Justine Bateman, 58, has criticized Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, calling them “disaster tourists” following their appearance volunteering during the Los Angeles wildfires.
The Hollywood actress voiced her disapproval on X (formerly Twitter) after footage emerged of the couple dressed casually and interacting with victims and volunteers at an evacuation center. The sighting came shortly before the wildfire death toll was confirmed to have risen to 24.
Bateman posted ”Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive “photo op” they achieved. They are “touring the damage”? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire”
Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive “photo op” they achieved. They are “touring the damage”? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire https://t.co/Kv6v6jSX4y
— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 12, 2025
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen distributing food parcels to those impacted by the devastating wildfires at the Pasadena Convention Center, which has been transformed into an evacuation hub.
The couple also shared a touching moment with award winning Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, an organization providing free hot meals to affected residents and emergency workers in the aftermath of the fires.
The interaction was aired live on FOX LA, where news anchor Susan Hirasuna faced backlash online for referring to Meghan as “Princess Markle” and for a comment suggesting Meghan was “hanging out with the commoners.”
This appearance followed reports that the couple opened their $29 million Montecito mansion, located approximately 90 miles from Los Angeles, to friends and loved ones displaced by the ongoing wildfires per The Daily Mail.
Los Angeles Mayor Gordo told Fox LA that Harry and Meghan “want to be as helpful as they can be and really they just want to be supportive.’
“They took the time to meet the people who were affected and spend time. They are just very caring people who are very concerned for their friends and neighbours,” Gordo said.
He said the former royals visited some destroyed houses in the local area and engaged with people who lost their homes.
Bateman’s public criticism follows Meghan’s announcement that she is postponing the release of her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, in light of the ongoing LA wildfire crisis. Originally scheduled to premiere on January 15, the show’s release date has now been pushed back to March 4.
So far, the wildfires devastating the city have claimed 24 lives and scorched nearly 14,000 acres. Between 4,000 and 5,000 structures, including the homes of several Hollywood A-listers, have been damaged or destroyed. Firefighters continue to work to put out the fires. Dangerous winds are in the current forecast.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the Los Angeles-area wildfires as potentially among the worst natural disasters in U.S. history during an appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Saturday. He also called for an independent investigation into the region’s water supply.