In a heartfelt speech delivered at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, revealed her personal experience with "cruel" online bullying and abuse. The Duchess disclosed that the majority of this abuse occurred during her pregnancies, leaving her no choice but to distance herself from social media platforms for her own well-being.

Meghan passionately addressed the audience, stating, "The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn." She expressed bewilderment at the hateful comments directed towards her and emphasized that this behavior went beyond mere cattiness, describing it as truly cruel.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duchess' first child with Prince Harry, was born on May 6, 2019. The couple then welcomed their second child, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, on June 4, 2021.

The revelation by Meghan came in the wake of the British royal family's efforts to address online abuse. In March 2019, the royal family appealed to social media users to exhibit "courtesy, kindness, and respect" during interactions on their posts. This response followed repeated incidents of online abuse directed not only at Meghan but also at Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. Kensington Palace sought the assistance of social media firms to combat the surge in abuse, including instances of sexism and racism.

To tackle the issue head-on, palace staff dedicated additional resources to filter and delete negative comments targeting Meghan, as well as block abusive accounts on Twitter and Instagram. However, the Duchess stressed that there is a need for a broader change in the digital space and certain sectors of the media, urging a return to basic humanity. She expressed her concern about the prioritization of profits over human welfare, noting, "Even if it's making dollars, it doesn't make sense."

Following their decision to step back from the British royal family in 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry relocated to California with their son, Archie. Public intrusion into their lives, both in the UK and the US, has been a recurring issue for the couple. In fact, they filed a lawsuit in California in 2020 over unauthorized paparazzi photographs of their toddler, Archie.

The Duchess' heartfelt disclosure shed light on the harsh reality of online abuse, particularly during vulnerable moments such as pregnancy. Her call for humanity and kindness in the digital world serves as a reminder that the impact of cyberbullying can have serious consequences on individuals' mental well-being.