Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon sparks outcry

Magazine’s depiction of Queen, Meghan criticised for being ignorant

After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s scathing interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last week, every news outlet wanted to share their take on the story, with French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo being no exception. However, their depiction of the subject has sparked an outcry for not only being insensitive to the royals but also invoking the memory of the late African-American George Floyd in a way that can only be described as deeply ignorant and “wrong on all levels,” reported The Guardian.

Erdogan blasts 'disgusting' Charlie Hebdo cartoon

The publication released a cartoon titled ‘Why Meghan Quit Buckingham’ which portrayed Queen Elizabeth II kneeling on Meghan’s neck in the same way a United States police officer had strangled Floyd to his death last year. In the same cartoon, a speech bubble for the duchess reads, “because I couldn’t breathe.” These were the same words uttered by Floyd while he was being brutalised by the officer and can in no way be compared to the situation faced by Meghan.

Social media users also raised their concerns over Charlie Hebdo profiteering from the memory of Floyd. One such voice was that of race equality think tank Runnymede Trust CEO Halima Begum, who tweeted, “The Queen as George Floyd’s murderer crushing Meghan’s neck? Meghan saying she’s unable to breathe? This doesn’t push boundaries, make anyone laugh or challenge racism. It demeans the issues and causes offence across the board.”

#CharlieHebdo, this is wrong on every level. The Queen as #GeorgeFloyd's murderer crushing Meghan's neck? #Meghan saying she's unable to breathe? This doesnt push boundaries, make anyone laugh or challenge #racism. It demeans the issues & causes offence, across the board. pic.twitter.com/ptNXs8RtuS

— Dr Halima Begum (@Halima_Begum) March 13, 2021

There is no doubt that the magazine was prompted to make the cartoon following Meghan’s experience with racism, before and after the birth of her son Archie. However, the parallels drawn between police brutality against African-Americans, particularly Floyd, and the mistreatment of Meghan by the British Royals are absurd and too far-fetched to say the least.   

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