Meghan Markle: Family and Background - November 2017-May 2018

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Osipi

I'm also looking at two totally different kinds of pictures here. Tom did consent to staging a few photographs, and if I'm not mistaken, they were taken a while back ago. These were consensual photos and a contract between Tom Sr. and the photographer was reached. The photos were innocuous and showed a proud father getting prepared for his daughter's wedding. To me, its a photo op and all of the BRF know the importance of photo ops and I don't think these photos are really anything that Tom did to discredit his daughter or to betray her trust or anyone's trust for that matter.

Then, on the other flip side of the photo album, we have the intrusive pictures of Tom being followed crossing the Mexico/US border, the "cheap" motel (actually a well reputed chain rather than a no tell motel) he checked into and photos of each and every item he purchased at a 7-11 right down to letting the world know he uses Gas-X. These are the types of photos that make the demand for privacy have substance. Not the ones that Tom Sr. agreed to.

The demand for privacy stands to be valid. Its the intrusion into someone's life that is not warranted that is the issue. Not the posing. Not the money. The intrusion where one has their privacy invaded without their permission is the prime issue here.

I see where you are coming from and I really really really wish I could agree 100% - it's just that Tom Sr didn't need to do any kind of photo op. Yes - the attention was just on him and the pictures were completely innocuous but ... I dunno.

I wonder if his blonde friend talked him in to doing it.

Either way I feel badly for Meghan and disappointed in Tom Sr. Looks like the Markle side of the family is problematic. Maybe Harry knew what he was talking about when he said now Meghan has the family she never had.

Thank God for Doria and the Raglands (minus the ex-half-brother in law).

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Osipi

I really don't see that there is something nefarious about these pictures or receiving payment for posing for them. For all we know, Harry and Meghan may decide to have copies of them to put in their own personal photo album from their wedding. I had a pre-wedding photo take with my dog that I still cherish. Tom Sr. did not dishonor his daughter in my eyes. He posed for pictures preparing for his daughter's wedding and all it does is make him come across as the proud papa.

He wasn't preparing for his daughter's wedding, he only pretended to be (having a student working in a party shop measure you up for 15 dollar is pretty obvious as is visiting an internet cafe that you don't frequent to view pictures that were released months ago and of which he hopefully has real copies) so pictures could be taken.

Not sure how any of this can be seen as honest or no character flaw. Unfortunately, he is not trustworthy. Will be an interesting week with unnecessary tensions that I'm sure Meghan and Harry would have gladly done without.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

But the ‘consensual’ photos of Meghan’s dad we’re never presented as such. There was no indication that he was cooperating with the paparazzi. He no doubt received a few coins for the pics. Paparazzi are a definite no-no within KP.

The thing is it’s a slippery slope. Play ball with paparazzi one day and the next you’re selling stories to a tabloid. To me there’s no moral difference between what Meghan’s siblings are doing and her dad.

Did he co-operate with "paparazzi" or a photographer who presented credentials from a newspaper?

And there is a huge difference between these photos and what Meghan's half siblings have done.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

But the ‘consensual’ photos of Meghan’s dad we’re never presented as such. There was no indication that he was cooperating with the paparazzi. He no doubt received a few coins for the pics. Paparazzi are a definite no-no within KP.

The thing is it’s a slippery slope. Play ball with paparazzi one day and the next you’re selling stories to a tabloid. To me there’s no moral difference between what Meghan’s siblings are doing and her dad.

Woah - I'd say there is a definite difference. I agree that what Tom Sr did was in poor taste, but he didn't attack Meghan or bash her or even anyone else. He just took some pictures to fit a "Tom Sr prepares for his daughter's wedding" narrative. That's a huge difference from how his two adult kids have acted.

Even though I'm disappointed in what Tom Sr did - it pales in comparison to how his daughter Samantha and son Tom Jr have done. It pales. Morally the two couldn't be further apart. Tom Sr may have done that for money or to get paps off his back. Maybe he got duped by the paps who convinced him that this would give them the story and they'd leave him alone. But Tom and Samantha have done nothing but talk about Meghan. They've trashed her, profited off of her and tried their best to destroy her relationship with Harry and the BRF. They've even tried to get her wedding cancelled.

Let's be fair.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by FashionMaven

Actually that would probably hurt Meghan, who clearly wants her father there. He's walking her down the aisle.

We don't know why she wants her father to walk her down the isle. It would surely reflect bad on her if she hadn't asked him. Contrary to custom she wanted her mom to take her to the castle/church instead of her father... that speaks volumes about her relationship with her mom and might be related to her relationship with her father as well.

In general, I think almost any bride or groom would want both parents present at their wedding but she has to swallow a lot of pride after this public betrayal.

[Rudolph]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Did he co-operate with "paparazzi" or a photographer who presented credentials from a newspaper?

And there is a huge difference between these photos and what Meghan's half siblings have done.

A paparazzi or a photographer from a newspaper? I think we’re splitting hairs. At least as far as this discussion goes.

Look I realise there are people who want to excuse everything ‘Markle’ to square with their own beliefs but in this case Meghan’s dad has been caught red handed.

Trying to make excuses only makes it look more shady.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Somebody

We don't know why she wants her father to walk her down the isle. It would surely reflect bad on her if she hadn't asked him. Contrary to custom she wanted her mom to take her to the castle/church instead of her father... that speaks volumes about her relationship with her mom and might be related to her relationship with her father as well.

In general, I think almost any bride or groom would want both parents present at their wedding but she has to swallow a lot of pride after this betrayal.

To clarify - Meghan is having her mom in the car with her only from the lodgings to the castle. Then she's going alone to the church after that - and it's still going to be some distance to go from there (partially along the long walk).

I think the main reason is because Tom Sr has bad knees or a limp or something. Those stairs might be super hard for him. I also think that Meghan wants her mom to have a place of honor with her on the day of. She's clearly closer to her mother than her father. I think of how Meghan has set things up with her mom to be her kinda making her mom an unofficial matron of honor.

But maybe there is something about her relationship with her dad as well. Hard to say.

[Marlo]

Originally Posted by FashionMaven

To clarify - Meghan is having her mom in the car with her only from the lodgings to the castle. Then she's going alone to the church after that - and it's still going to be some distance to go from there (partially along the long walk).

I think the main reason is because Tom Sr has bad knees or a limp or something. Those stairs might be super hard for him. I also think that Meghan wants her mom to have a place of honor with her on the day of. She's clearly closer to her mother than her father. I think of how Meghan has set things up with her mom to be her kinda making her mom an unofficial matron of honor.

But maybe there is something about her relationship with her dad as well. Hard to say.

A few months ago, the media outlets reported that Meghan wanted her mother to walk her down the aisle.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

A paparazzi or a photographer from a newspaper? I think we’re splitting hairs. At least as far as this discussion goes.

Look I realise there are people who want to excuse everything ‘Markle’ to square with their own beliefs but in this case Meghan’s dad has been caught red handed.

Trying to make excuses only makes it look more shady.

A photographer for a newspaper can seem more reputable than a paparazzi. That may not be true but perceptions are everything.

You really think there are people here excusing "everything Markle"? Really???
I don't think anyone is excusing Samantha or Tom Jr.

And some people just look for things to criticize Meghan and anyone associated with her, and are happy to believe the worst.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

A paparazzi or a photographer from a newspaper? I think we’re splitting hairs. At least as far as this discussion goes.

Look I realise there are people who want to excuse everything ‘Markle’ to square with their own beliefs but in this case Meghan’s dad has been caught red handed.

That's really not what's happening here though. I think people are trying to understand what might have happened because many of us aren't so willing to accept your characterization of Tom Sr.. Now, the half-siblings? Yeah - I agree about them. But Tom Sr? I'm not ready to paint him with the same brush. He has to get as low as Sam and Tom Jr for that.

I'm willing to look at other reasons here too - what if he foolishly thought this was innocuous? He probably knows little of the BRF's tumultuous relationship with the tabloids - maybe he thought this was legitimate - like he was posing for a magazine spread?

I cannot imagine him doing this with full knowledge and understanding of how badly it would play. What if he thought he was doing a feature for a magazine or newspaper vs tabloids?

I wouldn't put it past the press to set this up just so they could later break the story that it was "fake" to cause drama ahead of the wedding.

All the more reason why it's best to avoid the tabs completely - but Tom Sr likely wouldn't know that.

Trying to make excuses only makes it look more shady.

Well - maybe it looks more shady to those who are already compromised by a heavy confirmation bias.

[ACO]

I'm not excusing Markles but I would agree saying he the same as Jnr and Samantha who have openly bashed Meghan consistently is a stretch. I think this photo op was in poor taste and he probably realizes now how damaging it was but he far from the likes of his older children. Get back to me when he actually speaks.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Marlo

A few months ago, the media outlets reported that Meghan wanted her mother to walk her down the aisle.

And other media reported since the beginning that her father would walk her down the aisle.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

A photographer for a newspaper can seem more reputable than a paparazzi. That may not be true but perceptions are everything.

Let's pull on this thread a little - what if this tabloid guy who was with Tom Sr presented this like it was going to be a feature story in the newspaper or a magazine? Like an interview kind of thing?

What if he convinced Tom Sr that this was for a magazine spread? And the "staged pics" were done because that's what you do for magazine spreads?

And then the tabloid guy just sold them to the tabloids and then later "leaked" that it was "staged"?

I think that's a plausible theory - just as much as the ones that Tom Sr is the root of all evil and just like Sam/Tom Jr.

[Rudolph]

So after 18 months of Meghan dating Harry, Thomas Snr is just a babe in the woods and doesn’t know up from down. He’s only been in Hollywood his entire adult life.

People here can make excuses but I doubt Meghan is making excuses for him.

He’s a big boy, he knows what he’s doing and so does the British press.

[Zaira]

Originally Posted by FashionMaven

Let's pull on this thread a little - what if this tabloid guy who was with Tom Sr presented this like it was going to be a feature story in the newspaper or a magazine? Like an interview kind of thing?

What if he convinced Tom Sr that this was for a magazine spread? And the "staged pics" were done because that's what you do for magazine spreads?

And then the tabloid guy just sold them to the tabloids and then later "leaked" that it was "staged"?

I think that's a plausible theory - just as much as the ones that Tom Sr is the root of all evil and just like Sam/Tom Jr.

Tom sr should have talked to KP if that was the case, IMO. They would have alerted him right away to the issues with this.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

So after 18 months of Meghan dating Harry, Thomas Snr is just a babe in the woods and doesn’t know up from down. He’s only been in Hollywood his entire adult life.

People here can make excuses but I doubt Meghan is making excuses for him.

He’s a big boy, he knows what he’s doing and so does the British press.

Well honestly I don't know much about Tom Sr enough to make judgments on his character.

On its face, this does look bad and it does make Tom Sr look like he has judgment issues.

But he's also been a recluse during the whole "tabloid" explosion that happened in the US. And even then - the tabloids here aren't like they are in the UK. They just aren't. So there is a possibility that he doesn't know.

And IF someone approached him and lied about who and what he was and led Tom Sr to believe he was doing a spread for a magazine rather than the person just saying that so he could get pictures to sell to the tabloids, then I could see how he could be fooled by that.

He doesn't have to be a babe in the woods to be fooled. He just has to believe someone else lying - which we all know the tabloids and paparazzi do.

Originally Posted by Zaira

Tom sr should have talked to KP if that was the case, IMO. They would have alerted him right away to the issues with this.

I know - he should have definitely talked to them. Was he informed of that though?

I would think he would have been warned not to talk to any press or to get their approval first...

I guess either way this just shows he has poor judgment.

[ACO]

What excuse? I just don't agree with your assessment that Tom Sr is of the same behavior level of Samantha. One who trashes Meghan on a daily basis like her life depends on it vs a dad who took some ridiculous pictures. Doesn't change his actions. It is what it is.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Zaira

Tom sr should have talked to KP if that was the case, IMO. They would have alerted him right away to the issues with this.

You know, people that don't follow the BRF wouldn't necessarily know there might be issues. I'm sure Meghan's dad has seen plenty of photos of the Queen or Harry in magazines and newspapers.

[Curryong]

Whatever Tom did or didn't do, for whatever reason, Meghan, who has behaved impeccably since her engagement and before, is in no way responsible for his behaviour. When Tom gets to England then I think he, Harry and Meghan are going to have to have a serious talk.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

So after 18 months of Meghan dating Harry, Thomas Snr is just a babe in the woods and doesn’t know up from down. He’s only been in Hollywood his entire adult life.

People here can make excuses but I doubt Meghan is making excuses for him.

He’s a big boy, he knows what he’s doing and so does the British press.

And he was a lighting director, not an actor, agent or publicist. Plus, actors do magazine articles and photos for magazine articles all the time. It could be he thought it was for an article like in People magazine.

Eugenie did an article and photos for Harper's Bazaar. Kate posed for photos for Vogue. If he was shown stuff like that he might have thought it was acceptable to pose for photos.