Meghan Markle’s spokesperson has responded after the duchess was heavily criticized over a selfie with Willie Ridman.
Finland’s minister of social affairs and health shared a photo with Meghan on the former’s Twitter handle, ex.
“Dinner with Meghan,” he tweeted after a World Health Organization event in Geneva on Sunday.
Meghan and Ville’s selfie soon became a public relations problem for Meghan when social media users began highlighting Ridman’s troubled history in Finnish politics.
Meghan Markle quickly responded to the backlash and a spokesperson for the Duchess clarified that she was completely unaware of who Mr Ridman was before their encounter.
“To be absolutely clear, the Duchess does not know Mr Riedman, had no prior knowledge of his participation in the event and was unfamiliar with the relevant reports relating to him,” the spokesperson said.
Meghan’s representative explained that it is not possible to do a background check on everyone who is contacted for a photo.
The spokeswoman said Meghan had “politely accepted” Mr Ridman’s request for a photo as she left the venue after the meal.
“As is often the case at public events, and where time permits, the Duchess graciously accepts such requests,” the spokesperson said.
Meghan visited Geneva, where she attended the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) as well as installed The Lost Screen Memorial in the Place des Nations, bringing the immediate realities of online harm to light in one of the world’s most consequential venues for global public health and policy making.
