Prince William faced criticism for failing to acknowledge the racist treatmentMeghan Markle faced.- The prince made a statement condemning
racism within soccer on Sunday. - Kristen Meinzer said she wished he had been as "vocally anti-racist" when Markle experienced it.
The Duke of Cambridge has faced criticism for calling out racism within soccer while simultaneously failing to address the racism Meghan Markle has been subjected to.
Prince William, who is President of the Football Association, published a series of rare tweets on Sunday condemning "racist abuse" after a handful of British players were sent hateful messages online.
Chelsea defender Reece James, West Bromwich Albion's Romaine Sawyers, and Manchester United players Axel Tuanzebe, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford were among those to be sent abusive messages recently, Hello! Magazine reports.
"Racist abuse - whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media - is despicable and it must stop now," William wrote using the Kensington Palace Twitter account on Sunday.
—The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 31, 2021
"We all have a responsibility to create an environment where such abuse is not tolerated, and those who choose to spread hate and division are held accountable for their actions. That responsibility extends to the platforms where so much of this activity now takes place," he said.
"I commend all those players, supporters, clubs, and organizations who continue to call out and condemn this abuse in the strongest terms," William added, before signing his name with a "W."
It's not the first time the prince has addressed the subject. William said he was "fed up" with racism in soccer during a royal engagement in September 2019.
"People are now talking a little bit about mental health issues but I imagine talking about racism is still quite a difficult subject, especially when it's happening in such a public fashion with Premier League matches or [in the] Champions League. We've got to do something about it. I'm fed up with it. I'm so bored of it," William said, The Guardian reports.
Royal commentator Kristen Meinzer responded to William's recent statement, writing: "I do wish you and your family were this vocally antiracist when the target of the racism was the Duchess of Sussex."
—Kristen Meinzer (@kristenmeinzer) January 31, 2021
Journalist Aly Walansky also responded to William's statement, writing on Twitter: "But it is ok when directed at the Duchess of Sussex?"
—Aly Walansky (@alywalansky) January 31, 2021
Markle has dealt with racism from the British press since she started dating the Duke of Sussex in 2016. Some examples from over the years include the report that she was "fueling human rights abuses, drought, and murder" for eating avocados and that her mother's hometown was "(almost) straight outta Compton" and "gang-scarred."
Some royal watchers have speculated that Markle's decision to leave the UK and the
Meinzer previously told Insider that the double standards the duchess has been subjected to in the press wouldn't have happened "if she were white."
Prince Harry has so far been the only member of the royal family to publicly address the racism Markle faced, as he released a statement through his communications secretary condemning racist social media trolls in 2016.
The palace has taken steps to attempt to reduce the hateful messages the duchess has been sent on social media.
The royal family released "Social Media Guidelines" in March 2019, after a series of angry, racist comments were directed toward Markle on the official royal social media accounts.
"The aim of our social media channels is to create an environment where our community can engage safely in debate and is free to make comments, questions, and suggestions," the guidelines read. "We ask that anyone engaging with our social media channels shows courtesy, kindness, and respect for all other members of our social media communities."
Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by Insider.