They’re not backing down.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly “shocked” by the response to their “near-catastrophic” automobile chase in New York Metropolis final week, experiences Us Weekly.
“They insist their account of the automobile chase was completely not exaggerated, and for folks to say in any other case is so hurtful and out of line,” an insider instructed the journal.
A rep for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claims that after Markle was honored on the Girls of Imaginative and prescient Awards on Could 16, they — together with Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland — have been recklessly pursued by relentless paparazzi in a chase round Manhattan that was “near-fatal.”
“Final night time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland have been concerned in a close to catastrophic automobile chase by the hands of a hoop of extremely aggressive paparazzi,” the pair’s rep instructed Web page Six in an announcement the next day.
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“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in a number of close to collisions involving different drivers on the highway, 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.”
Nevertheless, nearly instantly there was backlash relating to the veracity of the story.
Even the NYPD pushed again on the florid language utilized by their publicist.
“There have been quite a few photographers that made their transport difficult,” a police spokesperson recalled of the ordeal in an announcement.
“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 picture company that had photographers following the couple additionally denied the allegations.
“In keeping with the photographers current, there have been no near-collisions or near-crashes throughout this incident,” Backgrid USA instructed Web page Six in an announcement.
Even Whoopi Goldberg splashed chilly water on the fevered allegations.
“… I feel folks in New York know if it was potential to have automobile chases in New York, we’d all make it to the theater on time,” she opined on “The View.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s publicist angrily shot down prices that the chase was a publicity stunt.
“Respectfully, contemplating the duke’s household historical past, one must assume nothing of the couple or anyone related to them to imagine this was any form of PR stunt,” publicist Ashley Hansen instructed Web page Six, referencing Princess Diana’s deadly automobile crash with paparazzi in 1997. “Fairly frankly, I feel that’s abhorrent.”
Regardless of the backlash, the California-based couple is refusing to be silenced.
“So far as staying out of sight and being scared to indicate their faces, that’s not going to occur,” the supply added. “[This has] simply strengthened their resolve to maintain standing up for themselves and talking out after they really feel wronged.”