Joanna Lumley won’t be watching Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Oprah Winfrey interview.
Teaser clips of the bombshell chat have been released, with one showing the Duchess claiming the Royal Family were ‘perpetuating falsehoods’ about the couple.
Many have been left divided over the footage, with Meghan’s Suits co-star Patrick Adams penning a scathing defence of his pal following criticism.
During an appearance on The Last Leg, Joanna stated that the public squabbling ‘spreads hatefulness’ and makes everyone take sides.
Sharing her upset on Friday’s instalment of the Channel 4 series, the Absolutely Fabulous star said: ‘I just hate squabbling in public, I really hate it actually.
‘It sort of destroys everybody and everything, and it makes everybody watching take sides and argue with each other, and become hateful. It spreads hatefulness, I really don’t like it.
‘I’m not rubbing my hands, I won’t watch the interview. I can’t do it.’
Speaking about previous meetings with the Royal family, she continued: ‘I mean like all people in our position, you’ve been presented to them, you’ve done things. I’ve assisted in charities.
‘Of course I’ve met them, I’ve never met Meghan but I’ve met the young Princes and I’ve met Charles, I’ve met the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen and all these people. Of course I’ve met them because it’s in my line of duty and I’m 112,’ she laughed.
‘So I don’t like this because it’s divisive and it upsets everybody. Now is the time when we should all be just being calm down, and made happy, and it seems to be stirring up a lot of hatred.’
Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview will be airing on Sunday in the US, and on ITV at 8pm the following day.
Joanna’s words came after Patrick slammed the reaction to the pregnant Duchess on social media, in a string of furious tweets.
The former co-stars appeared on seven seasons of the legal drama Suits together, from 2011 to 2018, and played an onscreen couple for much of that.
He and many of the cast of the show were in attendance at the Royal Wedding in May 2018.
‘Meghan Markle and I spent the better part of a decade working together on Suits. From day one she was an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family,’ he began. ‘She remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued.
‘She has always been a powerful woman with a deep sense of morality and a fierce work ethic and has never been afraid to speak up, be heard and defend herself and those she holds dear. Like the rest of the world, I have watched her navigate the last few years in astonishment.
‘She fell in love, moved to a new country, became a household name across the entire globe and began the difficult work of trying to find her place in a family dynamic that can at best be described as complicated and at worst, seemingly archaic and toxic.’
‘It sickened me to read the endless racist, slanderous, clickbaiting vitriol spewed in her direction from all manner of media across the UK and the world but I also knew that Meghan was stronger than people realised or understood and they would regret underestimating her,’ he continued.
‘And then they welcomed Archie. And on any sort of decent planet that would be a time to stop sharpening the knives and let these two people enjoy the magical early months and years of starting a family. But we don’t live on that planet and instead the hunt continued.
‘It’s OBSCENE that the Royal Family, who’s newest member is currently GROWING INSIDE OF HER, is promoting and amplifying accusations of “bullying” against a woman who herself was basically forced to flea the UK in order protect her family and her own mental health [sic].’
Patrick added: ‘IMO, this newest chapter and it’s timing is just another stunning example of the shamelessness of a institution that has outlived its relevance, is way overdrawn on credibility and apparently bankrupt of decency [sic].
‘Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.’
The Last Leg continues on Fridays, at 10pm, on Channel 4.
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