Meghan Markle says tabloids should have cigarette-style warnings saying ‘toxic for mental health’

Meghan Markle condemned tabloids in a candid chat at the The New York Times DealBook Online Summit on Tuesday - saying they should have warnings like cigarette packets.

The Duchess of Sussex joined a conversation with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin and Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments. The talk, called “Minding the Gap”, focused on how women can achieve equal pay and equal respect in the professional world.

When asked about rumors surrounded herself and her family, the Duchess said that tabloids should come with a warning: “I would urge you do not read tabloids, because that is not healthy for anyone.  Hopefully they come with a warning label one day like cigarettes. This is toxic for your mental health.”

“Treat people the way you want to be treated,” she added. “That is how I’ve always moved.”

Sorkin also asked Markle about her campaign for paid family leave, acknowledging that the Duchess was using her royal privilege to reach American senators.

“I don’t see this as political, frankly,” Markle responded. “Look, there is a precedent amongst my husband’s family and the royal family of not having any involvement in politics but I think this is, I mean, paid leave is a humanitarian issue. I think this is one of those issues that is not red or blue. We can all agree that people need support certainly when they’ve just had a child.”

“Even before I had any sort of privilege in my life — when my life and my lifestyle were very, very different — I always stood up for what was right,” she continued.

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Markle went on to answer other candid questions about her life, with Hobson asking about the appeal involving the court case over her letter to her father. “In terms of the appeal, I won the case. This issue has been going on, when I had no children at all, Mellody I now have two children, it’s an arduous process but it is me standing for what’s right. That is important across the board, in this case or in the things we’ve been talking about today.  At a certain point, no matter how difficult it is, you know the difference between right and wrong and you must fight for what is right.”

Treat people the way you want to be treated, that is how I’ve always moved.

Markle spoke about her life-long work ethic and shared to the hosts that she grew up making scrunchies and clipping coupons. When asked if she still clips coupon, Markle asked: “Do they have them anymore?”

Markle concluded the talk by saying that there’s nothing wrong with “talking about a woman’s success or her ambitions.”