Time Magazine puts out a list of the 100 most influential people each year,
and it has just been released for 2021. Broken down into categories like artists,
leaders, and pioneers, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are listed as icons,
along with Naomi Osaka, Alexei Navalny, Britney Spears, Dolly Parton, and more.
Time wrote about the couple,
"They turn compassion into boots on the ground through their Archewell Foundation.
They give voice to the voiceless through media production. Hand in hand with nonprofit partners,
they take risks to help communities in need — offering mental-health support to Black women
and girls in the U.S. and feeding those affected by natural disasters in India
and the Caribbean. In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don't know,
the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don't know."
Despite Time's glowing accolades,
it should come as no surprise that the internet seems to be divided over the fact that Meghan
Markle and Prince Harry are listed as some of Time's most influential people.
When it came to the ex-royals' inclusion on the list,
Twitter lit up with opinions from fans and foes. One person said,
"Sorry [Time Magazine]. Are many powerful people who did much more to the humanity
[than] Harry and Meghan and they are not in the list! [...] Because they are not a Prince?"
Meanwhile, other netizens celebrated the honor, with one tweeting,
"Omg yes!!!! Meghan and Prince Harry on the cover of Time magazine!!!"
Another responded to a tweet from Time, writing,
"I'll always admire Harry [and] Meghan's steadfast commitment to their causes
and them wanting to help make the world a better place through one act of compassion at a time.”
Another critic, however, added,
"Top 100 influential people or controversial people in the world?
Were you desperate for candidates?"
Many also commented on the fact that the two looked not quite like themselves
on the cover of the magazine; one such person tweeted "VERY airbrushed."
It wasn't just the internet that weighed in on Time's decision.
Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, told Newsweek
that Harry and Meghan's Time Magazine cover and spot on the 100 Most Influential People list,
"Will be seen as a stab in the heart of the Monarchy's reputation, because of the greater
implicit credibility it affords them and their previous claims against the crown."
Earlier this year, the couple opened up in an interview with Oprah Winfrey,
stating that they faced racism and a lack of support from the royal family.
With Newsweek, Schiffer hailed their media savvy. Schiffer shared,
"The combination of the leaks and the framing of themselves, in part,
as victims of certain behavior, and on top of that, connecting in such authentic ways
with global Gen Z and Millennial audiences and allowing them to actually feel what it's like
to interact with a member of the royal family ... that, on a human level, has been powerful.”
So, what type of work have these two done, making them icons and earning them a place
on Time's list? Just since taking a step back from the royal family, the list goes on and on.
They started Archewell, an umbrella brand which currently includes Archewell Audio,
Archewell Productions, and the Archewell Foundation, a global nonprofit that has
projects and partnerships with Global Citizen, UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry,
Center for Humane Technology, and Aspen Institute, according to its website. The
couple have also personally delivered meals with Project Angel Food. They have spoken up
against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd. They have partnered with chef José Andrés
and World Central Kitchen to build community relief centers. And they have continued with
some royal duties, such as participating on panels and being involved with events.
Chef Andrés, who, in addition to working with the couple on community relief kitchens,
wrote about the two for Time's list of the 100 most influential people. He said,
"Springing into action is not the easy choice for a young duke and duchess who have been
blessed through birth and talent and burned by fame. It would be much safer to enjoy their
good fortune and stay silent. That's not what Harry and Meghan do or who they are."
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