CNN host Don Lemon says he wasn't surprised about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's claims of racism in the Royal family because the monarchy was 'built on a racist structure'.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview on Sunday night, in which they described how their decision to step down as Royals was fueled in part by racism within Harry's family.
In one of the most remarkable segments, Meghan claimed that an unnamed relative had asked 'how dark' their unborn baby Archie would be.
Reacting to the interview on Monday, Lemon told CNN Newsroom anchor Brianna Keilar: 'I don't think Oprah or anyone that watched it, any person of color, is surprised that the British family, that there was racism there.
'That is what the monarchy is based on: heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, bloodlines. And so the whole institution is built on a racist structure.
'There should not be a "Oh my God, the British family is racist." Of course they're racist. That's what the entire monarchy is built on. The racism, the family that is supposed to be in it only by birth. And so far by birth it has only been white royals on the British throne.'
CNN host Don Lemon on Monday said he wasn't surprised about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's claims of racism in the Royal family because it was 'built on a racist structure'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview on Sunday night, in which they described how their decision to step down as Royals was fueled in part by racism within Harry's family
When Keilar mentioned how Harry talked about not noticing the racism until he saw it through his wife's eyes, Lemon said: 'That is what privilege is all about. If you don't have to deal with it, then it didn't exist for you.'
Lemon then launched into a rant against 'privileged people' who have blasted Meghan and Harry for sharing their stories.
'Before the interview aired there were people on social media saying: "I can't believe, why are they doing this, woe is me, they are rich, wealthy, royal," what have you, not even knowing what the interview was going to be about. Not even knowing someone else's existence,' he said.
'I wonder why these people always try to explain what someone else's experiences are. And why all of these privileged people, most of them on social media, white women, who are criticizing Meghan and Harry and Oprah for what they were about to do and then the interview as well.
'Why is that? Why do you have to get on social media and weigh in on everything that has to do with black people and racism? Especially if you are a white person in this country. Unless you are going to be helpful and open about it, instead of saying it doesn't exist, "Oh, my gosh, how dare you."
Lemon pointed the finger at 'people who have built their reputations on criticizing people' - without naming any names.
'Why don't you try to look at it with some understanding, with an open mind instead of always criticizing,' he said. 'You know who you are. Because you do it every time.
'Every time there is a story about criminal justice or something black or Colin Kaepernick or Meghan Markle - they always have to rush to Twitter and criticize someone or get in on it because they want relevance.
'You are not relevant anymore. Stop trying to be relevant on the backs of black people.'
When CNN Newsroom Host Brianna Keilar (left) mentioned how Harry talked about not noticing the racism until he saw it through his wife's eyes, Lemon said: 'That is what privilege is all about. If you don't have to deal with it, then it didn't exist for you'
Lemon went on to say that he wasn't surprised that Harry didn't notice racism in his family until he got involved with Meghan, and said that he's had a similar experience with his own fiancé, Tim Malone.
'Of course I am not surprised that Harry was introduced to racism through his wife and he felt it in a personal way. That's how it happens,' Lemon said.
'I am a black man from the south who is engaged to a white man from east end of Long Island. There were revelations for him and still are in our relationship because it wasn't something that he had to confront on a daily basis. Now he does. Now Harry does.
'Harry has a black child. And a black wife now. So it is personal. I imagine that was quite an awakening for him thinking about how [Archie] might be treated differently than other children in the Royal family.'
Lemon said he understands why relatives may have been curious what Archie would look like given that his mother is half black and father is white.
But he said it was inexcusable that someone expressed concerns that Archie would be 'too dark'.
Lemon acknowledged that the public has only heard Meghan and Harry's side of the story, but said: 'What's the other side going to say? "Of course, we're not racist." But what did they do? Think about their actions.
'They did not stand up for their own because their own was married to a black woman, had a black child. They didn't listen to him inside the Royal family. They let him go, let him leave the country, wouldn't come to terms with what they wanted to do.
'Listen, we only heard from one side, but one side at this point rings very true.'
During the interview Meghan refused to name the family member who made the 'too dark' comment, because she said: 'That would be really damaging to them.'
Oprah sought to clarify speculation about the relative on CBS This Morning, saying that Harry had made it clear to her off-camera that it was not Queen Elizabeth or Prince Phillip.
'He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure that I knew and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother nor his grandfather that were a part of those conversations,' Oprah said Monday.
'Neither his grandmother nor grandfather were a part of those conversations.
'He did not tell me who were a part of those conversations, as you can see I tried to get that answer. On camera and off.'
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