Photographs fired.
A photograph company denied Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s declare that the couple had been in a “near-catastrophic automobile chase” with its paparazzi Tuesday evening in New York Metropolis.
“Based on the photographers current, there have been no near-collisions or near-crashes throughout this incident,” Backgrid USA mentioned in a press release to “Leisure Tonight” Wednesday.
“The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in speedy hazard at any level.”
The corporate additionally shot down the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s declare that they had been adopted by “extremely aggressive paparazzi,” saying its employed shutterbugs had no intention of “inflicting any misery or hurt, as their solely software was their cameras.”
Based on Backgrid, 4 freelance photographers, three in automobiles and one on a bicycle, had been overlaying Harry and Markle’s evening out within the Huge Apple together with her mom, Doria Ragland, and the potential of a dinner after an awards ceremony they attended downtown.
“You will need to notice that these photographers have knowledgeable accountability to cowl newsworthy occasions and personalities, together with public figures similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,” the company famous.
Backgrid added that it values “transparency and ethics” in journalism, together with “offering honest and factual responses to claims.”
Nonetheless, the corporate mentioned it’ll proceed to look into the incident.
“We don’t condone any type of harassment or criminality. We’re taking Prince Harry’s allegations critically and can be conducting an intensive investigation into the matter,” Backgrid concluded its assertion.
Web page Six solely reported Wednesday that Harry, 38, Markle, 41, and Ragland, 66, had been “extraordinarily upset and shaken” after being concerned in what they described as a “near-catastrophic” two-hour paparazzi chase the evening earlier than.
After attending the 2023 Ladies of Imaginative and prescient ceremony, the place the “Fits” alum obtained an award from Gloria Steinem, the trio in an SUV round 10 p.m. and had been instantly adopted by about 12 photographers.
The couple, Ragland and their safety guards finally ditched the SUV after not with the ability to shake the paps and hopped right into a yellow cab in an effort to flee.
An insider claimed to us that one cameraman hit a automobile and one other nearly ran over an NYPD officer throughout the “near-fatal” chase.
“Final evening, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland had been concerned in a close to catastrophic automobile chase by the hands of a hoop of extremely aggressive paparazzi,” a rep for the Sussexes added in a press release to Web page Six.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in a number of close to collisions involving different drivers on the street, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.
“Whereas being a public determine comes with a degree of curiosity from the general public, it ought to by no means come at the price of anybody’s security.”
However after Harry and Markle made their claims, witnesses started poking holes of their story.
The New York Metropolis Police Division launched a press release Wednesday in response to the allegations, saying, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their vacation spot, and there have been no reported collisions, summonses, accidents or arrests in regard.”
The NYPD added that it “assisted” the royals’ personal safety crew in preserving them secure.
A high-ranking police supply informed The Put up that no 911 calls had been made to report something and that the NYPD solely had one automobile surveying the scenario.
“[The chase] positively wasn’t two hours,” the police insider added.
Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed throughout a press convention that, in keeping with a briefing he obtained, two NYPD officers “may have been injured.”
“I don’t suppose there are numerous of us who don’t recall how [Harry’s mom, Princess Diana] died. It might be horrific to lose harmless bystanders throughout a chase like this and [for] one thing to have occurred to them as properly,” Adams mentioned, referring to the late Princess of Wales dying in a 1997 automobile crash in Paris involving paparazzi.
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In the meantime, legislation enforcement sources informed NBC Information that Harry, Markle and Ragland had been delivered to the nineteenth Precinct, the place they remained for quarter-hour earlier than being put right into a taxi and safely escorted by police to their Higher East Aspect vacation spot with out being adopted.
It’s unclear when the couple will return residence to California, however a supply famous that they’re “nonetheless upset, to say the least.”
Members of the royal household haven’t checked in on Harry and Markle for the reason that harrowing incident unfolded.
A supply informed Web page Six that neither King Charles III and Queen Camilla, nor Prince William and Kate Middleton, have contacted the Sussexes concerning the ordeal.
Reps for Backgrid and Harry and Markle didn’t instantly reply to Web page Six’s requests for remark.