An Australian newspaper has been blown up by Nelson Mandela’s eldest granddaughter after she was quoted as accusing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of “profiting on” their family’s inheritance to promote their Netflix documentary.
Ndileka Mandela made headlines earlier this month when Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that she had criticized the royal couple for “stealing” their grandfather’s name for their own personal gain.
Danielle Gusmaroli, the newspaper’s Europe correspondent, quoted the social activist as “deeply upset” that the Sussexes had used quotes from the late South African President in their Live To Lead documentary series.
But Ms Mandela has since furiously claimed the tabloids and Ms Gusmaroli twisted her words and used her grandfather’s name to launch an attack on the royal couple.
In an opinion piece for London newspaper The Independent on Sunday, Ms Mandela blasted the paper for “weaponizing my name”.
She said her grandfather’s reputation was used to attack a black woman.
Ndileka Mandela (pictured) has denied claims she accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of “profiting” on their late grandfather’s name
Danielle Gusmaroli was singled out by Ms Mandela for her article in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph
She insisted she had never accused Harry and Meghan of “profiting” from their grandfather’s name and was “shocked” by the claims.
The critics of (Meghan and Harry)… falsely used my grandfather’s name to attack them.
“The words that are being falsely attributed to me for quoting my grandfather are not mine at all – they do not belong to me but to those who spread these untruths around the world.
“I am ashamed that I saw my words twisted to the point of distorting my genuine concern about the commercial exploitation of my grandfather’s legacy.”
Chron Australia has reached out to NewsCorp for comment on the claims.
Ms Mandela was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying she admires Prince Harry for having had the confidence to break away from The Firm but was “deeply upset” that he and Meghan were taking advantage of their grandfather’s legacy.
Nelson Mandela’s eldest granddaughter says she unequivocally supports Prince Harry and Meghan’s (pictured) stance and use of her grandfather’s name
“I don’t think he or Meghan ever really met Grandpa, maybe when Harry was young at Buckingham Palace, but they use his quotes in the documentary to attract people and make millions with no benefit to the Mandela family,” was Ms. Mandela quoted by the newspaper.
“I know the Nelson Mandela Foundation supported the initiative, but for years people have stolen grandfather’s quotes and used his legacy because they know his name sells – Harry and Meghan are no different. “
“But it comes at a price, you then have to finance your own life. I’ve made peace with people using Grandpa’s name, but it’s still deeply annoying and tiring every time it happens.”
In response to the published quotes, Ms Mandela insisted she “honestly finds nothing wrong with them (the Sussexes) in inspiring this opening thing with a quote from Grandfather” – and accused the couple’s critics of “making a mountain” . of a mole hill… for no reason’.
“Meghan has always been an activist and it’s in her activism work that my grandfather was a social justice activist through and through,” she told Fox News earlier this month.
Ndileka Mandela (left), pictured with sister Nandi Mandela (right) and their son Luvuyo Madasa in London last month, has accused an Australian newspaper of misquoting her
“Like I said early on, a lot of people use Grandpa’s quotes, and no one has been made into a big Rah-Rah like they make Harry and Meghan use that quote.”
Ms Mandela has since claimed in her article for the Independent that her grandfather’s inheritance was misused to attack Meghan, “a woman of color who was effectively chased out of the British royal family”.
“I believe that’s because, despite our real victories against apartheid, colonialism and slavery — in some ways, the thinking behind these crimes — is alive and well in some of our most powerful institutions,” she wrote.
Mrs Mandela reiterated that she greatly admires the royal couple for their courage in defending the less privileged and celebrates the inspiration they receive from their grandfather’s legacy.
She ended the article by insisting that she unequivocally supports the royal couple’s point of view and the use of her grandfather’s name.
Harry and Meghan say their latest Netflix documentary was inspired by former South African President, the late Nelson Mandela. He is pictured with his then-wife Winnie after his release from Victor Prison in Cape Town in 1990