Daily Mail writes to CBS about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interview – Deadline

Associated Newspapers, the owner of British tabloid Daily Mail, wrote to ViacomCBS demanding the removal of “inaccurate, misleading and divisive” content from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Attorneys for Associated Newspapers complained about a cut in the show that purported to be headline-grabbing UK headlines. They claim that the CBS special showed footage that had been tampered with or portrayed as headlines when it was not. They have requested that the footage be removed from the interview online and before it is repeated tonight.

“Many headlines have either been taken out of context or deliberately edited and displayed as evidence to support the program’s claim that the Duchess of Sussex has been the subject of racist coverage in the UK press. This montage was not made obvious to viewers and, therefore, this section of the program is both seriously inaccurate and misleading, ”said Elizabeth Hartley, General Counsel for Associated Newspapers.

“I would be grateful for your urgent confirmation that the offending content will be removed from the program currently available to the public. We also understand that another broadcast is scheduled for tonight. The edit must therefore be deleted before this broadcast. “

Associated Newspapers lists three examples in its letter, claiming the most “glaring” was an image containing the headline: “Meghan’s Seed Will Taint Our Royal Family.” The company said it was an edited version of the original title, which featured a UKIP member’s suspension for his racist texts about Markle. UKIP is a British political party. The original headline was: ‘Meghan’s Seed Will Taint Our Royal Family’: UKIP chief’s glamorous model lover, 25, suspended from party for racist texts about Prince Harry’s future wife. “

Attorney Hartley said: “This is a completely dishonest misrepresentation of a newspaper headline and an article that was the opposite of racist. No one watching the program would have understood that thanks to the editing. “

The letter comes amid a UK firestorm over Markle’s press treatment. Concerns have been raised over the racist nature of the Duchess of Sussex’s coverage after Prince Harry accused British tabloids of being ‘bigoted’. Associated Newspapers’s intervention also comes in the context of his legal fight with Markle over the publication of a letter to his father. Markle scored a major victory in the ongoing battle last month.

Oprah with Meghan and Harry aired on Sunday March 7. The special was produced by Harpo Productions. Executive producers were Terry Wood and Tara Montgomery. Brian Piotrowicz was co-executive producer.

Deadline has contacted ViacomCBS for comment.