In November 2021, in a panel at Wired 's Re:Wired Conference, Harry stated that "the term Megxit was or is a misogynistic term, and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew into mainstream media. Sky News had also claimed that the term was being used by trolls on the Internet back in April 2019. The outlet had previously reported on an analysis by the social data analytics firm Brandwatch, which concluded that the term "Megxit" had been in use on Twitter since at least the beginning of 2019 and was utilized in negative comments aimed at Meghan. On 28 January, the term had become sufficiently pervasive, that the Financial Times in their FT Advisor supplement ran a piece for taxation professionals titled, "What if your client wants to do a 'Megxit'?", while Vanity Fair reported on actor Brad Pitt's "Megxit joke", at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. BBC News, and other British news media, called the final agreement a "hard Megxit", in a further word-play on political term, hard Brexit. When reviewing the media reaction to the final agreement, BBC News said "there are no winners as a result of what many of the front pages are calling "Megxit" - the exit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as front-line royals". On 19 January, in reviewing the final agreement, The Guardian argued that "stepping back" was no longer appropriate, however, the couple had also still not "resigned" nor "abdicated" from the royal family. The New York Times wrote that the parallels between "Megxit" and "Brexit" were greater than just "clever wordplay", and that the two terms involved the same divisions in British public opinion from "young liberals" (who supported the couple, and who supported staying in the EU), and "older conservatives" (who supported the Queen, and who supported leaving the EU). By 15 January, the term had become so widespread that The Times reported: "Megxit turns into a moneyspinner" for merchandisers who had made clothing and souvenirs using the term. Alternative terms appeared but did not catch on to the same degree either. BBC News commented that "Sussexit" was trending on social media, but it did not reach the level of use as Megxit in mainstream media. Naming īritish tabloid newspaper The Sun is credited with the first headline use of 'Megxit' on 9 January 2020. ![]() The use of Meghan's name has been taken in some quarters as identifying her as the instigator of the withdrawal. Collins English Dictionary included 'Megxit' as one of their ten "Words of 2020", and listed it in the online edition of their dictionary: Collins told The Times: "It immediately caught on due to its echoes of 'Brexit'. It derives from Meg(han) + (e)xit influenced by Brexit, which was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community at the end of January 2020. Megxit is a play on the term 'Brexit' and refers to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan stepping back as members of the British royal family. In November 2021, Harry described "Megxit" as a misogynistic term aimed at Meghan. ![]() Megxit came to signify the break by the couple from the royal family and its protocol, and their plans for independence under their new brand, then tentatively named Sussex Royal. On 19 February 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke and Duchess would relinquish their royal patronages, as they were not returning as working members of the royal family. A twelve-month review period was allowed in case the couple changed their minds however, they did not. Collins English Dictionary added "Megxit" to its online edition as a top-ten Word of 2020. The outcome was described as a "hard Megxit". On 18 January, an agreement was announced whereby the couple would "no longer be working members of Britain's royal family", and would not use their " Royal Highness" styles. Queen Elizabeth II issued a rare personal statement on her family, and was praised for her rapid handling of the matter. Megxit led to a meeting of the royal family on 13 January, dubbed the "Sandringham Summit" and described as "unprecedented". ![]() ![]() This was dubbed Megxit, a term inspired by Brexit, and adopted globally on mainstream and social media, spawning various Internet memes and "Megxit" merchandising. On 8 January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced on Instagram their decision to "step back as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, and become financially independent. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Christmas Day, 2017
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |