A best-selling author has apologised for "mean-spirited" comments she shared on social media about a recent video of Meghan Markle reading to her son Archie.
The Duchess of Sussex was filmed by Prince Harry while she read to the baby on for his first birthday, prompting Emily Giffin to dub her "phony" and "unmaternal".
According to the Daily Mail, Giffin shared screenshots of a text conversation between her and a friend on her Instagram page. In the messages, the pair accuse Meghan of being attention-seeking.
"Some thoughts: Archie is adorable but that video screamed 'look at me! Look at me! I need attention as the doting mother'. She's a joke," the first message from Giffin's friend read.
Giffin, who wrote an international bestseller called Something Borrowed in 2005, agreed, adding that she "felt so sorry for that little boy".
"It was uncomfortable," Giffin said of the clip, made by the royal couple for a campaign run by Save The Children UK to raise funds for kids impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"She seemed so unmaternal. She's such a phony," Giffin continued.
The author further elaborated on her feelings with two more Instagram stories, writing "Happy Birthday Archie. Go away, Meghan". She also said Meghan should have filmed the video while Harry read the book and criticised her for sharing a video of her baby wearing "no pants".
Giffin's comments caused outrage on Twitter, with many commenters accusing her of racism.
"White women hating black women who just mind their business and simply exist will always amuse me," one Twitter user wrote.
"She looks like one of those women that belittles everything black women do. How sad, pathetic and spiteful."
Others said Giffin's "mortifying" screenshots had revealed her "racist underbelly".
Giffin reportedly issued an official apology via her Instagram account, which has since been made private.
"I can see how some of my posts may have felt mean-spirited, and could be construed as having racial undertones," she wrote, according to that Daily Mail.
"It was not my intent, but I understand that intent and impact are two very different things. And I am truly sorry for that negative impact."
