Don Lemon says Harry and Meghan’s claims aren’t surprising because monarchy is ‘built on racism’
‘The whole institution is built on a racist structure’
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Don Lemon has reacted to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview, saying monarchy is “built on racism”.
The CNN journalist said after Harry and Meghan’s sit-down with Oprah Winfrey that he doesn’t believe “anyone who watched it, especially any person of colour, is surprised that the British family – that there is racism there”.
“That is what the monarchy is based on: heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, blood lines,” he added.
“The whole institution is built on a racist structure. So there should not be a ‘Oh my God, the British family is racist’ – of course they’re racist. That’s what the entire monarchy is built on – the racism, the family that is supposed to be in it only by birth. And so far by birth, it’s only been white royals on the British throne.”
Lemon went on: “We shouldn’t be like, ‘Oh my God, the British family’s racist.’ Yeah, the system is racist.”
Read more: Harry and Meghan: Oprah interview audience ratings revealed
He then mentioned those who have “built their reputations on criticising people”, saying: “They always have to rush to Twitter and criticise someone or get in on it because they want relevance. Well, you’re not relevant anymore. And stop trying to be relevant on the backs of Black people.”
During the interview with Oprah, Meghan said that while she was pregnant with her son Archie, there were “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born”.
The programme, which has been watched by millions of people around the world, has prompted a wave of support for the couple from other celebrities.