In Prince Harry's latest interview, which aired as part of the docuseries "The Me You
Can't See," he shared further, jarring details about both his and Meghan Markle's mental
health struggles and their difficulty getting help. The Duke of Sussex's participation in
the docuseries gained international press attention, particularly because Harry spoke
candidly about using drugs and alcohol as a crutch after failing to receive the support
he needed to process his mother's death. According to Oprah, Harry didn't necessarily share his
grief to communicate or reconcile with his family, but instead to tell his truth in a
way that might inspire others to do the same. She explained to Gayle King in an interview,
"He knows that by sharing the story of his own grief with his mother, that many other
people who haven't processed their grief will say, 'Oh, you know what? That's what's going
on with me, too.'"
Harry received positive feedback for being so open about his mental health problems,
especially in a world where men are often discouraged from talking about their feelings
and emotional struggles. But he also received some criticism from viewers who described
the interview as repetitive of what Harry and Meghan have already shared. Amid gossip
column rumors that Harry had deeply hurt his father Prince Charles, some waded through
the social media backlash to plant themselves firmly in Harry's corner. Jessica Mulroney,
a fashion stylist who worked with Meghan on "Suits," seemingly went to bat for the Prince
in a big way.
Mulroney's long been in Markle's inner circle. She was, for example, among those invited
to the baby shower Markle famously held, along with Serena Williams and Amal Clooney among
others. There were tabloid rumors that Mulroney and Markle had some sort of dramatic falling
out in the summer of 2020, however it seems they were likely just rumors. That's at least
according to Vanity Fair, which picked up on the fact that, in March, Mulroney posted
a picture of pink roses that Meghan sent her in honor of Mulroney's 41st birthday. That
was right around the time that Meghan and Harry's conversation with Oprah went live.
Mulroney stood up for Meghan then, too, posting an Instagram photo of the two friends together,
captioned:
"I don't know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, the politics and the
press like this woman. In the face of it all, I have never seen her waver from kindness,
empathy and love."
Jessica Mulroney's latest cryptic Instagram message doesn't name Harry directly, but many
believe it's nonetheless a reference to his latest interview. Mulroney wrote on her Instagram
story on May 22nd, 2021, the day after "The Me You Can't See" came out,
"Speak out for what you believe in when you are ready. No matter how loud the other voices
are, yours is the only one that should matter."
This isn’t the first time she has used her social media platform to speak out about mental
health and the importance of breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness. Shortly
after Harry's interview aired, Mulroney shared an image to Instagram that read,
"Some people think it is dangerous to tell people going through bad mental things that
things will change. I'd just like to say I find it far more dangerous to tell someone
things won't. Perspective doesn't make conditions evaporate. But reframing an experience can
keep you alive."
In the caption of the now-deleted post, Mulroney wrote that those who genuinely know what it's
like to suffer from mental health illnesses are oftentimes stuck in difficult situations.
"Putting on a brave face is what's expected. However, you can be honest about not feeling
ok. #mentalhealthwareness."
She tagged Matt Haig, a mental health advocate in the post.
Mulroney explained her prior deleted mental-health-positive posts on her Instagram stories back in September
2020.
"People often ask why I delete certain posts. The amount of bullying and hatred I've had
to put up with for 3 years....I'm tired of looking at it. Be kind. Be gracious. We are
grown ups...stop acting like teenagers. Real women don't put down other women."
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Administration's 24/7 National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. That's 1-800-662-4357.