Meghan Markle's 'Baby Mama Dance' Video Sparks Debate

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Meghan Markle doing the "baby mama dance" to try to trigger labor while heavily pregnant with Princess Lilibet sparked both praise and criticism on social media.
The Duchess of Sussex marked her daughter's fourth birthday by posting a never-before-seen video of herself dancing in a hospital room to "Baby Mama" by Starrkeisha.
The clip quickly went viral and was praised by some, while the Daily Mail, for instance, referred to her as the "Queen of Cringe" in a headline on its homepage.
Meghan Markle's Delivery Room Twerking Video
Meghan Markle posted the footage on Instagram with the message: "Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates...so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!"
Her Instagram reel was viewed around 21.6 million times in almost 24 hours after it was posted.
Meghan Markle twerks while heavily pregnant with Princess Lilibet in a hospital room in 2021 alongside Prince Harry, who also dances.
Meghan Markle twerks while heavily pregnant with Princess Lilibet in a hospital room in 2021 alongside Prince Harry, who also dances.
Duchess of Sussex/Instagram
Harry also wrote about the moment in his book Spare: "We drove calmly, sanely to the hospital, where our bodyguards once again fed us.
"This time they brought burgers and fries from In-N-Out. And fajitas from a local Mexican restaurant for Meg. We ate and ate and then did the Baby Mama dance around the hospital room.
"Nothing but joy and love in that room. Still, after many hours Meg asked the doctor: 'When?' 'Soon. We're close.'"
What Supporters Say
Christopher Bouzy, founder of social media analysis company Bot Sentinel, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Meghan dropped this video, and the haters and conspiracy theorists are spiraling like they just found out their tinfoil hats don't get Wi-Fi. Y'all crashing out over a pregnant woman dancing is why y'all are not serious people."
Derek Guy, a prominent menswear journalist, on X: "Every whiny criticism of Meghan Markle has sounded totally idiotic. don't like something, stop watching. good lord."
Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, on X: "I totally relate with Meghan here! By 40 weeks of pregnancy I was a menace & wanted the babies out! I did everything possible to 'encourage' them out and I mean EVERYTHING! If I told you all the antics I got up to it would make you blush."
What Detractors Say
Piers Morgan wrote on X: "We're about 2 months away from the sex tape..."
Columnist Amanda Platell wrote in the Daily Mail: "Surely this is one of the most sacred and private times in a couple's relationship? What possibly made them think it a good idea to blaze it across social media?
"And having set the pattern, how many more such moments do they have stocked away to release in the days and months to come, in a pathetic, desperate bid for attention?
"Well, I'm sorry to break this to you but the video just made this couple who purport to be fiercely private a laughing stock across the world. Again."
Journalist and broadcaster Camilla Tominey wrote in The Daily Telegraph: "When I was a week overdue with my second child (ironically named Harry), I did sort of go mad. Not Meghan-twerking-in-a-hospital-room crazy, but bonkers nonetheless."
"It was undoubtedly the hardest seven days of all three pregnancies—including having to be induced with my third, another daughter," she continued.
"So like many mothers, I watched Meghan and Harry's latest Instagram video with a mixture of genuine empathy and gobsmacked astonishment.
"On one hand, I understand the sheer lunacy that can accompany being overdue. On the other, I'm not sure even in my wildest moments I would have chosen to 'twerk' my way through it.
"I mean, I'm not sure twerking would even feature on the bingo card of 'things you do while in labour': gas and air? Check. Epidural? Check. Lash out at husband? Check. Perform a sexy slut drop, while lip-syncing, to the camera? Probably not, no."
Author Oli London wrote on X: "Meghan Markle branded 'cringe' after sharing bizarre dance video throwback with Prince Harry while 9 months pregnant with Lillibet."
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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