Duchess of Sussex opens up about 'hateful' messages she received while pregnant ... trends now
Meghan Markle has opened up about the 'hateful' messages she received while pregnant with Archie and Lilibet during SXSW festival.
The Duchess of Sussex arrived in Texas to discuss 'breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes' at an event at the festival alongside Brooke Shields and Katie Couric today.
Meghan, 42, said: 'I keep my distance from it right now for my wellbeing but the bulk of the bullying and abuse I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn, with each of them.
'You just think about that and to wrap your head about why people would be so hateful. it's not catty it's cruel.'
South by Southwest, also referred to as SXSW, is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, being held from March 8-16.
Meghan, described as a 'visionary female leader' by the organisers, is the headliner of the keynote event on Friday, which is also International Women's Day.
According to organisers, the session is presented by Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation and The 19th, a US nonprofit newsroom that reports on gender, politics and policy.
It comes as it was revealed the Duchess has reached out to PR gurus in the UK in a bid to improve her and Archewell's reputation.
The Duchess of Sussex is to speak on a star-studded keynote panel on the opening day of SXSW festival in Texas
Announcing its panel of 'visionary' women, the festival confirmed the session would focus on the dangers and mental health issues associated with social media users amongst teenage girls.
The session, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen, will be moderated by Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast, and also attended by pop culture expert Nancy Wang Yuen.
Alongside the fellow participants, Meghan will also talk about the importance of representation in media and entertainment.
In a statement, the organisers said: 'Women's representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there's still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers.
'Social media's omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular.
'On International Women's Day, we'll hear from visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment and philanthropy who are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and working toward a healthier society on and off our screens.'
The appearance is the latest of a series of public engagements by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the latest of which saw Meghan appear in London via video for the opening of a new wing of the animal charity Mayhew.
The announcement was in honour of her late friend Oli Juste, with the Duchess saying the dog trainer's sudden death had left her heartbroken.
Katie Couric is also sharing a platform with Meghan Markle at the opening day of SXSW
Nancy Wang Yuen (pictured) is an American sociologist who appeared on Meghan Markle's Archetypes podcast in 2022
Brooke Shields, 58, is to appear on the panel alongside Meghan Markle at the festival today
A photo shared on Harry and Meghan's new website, Sussex.com - the subject of controversy because of the prominence of its royal branding - showed
