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Last month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the 53rd NAACP Image Awards ceremony in California, where Harry was to receive the President's Award in recognition of his charitable work on issues like racial justice and mental health. However, their appearance at the event was not without controversy, as their sudden exit partway through has sparked significant criticism about their manners and sportsmanship.
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Based on footage and eyewitness accounts, it seems Harry and Meghan rushed out of the ceremony as soon as Harry had received his award on stage. They were shown interrupting the next speaker who had approached the stage, making their way hurriedly to the exit while the presenter was in mid-speech. This behavior directly contradicts etiquette at such events, where attendees are expected to remain for the full program out of respect for other honorees. As one commenter noted, "at any awards ceremony, dance recital or musical performance it was always stated that if you choose to attend and perform or receive an award, it's proper to stay for the whole event and grant the same respect to others."
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Adding to the rudeness was that their exit seemed timed to upstage the next recipient who was trying to have their moment on stage. This generated audible boos and yelling from the audience for Harry and Meghan to exit. Clearly, their behavior had disrupted and disrespected the flow of the program as well as other attendees. As athletes were being honored at the ceremony, it was all the more discourteous considering their achievements were being celebrated for what may be a one-time career event. Others noted Meghan's unusually subdued demeanor, perhaps signifying embarrassment at upstaging others with their hastened exit shortly after Harry's moment in the spotlight.
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Interestingly, presenter DJ D-Nice added apparent commentary on the couple's exit by saying into the mic "pass the mic down to her," implying an absent Meghan should have received it next. This was interpreted by many as a dig at Meghan and her desire for attention and speaking opportunities. He then paused significantly before stating "she is no Princess of Wales," widely seen as a not-so-subtle jab at her self-styled role and Diana comparisons that are constantly criticized. The crowd's reaction and his pointed remarks showed public sentiment had already turned skeptical of Meghan and her media-hyped image.
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Looking back, other royal figures who were beloved by the public like Princess Diana knew their place and understood dignity, decorum and serving the greater good over self-promotion. She handled herself with grace even when unfairly criticized, as biographer Andrew Morton noted: "With Diana, I never heard her raise her voice or behave in a manner that was anything other than dignified." Unlike Diana, Meghan seems increasingly tone deaf to proper etiquette and concerned mostly with her brand.
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This was hardly the first controversy over their manners. At the UK premier of The Lion King remake, the couple skipped the afterparty while collecting expensive gifts meant for charitable auction. At the Invictus Games opening ceremony, they stood for the American anthem but sat for the UK one in a pointed slight. Though Harry was vocal about paparazzi intrusion into his private life, he has since eagerly courted friendly Hollywood media with lucrative Netflix deals and PR stunts managing his image.
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While some media glossed over the NAACP exit incident, it should have received scrutiny like protester Kazan's lifetime achievement Oscar in 1999, where coverage was frank about audience divisions. The boos directed at Harry and Meghan reflected how far public opinion has turned against their entitled behavior and image crafting. Going forward, it appears they must choose between civilly representing their causes or indulging insatiable appetites for attention and acclaim. For now, their discourteous exit shows which priority continues guiding their actions. Perhaps next time, greater consideration and respect for others may hopefully lead to less controversy.
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