Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have been striving to secure major deals independently of the royal family, appear to have faced setbacks despite their relentless efforts.
The Sussexes, who inked lucrative agreements with streaming platforms and sought to forge connections within the entertainment industry upon relocating to the U.S. following their departure from the royal family in 2020, were notably absent from the 2024 Grammy Awards.
According to reports from the Mirror, the reason behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence at this year’s Grammy Awards may stem from a cutting remark made by host Trevor Noah.
Trevor Noah, the host of the prestigious music industry event often referred to as the Oscars of music, returned for his fourth consecutive year as the host.
Speculation had been rife that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would grace the Grammys in a bid to enhance their public image following a turbulent period marred by controversies and negative press.
However, the royal duo was conspicuously missing from the star-studded affair.
The Mirror disclosed that Prince Harry and Meghan chose to skip the event due to concerns over potentially being the target of Trevor Noah’s jokes.
It is rumored that the decision to boycott the Grammys was influenced by a wisecrack aimed at the couple during the previous year’s awards ceremony.
One particularly memorable punchline from the show targeted Prince Harry, whose bestselling book, “Spare,” had garnered significant attention at the time.
Taking the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Trevor Noah humorously introduced British comedian James Corden, making a jest about a passage in Prince Harry’s book where he recounted suffering frostbite during a North Pole expedition in 2011.
The quip humorously implied that James Corden was an example of someone who had relocated from London to LA without constantly referencing his frostbitten appendage.
Prior to poking fun at the Sussexes, Trevor Noah had appeared on Meghan Markle’s Spotify podcast, Archetypes, and unknowingly became the final guest on the show before its eventual cancellation following the collapse of the couple’s deal with the streaming service.
During the interview, Trevor shared poignant anecdotes about his mother Patricia and the valuable life lessons she imparted to him during his formative years.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Trevor recounted his mother’s empowering words emphasizing that true masculinity is not defined by financial dominance within a household but rather by fulfilling one’s responsibilities without succumbing to societal pressures.
Additionally, Trevor Noah had faced backlash for his comments on King Charles II and the monarchy’s colonial past in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
Despite the anticipation surrounding their potential attendance, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were notably omitted from the guest list for the Grammys.
The couple, however, are speculated to be contemplating various reasons for their non-appearance at the prestigious music event, including Prince Harry’s lack of nomination and the apparent lack of invitation extended to them.