancywyuen, and Errin Haines (@emarvelous) for a conversation on breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and working toward a healthier society on and off our screens," SXSW wrote.
The comments section was quickly flooded with scathing criticism aimed at Markle's inclusion on the panel of prominent female voices. "Why? Meghan contributes nothing but empty words," one person fumed. "Grifter! It's a pass for me," sneered another detractor.
Others took even more personal shots, with one commenter acridly asking: "Will she discuss how she is a narcissist?" Another simply expressed disgust with a "" emoji reaction.
"lol....vapid blather guaranteed" mocked a different user about Markle's expected comments.
The degree of online vitriol underscores the continued polarization around the former American actress, who has faced relentless attacks from monarchy supporters and conservative critics since her 2018 marriage to Britain's Prince Harry. As a biracial woman who has spoken candidly about her struggles with racism and mental health, Markle has emerged as a lightning rod for both adoration and derision.
Despite the intense criticism, the 41-year-old also received effusive praise from her fans over the high-profile speaking engagement. "How nice it is to listen to Duchess Meghan and the other women on International Women's Day, perfect ️" gushed one supportive comment.
Another wrote: "What a phenomenal panel and excited to see Meghan in ATX. ️" One defender pushed back directly, countering "Those of you forgetting, she has been in philanthropy long before harry."
The SXSW appearance marks Markle's return to the public stage after her female empowerment podcast "Archetypes" was dropped by Spotify last year but subsequently picked up by another platform, Lemonada Media. In a statement, the Duchess said she was "proud" to join the "female-founded company with a roster of thought-provoking and highly entertaining podcasts."
"Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works," Markle added. "I'm so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family."
On her personal website, the mother-of-two highlights her "lifelong advocacy for women and girls" as "a constant thread in her humanitarian and business ventures." She has been named among the world's most influential women by publications like TIME, Variety and British Vogue.
However, Markle's philanthropic brand has done little to temper the fierce attacks from her detractors - criticism that seems likely to intensify as her SXSW date approaches. Whether she can shift the narrative with her keynote remains to be seen.
For the conference organizers, the inclusion of such a polarizing figure alongside esteemed journalists and actors suggests a calculated embrace of controversy as a marketing strategy. The backlash plays directly into SXSW's self-professed mission to host "conversations on breaking barriers [and] challenging stereotypes."
