Despite the recent progress in gender equality, sexism in media coverage of powerful women is woefully untamed. Female celebrities and politicians have their appearances scrutinized and criticized exponentially more than men in the same position. Their appearance is tied to their likeability and eligibility for positions of power. Every step is carefully observed, the paparazzi are just waiting to capture the fall.
Meghan Markle became one of the most talked-about women of the decade after marrying Prince Harry. Nasty tabloid stories and online trolling were two major factors that drove the couple to exit the royal family. After their Netflix docuseries 'Harry & Meghan' discussed the harmful effects of the racist, misogynistic rhetoric used to fuel hatred against Markle, an article in The Sun by British columnist Jeremy Clarkson caught people's attention for exhibiting exactly the kind of dangerous so-called reporting that contributed to Markle's suicidal ideation and continues to negatively affect her mental health and safety.
Jeremy Clarkson, who attended Queen Camilla's Mayfair lunch in December 2022, wrote of Markle in his article published December 16: "I hate her on a cellular level." He continued, "At night, I'm unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her."
Many Twitter users have called his words "vile" and "abusive," as well as "a blatant appeal to incite humiliation and violence on a woman." Even Jeremy's daughter, Emily Clarkson, condemned his piece. She wrote on her Instagram Story, "My views are and always have been clear when it comes to misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media. I want to make it very clear that I stand against everything that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I remain standing in support of those that are targeted with online hatred."
The world is slowly starting to see through the character assassinations that put these women's livelihoods at risk and try to scare them out of having a voice. Click through this gallery to see which other famous females suffered at the hands of the media, and how.