Hold onto your hats, folks!
Ben, the Neighborhood Critic, is back, and he’s ready to spill some serious tea on the recent royal escapade of Harry and Meghan in Colombia.
If you thought their visit would be a boon for the country, think again.
This so-called royal tour has been nothing short of an extravagant waste of resources, leaving many Colombians feeling disappointed and confused.
These two ex-Royals swooped into Colombia with all the flair of royalty, despite having ditched their official duties back in 2020.
It’s as if they missed the memo that their royal dress-up days were over.
Instead of fulfilling meaningful roles, it seems they’re more interested in securing another round of attention—this time with a side of charity work that feels more self-serving than altruistic.
Now, let’s talk about the jaw-dropping numbers involved in this visit.
The security costs alone reached a staggering $1.5 million, or about 8 billion pesos.
Just imagine that!
For what?
A couple of celebrities needing an entourage that included thousands of police officers, soldiers, helicopters, and even bomb disposal units.
Are they superheroes?
Because it’s hard to see why two ordinary civilians would require such an extravagant security detail.
Meanwhile, Colombia is grappling with significant issues like poverty, hunger, and inadequate infrastructure.
Instead of addressing these pressing concerns, millions were spent on ensuring that Harry and Meghan could parade around as if they still had a royal mandate.
Let’s not forget—they’re not official representatives of anything but their own inflated egos.
One brave voice in this circus was Escobar, a right-wing councillor from Cali, who boldly criticized the decision to allocate such funds for the visit.
He pointed out that this money could have been directed toward feeding hungry children, supporting community workers, or repairing dilapidated sports facilities.
You know, the kinds of things that actually matter to the everyday Colombian.
It’s baffling to think that Marquez extended the invitation to Harry and Meghan after watching their Netflix documentary.
Is international diplomacy now based on streaming platforms?
What’s next, inviting the cast of a popular TV show to negotiate peace treaties?
It’s absurd!
Sure, they did touch on important topics like mental health and female empowerment during their visit.
But let’s be honest—talk is cheap.
While they were busy chatting about these issues, they were also being whisked around in military aircraft as if they were on some kind of luxury vacation, completely disconnected from the reality facing the people of Colombia.
The irony is thick, especially considering they’re currently embroiled in a legal battle with the UK government over their security needs.
They argue they require protection in Britain while simultaneously enjoying the comfort of a small army’s worth of security in Colombia.
Talk about a double standard!
After all the glitz and glamour of their visit, what did Colombia really gain?
A few photo ops and some vague promises that left many feeling unsatisfied.
This entire debacle highlights a much larger issue: a world obsessed with celebrity culture, where genuine problems are overshadowed by the allure of fame and fortune.
Harry and Meghan often position themselves as advocates for the underprivileged, but their actions tell a different story.
Their ostentatious display of privilege is a slap in the face to those struggling to make ends meet in Colombia.
If they truly cared about making a difference, they would have turned down the excessive security and insisted that funds be redirected to real aid.
Instead, we witnessed a carefully orchestrated performance designed to elevate their status rather than address the pressing needs of a nation.
It’s disheartening to think that they could have used their platform to bring attention to the real issues plaguing Colombia but chose instead to bask in the glow of their celebrity.
As we reflect on this spectacle, it’s crucial to demand more from our leaders and celebrities alike.
If we want to help, it should be done quietly, without draining the resources of those we claim to support.
It’s about prioritizing the needs of the people over fleeting moments of fame.
This whole fiasco serves as a reminder of the importance of substance over style.
Let’s cut through the noise and hold ourselves accountable for where we direct our attention and resources.
Otherwise, we risk perpetuating a cycle of empty gestures and costly distractions.
So, let’s strive for better, both from our leaders and ourselves.