Sir Elton John’s intervention in the controversy over Harry and Meghan’s private jet flights has elevated the story and was greeted with glee in newsrooms yesterday.
It’s a fair point for him to assert that the flights were carbon offset but environmentalists are by no means unanimous in support for rich people paying into such schemes.
Sir Elton’s intervention, following similar outbursts from showbiz personalities, has also added to the narrative that the Sussexes are more interested in living a celebrity lifestyle rather than serving the nation.
There’s also no doubt that the Sussexes are seeing a backlash against celebrity activism. When famous people speak out about the world’s woes it can help “shine a light”, as the palace is fond of saying, on those issues. But many people are getting fed up with being lectured.
The Sussexes are not the first to face the backlash. Meghan’s friend Priyanka Chopra, for example, was at the centre of controversy also last week. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Royalty and celebrities can bring media coverage and cash to help causes. I remember UN workers saying in one day in Lesotho Harry had brought more attention to the Aids crisis in southern Africa than all their efforts in the previous two or three years.
But, as some musicians involved in Live Aid discovered when tax avoidance was examined back as far as the 1980s, people don’t want to be told how to behave by others who can afford to act differently. Perhaps we have reached the high watermark of celebrity activism.
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