The day after it was revealed that Prince Harry, 38, and his wife, Meghan Markle, 41, were aggressively pursued by paparazzi in New York City, actress Whoopi Goldberg, 67, did not hold back on her thoughts! The comedian and The View co-host appeared on the May 18 episode of the hit talk show and questioned the severity of the car chase (watch here). “Their spokesperson called it a near catastrophic car chase,” Whoopi began. “Others said it wasn’t bad, but I think people in New York know if it was possible to have car chases in New York, we’d all make it to the theater on time.”
Even Whoopi Goldberg doesn’t believe Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The View host said of the alleged 2 hour car chase:
“It just doesn’t work in New York.” pic.twitter.com/3JH7GK5Npr
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 18, 2023
In addition, the Sister Act star explained that car chases seem more likely in Los Angeles, rather than in the Big Apple. “I think their spokesperson referenced something that you generally would reference in Los Angeles. That’s where you have chases, that’s where you can move at high speeds,” Whoopi went on. “I think they were dealing with aggressive paparazzi, but I don’t think it was where, you know, you’re watching on TV … just watching the cars go … because it just doesn’t work in New York.”
Whoopi’s co-host, Joy Behar, 80, agreed with her and talked about her experience with ambulances in NYC. “Sometimes I’m in the city and I hear an ambulance trying to get through and I think, ‘That person is dead,'” Joy shared, to which Whoopi quipped, “Because you can’t get through!” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were chased by paparazzi after leaving the Ms. Foundation gala on May 16. At the event, Meghan was awarded the Women of Vision Award by activist Gloria Steinem, 89.
Following the terrifying incident that echoed his late mother Princess Diana‘s car crash in 1997, the NYPD released a statement about Harry and his wife’s incident. “On Tuesday evening, May 16, the NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the statement obtained by HollywoodLife read. “There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”
The father-of-two‘s spokesperson told CNN that the pursuit lasted “over two hours” and could have caused severe damage. “Last night, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” the May 17 statement read. “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers.” The former Senior Royals added that, “being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety. Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved.”
Amid Whoopi’s comments, Princess Diana’s former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, shared his insight on the matter while chatting with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, via the New York Post. “The paparazzi, at best, can be talked to, but at worst they’re a nuisance,” he said on Thursday. “But they’re not out to cause the death of any one person. So, I think we have to be a little bit careful there.” As many know, Harry’s mother died in 1997 following being in a similarly aggressive paparazzi chase in Paris, France.