Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo says the Duchess of Sussex has been a victim of “deep-rooted prejudices”.
The bestselling Girl, Woman, Other author said a “myth” was constructed around Meghan.
Evaristo, who is chair of judges of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, said Meghan was treated badly by parts of the media because “she’s a black woman” who was seen to have “overstepped the mark by entering the royal family”.
“I think there are so many issues around Meghan, I’m fully in support of her and Harry,” the writer told the PA news agency.
“I’m appalled at the way in which the media has treated her in particular.
“I am shocked and horrified at the sort of campaign against her, which is what it feels like in some of the papers and other parts of the media.”
She said: “There are two things going on – one is she’s a black woman who has overstepped the mark by entering the royal family.
“There are some deep-rooted prejudices around that.
“On the other hand, she’s a powerful woman, she’s a feminist, she’s a working woman, she’s a career woman, and she has a mind of her own.
“I think that has also got some people’s backs up.
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