On Tuesday, journalists on all three network morning shows joined liberal celebrities in rushing to defend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle against accusations of hypocrisy after the supposedly environmentally-conscious royal couple took two different trips on private jets within a week. Reporters on CBS, NBC, and ABC touted other wealthy elites like Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres scolding critics for daring to question the royals’ controversial travel habits.
“Elton John coming to the defense of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. This after news broke about the royal couple’s recent vacation to Nice, France. Headlines focused on their use of a private jet,” correspondent David Begnaud announced on CBS This Morning. He added: “Some thought it went against their views on protecting the environment.”
The reporter then noted that Elton John “revealed that he is the one who provided the couple with the private jet” and “called the press accounts ‘distorted and malicious.’” Begnaud emphasized the singer’s claim that he “ensured that their flight was carbon neutral.”
Co-host Gayle King chimed in: “I’m so glad you’re doing this story....Elton John makes a point of saying he contributed to the organization Carbon Footprint to cover the cost of whatever – whatever happened when they used that flight.” The other networks emphasized this point as well, without bothering to fact-check the myth that such flights could be rendered “carbon neutral” by donating to an environmental group.
King, who was recently caught in her own climate hypocrisy after joining left-wing celebrities at a swanky environmental summit in Italy, was particularly defensive on behalf of Harry and Meghan: “But aren’t you entitled, as a royal couple, to have a friend that says, ‘Here, I’d like to offer this to you. I will cover all the costs, and I will make sure that no damage is done to the environment in the meantime’?”
She then expressed her gratitude for others defending the hypocritical couple: “Ellen DeGeneres came to their defense, too. Thank you, Ellen, on it. She said, ‘Imagine being attacked for everything you do when all you’re trying to do is make the world better.’” King concluded: “You get hammered for just living your life and trying to do the right thing. It is maddening.”
On NBC’s Today show, correspondent Kelly Cobiella proclaimed: “...music icon Elton John speaking out in support of friends Harry and Meghan, posting a series of passionate tweets in reaction to what he says is a ‘distorted and malicious’ account surrounding the royal couple’s private stay his holiday home in the south of France last week.”
The headline on screen blared: “Defending Harry & Meghan; Stars Blast Criticism Over Royals’ Private Jet Use.”
Like CBS, NBC quoted the singer insisting: “To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint.”
Ironically, Cobiella promoted Elton John attacking the news media:
The Rocket Man singer responding to harsh headlines in the British media, with tabloids criticizing the Royals, calling them “eco-warriors,” accusing them of taking too many gas-guzzling private trips. Elton calling on the press to back off the Duke and Duchess, demanding an end to “relentless and untrue assassinations on their character crafted on an almost daily basis.”
“The couple, known for their commitment to conservation and the environment,” the reporter declared as she teed up a soundbite of Prince Harry calling on people to “Eliminate plastics, conserve water, protect wildlife and their unique habitat.”
Wrapping up the segment, Cobiella did point out the environmental impact of air travel: “But just for context, flying really is one of the worst things you can do for environment. Just one flight from New York to London produces more carbon emissions than the average person generates in an entire year.”
Co-host Craig Melvin still tried to excuse the private jet trips: “Although I’m not sure, I mean, what do people want, like, the Royals to ride in Comfort-Plus?” Guthrie joked: “Maybe business class.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos informed viewers: “Prince Harry and Meghan are facing some criticism from fellow environmental activists for taking a private plane to vacation at Elton John’s villa in France.” Correspondent Amy Robach followed: “The couple under fire in the British press for flying private as they advocate for the environment. But Elton John pushing back against those headlines...”
She later hailed:
And Elton isn’t the only one defending the Duke and Duchess. Ellen saying, “Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan in England to talk about their work on wildlife conservation. They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people. Imagine being attacked for everything you do when all you’re trying to do is make the world better.” And Pink also defending the couple, saying the public bullying has to stop. “The way people treat her is the most public form of bullying I have seen in a while. It’s out of control.”
Robach sympathized: “The world is always watching everything they do and I’m sure everyone will always have a comment on how they live their lives.” Co-host Lara Spencer lamented: “It cannot be easy.”
Just a few weeks ago, GMA gushed over Harry and Meghan pledging to have no more than two children in order to “limit the impact on the planet.” Perhaps minimizing their private jet usage would be a better place to start.
Last week, all three network morning shows hyped a new United Nations report calling on people to stop eating meat in order to curb cow methane emissions. And yet, they don’t have a problem with liberal elites jet-setting around the world.
The blatant hypocrisy and snobbery seems to know no bounds.
Here is a full transcript of the August 20 report on CBS This Morning:
7:49 AM ET
DAVID BEGNAUD: Elton John coming to the defense of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. This after news broke about the royal couple’s recent vacation to Nice, France. Headlines focused on their use of a private jet. Some thought it went against their views on protecting the environment.
Elton John revealed that he is the one who provided the couple with the private jet, and that they stayed at his home in Nice. On social media, Elton John says he called the press accounts “distorted and malicious.” The singer said he felt a “profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Princess Diana’s untimely death.” Elton John said he also “ensured that their flight was carbon neutral.”
GAYLE KING: I’m so glad you’re doing this story. Because we keep hearing that this story’s bubbling up over in the U.K. and now starting here. But Elton John makes a point of saying he contributed to the organization Carbon Footprint to cover the cost of whatever – whatever happened when they used that flight. But aren’t you entitled, as a royal couple, to have a friend that says, “Here, I’d like to offer this to you. I will cover all the costs, and I will make sure that no damage is done to the environment in the meantime”?
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
KING: Ellen DeGeneres came to their defense, too. Thank you, Ellen, on it. She said, “Imagine being attacked for everything you do when all you’re trying to do is make the world better.”
DOKOUPIL: Important context here from Sir Elton.
KING: Yes.
DOKOUPIL: What he means by what contributed to Lady Diana’s untimely death, there were eight photographers chasing her when she was involved in that accident.
KING: Exactly.
DOKOUPIL: All eight were charged with manslaughter at the time.
KING: Exactly. You get hammered for just living your life and trying to do the right thing. It is maddening.
BEGNAUD: Big microscope for the royals.
KING: Exactly.
Here is a full transcript of the report on NBC’s Today show:
7:46 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We’re back, 7:45, with In-Depth Today.
CRAIG MELVIN: This morning, a controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s vacation that has music legend Sir Elton John coming to the Royals’ defense. NBC’s Kelly Cobiella is in London with this story. Kelly, good morning.
KELLY COBIELLA: Savannah and Craig, good morning to you guys. This all has to do with the way the Duke a Duchess have been traveling lately. The British media questioning the couple’s green credentials after they took two European vacations on private jets.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Defending Harry & Meghan; Stars Blast Criticism Over Royals’ Private Jet Use]
On Monday, music icon Elton John speaking out in support of friends Harry and Meghan, posting a series of passionate tweets in reaction to what he says is a “distorted and malicious” account surrounding the royal couple’s private stay his holiday home in the south of France last week. Harry and Meghan seen boarding this private jet with baby Archie last Tuesday after a trip to Spain on another private flight the same week.
Elton John tweeting that he provided them with a flight to France, explaining, “To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint.”
The Rocket Man singer responding to harsh headlines in the British media, with tabloids criticizing the Royals, calling them “eco-warriors,” accusing them of taking too many gas-guzzling private trips. Elton calling on the press to back off the Duke and Duchess, demanding an end to “relentless and untrue assassinations on their character crafted on an almost daily basis.”
The couple, known for their commitment to conservation and the environment.
PRINCE HARRY: Thank you for your dedication to our environment, our planet, our future, our mother nature.
HARRY: Eliminate plastics, conserve water, protect wildlife and their unique habitat.
COBIELLA: This morning, other celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres and the singer Pink, publicly supporting Harry and Meghan. Ellen tweeting, “Imagine being attacked for everything you do when all you’re trying to do is male the world better.”
Elton, who was very close to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, called her “one of my dearest friends,” saying he felt a “profound obligation” to protect Harry and his family from what he said was “unnecessary press intrusion.”
Elton John also said that private flight was necessary for security reasons. This morning, Buckingham Palace isn’t commenting. But just for context, flying really is one of the worst things you can do for environment. Just one flight from New York to London produces more carbon emissions than the average person generates in an entire year. Guys, that’s from driving, turning on the lights, and cooling your home. Just one long-haul flight.
MELVIN: Alright.
GUTHRIE: Good for us to all remember, Kelly.
MELVIN: Yeah, Kelly Cobiella there.
GUTHRIE: Thank you.
MELVIN: Although I’m not sure, I mean, what do people want, like, the Royals to ride in Comfort-Plus? [Laughter] I don’t know, I don’t know what the alternative is.
GUTHRIE: Maybe business class.
MELVIN: Maybe.
DYLAN DRYER: It would be odd to see them on a commercial flight.
GUTHRIE: Maybe royal class. Yeah, I don’t know.
Here is a full transcript of the report on ABC’s GMA:
8:15 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re gonna move on now to our GMA Cover Story. Prince Harry and Meghan are facing some criticism from fellow environmental activists for taking a private plane to vacation at Elton John’s villa in France. Amy here with the story. And Amy, John defending his royal guests.
AMY ROBACH: He certainly is. Elton says that he feels an obligation, in fact, to protect Harry and his family because of his friendship with Harry’s late mother Princess Diana and that is exactly what he is doing.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Elton John Defends Royals; Singer Backs Harry & Meghan’s Use of Private Jet]
This morning, Elton John coming out in strong defense of Meghan and Harry, blasting the press on both Instagram and Twitter. The superstar singer writing, “I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week.” Adding, Prince Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of my dearest friends. I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death.”
The couple under fire in the British press for flying private as they advocate for the environment. But Elton John pushing back against those headlines, saying he “wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquility of our home. To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight.”
OMID SCOBIE [ABC NEWS ROYAL CONTRIBUTOR]: They’re now traveling with baby Archie, private jets, unfortunately, even though there was, of course, controversy that comes with that, is the safest way to travel. And he’d also made them carbon neutral by offsetting all the emissions.
ROBACH: And Elton isn’t the only one defending the Duke and Duchess. Ellen saying, “Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan in England to talk about their work on wildlife conservation. They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people. Imagine being attacked for everything you do when all you’re trying to do is make the world better.” And Pink also defending the couple, saying the public bullying has to stop. “The way people treat her is the most public form of bullying I have seen in a while. It’s out of control.”
Now, Meghan and Harry have not officially responded to all of these headlines but they did post this message on their Instagram account on Monday quoting Desmond Tutu, saying, “Do your
little bit of good where you are; It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”STEPHANOPOULOS: How true that is.
LARA SPENCER: It is.
ROBACH: The world is always watching everything they do and I’m sure everyone will always have a comment on how they live their lives.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Yeah, probably so.
SPENCER: It cannot be easy.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Thanks, Amy.
