1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,798 [Samantha Markle] It's not just me. 2 00:00:01,798 --> 00:00:04,056 It's happening, all around the world, to people. 3 00:00:04,056 --> 00:00:06,618 And, these people know that they can get away with it, 4 00:00:06,618 --> 00:00:08,398 if they -- or, they think they can, 5 00:00:08,398 --> 00:00:09,789 if they go hide under a VPN. 6 00:00:09,789 --> 00:00:13,919 'Hey, they won't know my ISP, if I do this through a VPN.' 7 00:00:13,919 --> 00:00:16,851 So, it makes it harder for law enforcement to get them. 8 00:00:16,851 --> 00:00:19,242 So, one of the things that twitter, and facebook, 9 00:00:19,242 --> 00:00:20,911 and Instagram, and others can do, 10 00:00:20,911 --> 00:00:22,350 to help law enforcement, 11 00:00:22,350 --> 00:00:24,991 and help keep their participants safe: 12 00:00:24,991 --> 00:00:26,686 biometrics. 13 00:00:26,686 --> 00:00:28,693 If you get on your computer, to sign in, 14 00:00:28,693 --> 00:00:31,337 you're using face recognition. 15 00:00:31,337 --> 00:00:33,003 Or, your fingerprint. 16 00:00:33,003 --> 00:00:35,323 Or, your -- or your I. D. 17 00:00:35,323 --> 00:00:38,485 Is that a violation of freedom and privacy? 18 00:00:38,485 --> 00:00:39,439 Hell, no. 19 00:00:39,439 --> 00:00:43,014 Because they're not out -- they're out there violating others' 20 00:00:43,014 --> 00:00:46,946 freedom and privacy, to the extent of criminal acts. 21 00:00:46,946 --> 00:00:50,893 Criminals are not guaranteed anonymity, under any law. 22 00:00:50,893 --> 00:00:53,799 If they're going to be out there breaking laws, 23 00:00:53,799 --> 00:00:55,440 and -- and -- committing crime, 24 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:59,696 you're --- you're not entitled to privacy and protection under the law, 25 00:00:59,696 --> 00:01:03,132 of your face, and your I. D., and your -- no, you're -- 26 00:01:03,132 --> 00:01:05,946 I think you have an onus, 27 00:01:05,946 --> 00:01:12,059 as a mature, responsible user of these social interfaces, 28 00:01:12,059 --> 00:01:14,524 to be transparent. 29 00:01:14,524 --> 00:01:17,818 You know, yeah -- I'm not out there committing criminal acts, and 30 00:01:17,818 --> 00:01:21,286 I'm going to prove it, by letting everybody know who I am. 31 00:01:21,286 --> 00:01:23,036 You know, by being transparent. 32 00:01:23,036 --> 00:01:24,479 That's just how I feel. 33 00:01:24,479 --> 00:01:27,100 [Staci DaSilva] So when did you start getting harassed? 34 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,227 [S. Markle] So, I started getting harassed 35 00:01:29,227 --> 00:01:31,351 around the time of the royal wedding. 36 00:01:31,351 --> 00:01:35,852 And, and -- the moment that people knew 37 00:01:35,852 --> 00:01:38,900 I disagreed with some things about my sister, 38 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:40,426 such as, you know, 39 00:01:40,426 --> 00:01:43,057 not inviting both sides of the family, 40 00:01:43,057 --> 00:01:44,857 and, um... 41 00:01:44,857 --> 00:01:49,921 the possibility of my book coming out. 42 00:01:49,921 --> 00:01:52,751 That was another controversial subject. 43 00:01:52,751 --> 00:01:54,719 I started getting threats, 44 00:01:54,719 --> 00:01:57,221 and people would send and tweet 45 00:01:57,221 --> 00:01:58,989 photographs of me being viewed 46 00:01:58,989 --> 00:02:00,491 through a high-powered scope, 47 00:02:00,491 --> 00:02:01,816 behind broken glass, 48 00:02:01,816 --> 00:02:03,420 with my face in targets. 49 00:02:03,420 --> 00:02:05,716 You know, if that's not obvious symbolism, 50 00:02:05,716 --> 00:02:07,037 I don't know what is. 51 00:02:07,037 --> 00:02:09,053 But, it was all with the intent to 52 00:02:09,053 --> 00:02:11,162 intimidate, keep me in fear, 53 00:02:11,162 --> 00:02:14,091 uh, prevent me from releasing my book. 54 00:02:14,091 --> 00:02:16,219 And you can't do that to people. 55 00:02:16,219 --> 00:02:17,733 We have freedom of speech. 56 00:02:17,733 --> 00:02:18,951 And, just because 57 00:02:18,951 --> 00:02:21,121 someone might not like what I have to say, 58 00:02:21,121 --> 00:02:23,006 or that I have a book coming out, 59 00:02:23,006 --> 00:02:25,291 doesn't mean that they can 60 00:02:25,291 --> 00:02:27,213 engage in criminal activity, 61 00:02:27,213 --> 00:02:29,292 coercion, threats, intimidation, 62 00:02:29,292 --> 00:02:32,832 to prevent my exercising my freedom of speech. 63 00:02:32,832 --> 00:02:35,256 [S. DaSilva] Was this on facebook and twitter? 64 00:02:35,256 --> 00:02:36,478 [S. Markle] Mmm-hmm. 65 00:02:36,478 --> 00:02:38,316 And I don't have an Instagram account. 66 00:02:38,316 --> 00:02:40,453 I started one several years ago, 67 00:02:40,453 --> 00:02:41,987 and, like I just, 68 00:02:41,987 --> 00:02:43,445 I think I said "Hello?" 69 00:02:43,445 --> 00:02:44,535 I never used it, 70 00:02:44,535 --> 00:02:46,495 but it's got thousands of followers. 71 00:02:46,495 --> 00:02:48,053 And, it gets daunting. 72 00:02:48,053 --> 00:02:50,012 Like I can't, I can't go, and get to 73 00:02:50,012 --> 00:02:51,475 every platform, and say, 74 00:02:51,475 --> 00:02:53,417 "Hey, shut this down, it's not me," 75 00:02:53,417 --> 00:02:55,666 so, there are so many fake accounts out there, 76 00:02:55,666 --> 00:02:57,951 that are out there saying disparaging things, 77 00:02:57,951 --> 00:02:59,793 and parody accounts. 78 00:02:59,793 --> 00:03:02,935 Those are also attempts at this, you know, 79 00:03:02,935 --> 00:03:06,487 uh, defamation, libel, slander, bullying. Uh -- 80 00:03:06,487 --> 00:03:08,987 [S. DaSilva] How often do you hear from these trolls? 81 00:03:08,987 --> 00:03:10,785 I mean, on your social media accounts? 82 00:03:10,785 --> 00:03:13,691 [S. Markle] Um, I shut it down, so I don't see their mentions. 83 00:03:13,691 --> 00:03:15,041 Because it got to the point 84 00:03:15,041 --> 00:03:16,872 where they were always mentioning me, 85 00:03:16,872 --> 00:03:18,025 trying to, you know, 86 00:03:18,025 --> 00:03:19,754 flag themselves, and get attention, 87 00:03:19,754 --> 00:03:21,817 and say horrible things, and Photoshop and 88 00:03:21,817 --> 00:03:24,033 create things to villainize or criminalize me. 89 00:03:24,033 --> 00:03:26,198 I just thought, you know, "That's not real." 90 00:03:26,198 --> 00:03:28,192 And, for people out there 91 00:03:28,192 --> 00:03:30,002 who are bullied in cyberspace, 92 00:03:30,002 --> 00:03:31,892 you know, I want -- I just -- 93 00:03:31,892 --> 00:03:33,406 especially young people. 94 00:03:33,406 --> 00:03:34,423 I want to say, 95 00:03:34,423 --> 00:03:36,802 "You really can't give that legs." 96 00:03:36,802 --> 00:03:38,303 "You can't give it breath." 97 00:03:38,303 --> 00:03:40,044 "It's not real, unless 98 00:03:40,044 --> 00:03:43,051 you allow it to consume you, and you make it real." 99 00:03:43,051 --> 00:03:44,692 Um, so... 100 00:03:44,692 --> 00:03:47,920 you know, teenagers, who go through this. 101 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,936 They don't have the resources 102 00:03:49,936 --> 00:03:51,355 to leave their high schools, 103 00:03:51,355 --> 00:03:53,019 or move out of their communities, 104 00:03:53,019 --> 00:03:54,698 and they are very trapped. 105 00:03:54,698 --> 00:03:56,293 And it's overwhelming for them. 106 00:03:56,293 --> 00:03:57,702 And, some of these trolls 107 00:03:57,702 --> 00:03:59,142 have such a large presence, 108 00:03:59,142 --> 00:04:01,290 creating bots, and multiple avatars, 109 00:04:01,290 --> 00:04:03,658 that these teenagers feel like 110 00:04:03,658 --> 00:04:05,921 they're being attacked by hundreds of people, 111 00:04:05,921 --> 00:04:07,500 when, really, they're not. 112 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:09,439 They're being attacked by a few, 113 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:11,640 who make themselves out to be bigger. 114 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,260 Well, that's what bullies do. 115 00:04:13,260 --> 00:04:14,485 They puff their chest. 116 00:04:14,485 --> 00:04:15,632 They want to feel big. 117 00:04:15,632 --> 00:04:18,011 They want to feel like they've got a lot of power. 118 00:04:18,011 --> 00:04:19,392 And, for teenagers, 119 00:04:19,392 --> 00:04:21,190 it's often inescapable, and 120 00:04:21,190 --> 00:04:24,132 it results in suicidal ideation, and even suicide. 121 00:04:24,132 --> 00:04:26,448 So, they need strong support systems. 122 00:04:26,448 --> 00:04:28,841 Their parents, their friends. They need counseling. 123 00:04:28,841 --> 00:04:30,171 But, more than that, 124 00:04:30,171 --> 00:04:32,066 they need to remember that these people 125 00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:35,088 are only real, and powerful, if you let them be. 126 00:04:35,088 --> 00:04:37,492 It's important to reach out, and communicate, 127 00:04:37,492 --> 00:04:39,419 and call them on what they are doing, 128 00:04:39,419 --> 00:04:41,234 before they become a real problem. 129 00:04:41,234 --> 00:04:43,539 [S. DaSilva] You had to leave your home, correct? 130 00:04:43,539 --> 00:04:45,204 How many times have you had to move? 131 00:04:45,204 --> 00:04:46,220 [S. Markle] Twice. 132 00:04:46,220 --> 00:04:48,722 [S. DaSilva] Twice. And, from Florida, to Virginia? 133 00:04:48,722 --> 00:04:51,082 [S. Markle] I moved from Florida to Virginia, 134 00:04:51,082 --> 00:04:53,340 and then, the same thing happened in Virginia. 135 00:04:53,340 --> 00:04:55,037 They were sharing my address, 136 00:04:55,037 --> 00:04:57,304 and asking me if it sounded familiar. 137 00:04:57,304 --> 00:05:00,192 Um, showing pictures of me, behind a scope. 138 00:05:00,192 --> 00:05:02,057 But, it got worse than that. 139 00:05:02,057 --> 00:05:07,221 They were sharing, uh, images of me, being seen through 140 00:05:07,221 --> 00:05:08,809 our security cameras. 141 00:05:08,809 --> 00:05:11,538 Or, me, outside, with my boyfriend 142 00:05:11,538 --> 00:05:13,445 helping me get into my vehicle. 143 00:05:13,445 --> 00:05:15,881 That could've only been either planted in trees, or 144 00:05:15,881 --> 00:05:17,777 seen through our own devices. 145 00:05:17,777 --> 00:05:20,538 Which let me know that I was very hacked, 146 00:05:20,538 --> 00:05:22,110 and I was being watched. 147 00:05:22,110 --> 00:05:24,418 Um, they shared pictures 148 00:05:24,418 --> 00:05:26,841 of my boyfriend, looking at himself 149 00:05:26,841 --> 00:05:28,491 on his own cell phone. 150 00:05:28,491 --> 00:05:29,741 Which let me know 151 00:05:29,741 --> 00:05:31,705 that they had hacked our devices. 152 00:05:31,705 --> 00:05:34,048 And, their apps had camera access. 153 00:05:34,048 --> 00:05:36,176 And, they were mentioning 154 00:05:36,176 --> 00:05:38,569 conversations that we had in our living room, 155 00:05:38,569 --> 00:05:40,194 about money, or other things. 156 00:05:40,194 --> 00:05:41,408 And they would say, 157 00:05:41,408 --> 00:05:43,296 "Hey, what about that thousand dollars?" 158 00:05:43,296 --> 00:05:44,952 So, they were acquiescing 159 00:05:44,952 --> 00:05:46,286 to not only stalking, 160 00:05:46,286 --> 00:05:47,491 but hacking. 161 00:05:47,491 --> 00:05:49,504 For someone like me... 162 00:05:49,504 --> 00:05:50,813 I'm a counselor, 163 00:05:50,813 --> 00:05:52,109 I'm pretty intelligent, 164 00:05:52,109 --> 00:05:54,116 you know, I think I can handle it, and 165 00:05:54,116 --> 00:05:55,989 analyze it for what it is? 166 00:05:55,989 --> 00:05:57,516 But, for a teenager... 167 00:05:57,516 --> 00:05:59,474 who is, you know, 168 00:05:59,474 --> 00:06:01,449 going through identity crisis, 169 00:06:01,449 --> 00:06:03,012 and, you know, 170 00:06:03,012 --> 00:06:04,264 has a self-esteem 171 00:06:04,264 --> 00:06:05,901 that is not totally evolved, yet? 172 00:06:05,901 --> 00:06:07,651 It can be terrifying. 173 00:06:07,651 --> 00:06:09,470 When you know you are being watched, 174 00:06:09,470 --> 00:06:11,106 and everything that you do 175 00:06:11,106 --> 00:06:12,493 is being twisted, 176 00:06:12,493 --> 00:06:14,698 and used against you, to defame you, 177 00:06:14,698 --> 00:06:16,657 and to threaten. 178 00:06:16,657 --> 00:06:19,372 So -- yeah, cyber-bullying is horrible, 179 00:06:19,372 --> 00:06:21,547 and I think that the burden really needs 180 00:06:21,547 --> 00:06:25,407 to be on social media platforms. 181 00:06:25,407 --> 00:06:27,898 Twitter, facebook, Instagram. All of them. 182 00:06:27,898 --> 00:06:30,345 Um, especially the new ones, coming up. 183 00:06:30,345 --> 00:06:33,291 To have strict identification measures 184 00:06:33,291 --> 00:06:35,547 in place, for its users, to prevent this. 185 00:06:35,547 --> 00:06:37,525 [S. DaSilva] So, you moved to Polk county 186 00:06:37,525 --> 00:06:38,635 about six months ago? 187 00:06:38,635 --> 00:06:39,477 [S. Markle] Yeah. 188 00:06:39,477 --> 00:06:41,103 [S. DaSilva] Did you want to say 189 00:06:41,103 --> 00:06:42,730 what town we are in, right now? 190 00:06:42,730 --> 00:06:45,090 Or would you want to just keep it at Polk county? 191 00:06:45,090 --> 00:06:46,838 [S. Markle] Yeah. [S. DaSilva] Okay. 192 00:06:46,838 --> 00:06:48,496 Why did you choose Polk county? 193 00:06:48,496 --> 00:06:49,982 [S. Markle] It's gorgeous. 194 00:06:49,982 --> 00:06:51,801 I love the lakes, I love, you know -- 195 00:06:51,801 --> 00:06:53,642 it's, uh -- it's a little more central. 196 00:06:53,642 --> 00:06:55,790 Where I was -- Well, I didn't like fire ants. 197 00:06:55,790 --> 00:06:58,181 In Ocala, it seemed to be one of those things 198 00:06:58,181 --> 00:07:00,422 that was just indigenous to the area, so. 199 00:07:00,422 --> 00:07:02,250 Um, but I really... 200 00:07:02,250 --> 00:07:04,092 I wanted the happy medium. 201 00:07:04,092 --> 00:07:05,919 Being close to water, 202 00:07:05,919 --> 00:07:07,961 as I was in Southern California. 203 00:07:07,961 --> 00:07:09,955 And here, I have it, without the smog. 204 00:07:09,955 --> 00:07:11,268 But, I have family here, 205 00:07:11,268 --> 00:07:12,665 and I love the people here. 206 00:07:12,665 --> 00:07:13,909 So, I'm staying. 207 00:07:13,909 --> 00:07:14,892 [S. DaSilva] Okay. 208 00:07:14,892 --> 00:07:16,757 And, you moved about six months ago. 209 00:07:16,757 --> 00:07:18,182 And, this summer, 210 00:07:18,182 --> 00:07:20,490 you filed a complaint with the sheriff's office. 211 00:07:20,490 --> 00:07:22,302 Why did you do that? 212 00:07:22,302 --> 00:07:23,535 [S. Markle] Because, 213 00:07:23,535 --> 00:07:25,538 I was being stalked and harassed. 214 00:07:25,538 --> 00:07:28,862 Um, my boyfriend got a ticket 215 00:07:28,862 --> 00:07:32,892 for a tail light on a trailer, being out. 216 00:07:32,892 --> 00:07:36,749 And, it was supposed to stay confidential. 217 00:07:36,749 --> 00:07:39,446 But, the address on that ticket 218 00:07:39,446 --> 00:07:40,967 was somehow released, because 219 00:07:40,967 --> 00:07:42,906 trolls were able to comb through 220 00:07:42,906 --> 00:07:44,957 courthouse computer databases. 221 00:07:44,957 --> 00:07:47,797 The problem with that is, that, you know -- 222 00:07:47,797 --> 00:07:51,474 yeah, some court records are private, 223 00:07:51,474 --> 00:07:53,491 but it wasn't in the news. 224 00:07:53,491 --> 00:07:55,761 And, I was having my identity and my location 225 00:07:55,761 --> 00:07:57,531 protected by a real estate company, 226 00:07:57,531 --> 00:07:59,247 under the circumstances. 227 00:07:59,247 --> 00:08:01,775 [S. DaSilva] Can we just take that time code down? 228 00:08:01,775 --> 00:08:03,760 Because she said the address, 229 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,979 and we did want to put this interview online? 230 00:08:05,979 --> 00:08:08,862 So, I don't think we want to put the address online. Correct? 231 00:08:08,862 --> 00:08:10,341 [S. Markle] Okay. Sorry. 232 00:08:10,341 --> 00:08:12,360 [Man] About 14:56. Right around there. 233 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:13,301 [S. DaSilva] Okay. 234 00:08:13,301 --> 00:08:15,937 Just so, when we go back, we can take that out, for you. 235 00:08:15,937 --> 00:08:17,053 [Man] Be careful. 236 00:08:17,053 --> 00:08:18,691 [S. Markle] I know, I know. 237 00:08:18,691 --> 00:08:20,551 [S. DaSilva] Um, sorry. 14:56 something? 238 00:08:20,551 --> 00:08:22,414 [Man] Yeah, right around 14:56, yeah. 239 00:08:22,414 --> 00:08:23,705 [S. DaSilva] Okay. 240 00:08:23,705 --> 00:08:25,775 [S. Markle] Okay. [S. DaSilva] Okay, sorry. 241 00:08:25,775 --> 00:08:26,887 [S. Markle] So, so. 242 00:08:26,887 --> 00:08:27,882 They were saying: 243 00:08:27,882 --> 00:08:29,973 "Hey, does this number or this street match?" 244 00:08:29,973 --> 00:08:31,405 "Does this sound familiar?" 245 00:08:31,405 --> 00:08:32,437 And, I, you know -- 246 00:08:32,437 --> 00:08:34,252 in other words, they were taunting me, 247 00:08:34,252 --> 00:08:35,938 with my address, and my location, 248 00:08:35,938 --> 00:08:37,023 letting me know 249 00:08:37,023 --> 00:08:38,994 that they were out there, sharing it. 250 00:08:38,994 --> 00:08:41,942 They were also sharing, um, screenshot admissions 251 00:08:41,942 --> 00:08:44,160 of having my Social Security number. 252 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:45,862 Then, they said, they said, 253 00:08:45,862 --> 00:08:48,227 "Oh, but we guessed your Social Security number." 254 00:08:48,227 --> 00:08:50,805 Well, out of all the billions of possible combinations? 255 00:08:50,805 --> 00:08:52,897 That couldn't be possible. 256 00:08:52,897 --> 00:08:55,741 So -- you know, they were telling on themselves. 257 00:08:55,741 --> 00:08:57,801 And the bottom line, here, is that 258 00:08:57,801 --> 00:09:01,592 there is very private information that they were actively, all day, 259 00:09:01,592 --> 00:09:05,070 obsessed about and combing, to get every little detail about me. 260 00:09:05,070 --> 00:09:07,144 That acquiesces to stalking. 261 00:09:07,144 --> 00:09:10,046 Because uh, uh, you know, someone who you don't know 262 00:09:10,046 --> 00:09:12,198 doesn't have a right to be looking, 263 00:09:12,198 --> 00:09:14,792 to see if there is anything about you in court, 264 00:09:14,792 --> 00:09:17,400 to see what's going on with your medical records. 265 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,074 To share your address. 266 00:09:19,074 --> 00:09:22,494 To be direct messaging people and asking questions about you. 267 00:09:22,494 --> 00:09:25,811 Unless they are a reporter, or they have some valid reason, 268 00:09:25,811 --> 00:09:30,841 for...getting every piece of information they can, about you, 269 00:09:30,841 --> 00:09:32,674 and taunting you with it. 270 00:09:32,674 --> 00:09:35,875 Like: "Hey, what about this? And what about that?" 271 00:09:35,875 --> 00:09:37,409 Well, who are you, 272 00:09:37,409 --> 00:09:39,652 to ask me "What about this and what about that?" 273 00:09:39,652 --> 00:09:41,204 And, to try and spin it, 274 00:09:41,204 --> 00:09:43,079 to villainize or criminalize me? 275 00:09:43,079 --> 00:09:45,344 So, for -- I can see how, for teenagers, 276 00:09:45,344 --> 00:09:46,824 that's overwhelming. 277 00:09:46,824 --> 00:09:49,907 [S. DaSilva] Mm-hm. Yeah. You talked about the teenagers. 278 00:09:49,907 --> 00:09:53,545 But, has the sheriff's office been open to your complaint, 279 00:09:53,545 --> 00:09:55,776 and been taking it seriously? 280 00:09:55,776 --> 00:09:58,585 [S. Markle] Yeah, since we started this whole thing. 281 00:09:58,585 --> 00:10:00,544 You know, I showed them everything, 282 00:10:00,544 --> 00:10:02,513 and let them know what was going on. 283 00:10:02,513 --> 00:10:04,557 And, you know, I -- I'm really lucky, 284 00:10:04,557 --> 00:10:07,050 to live in a state that takes that seriously. 285 00:10:07,050 --> 00:10:10,048 You know, the cyber-stalking and "stand your ground" laws. 286 00:10:10,048 --> 00:10:11,509 I feel really safe. 287 00:10:11,509 --> 00:10:12,953 And it's nice to know 288 00:10:12,953 --> 00:10:15,105 that law enforcement is proactive about that. 289 00:10:15,105 --> 00:10:17,945 You know, you can't do that to a person. 290 00:10:17,945 --> 00:10:20,410 You can't taunt them, put them in fear, 291 00:10:20,410 --> 00:10:22,438 um, intimidate them -- 292 00:10:22,438 --> 00:10:23,942 harass them -- 293 00:10:23,942 --> 00:10:26,118 and encourage others, on a wide scale, 294 00:10:26,118 --> 00:10:28,601 to engage in targeted harassment. 295 00:10:28,601 --> 00:10:31,890 It's -- nobody, nobody deserves to live like that. 296 00:10:31,890 --> 00:10:34,544 And, certainly not for expressing freedom of speech. 297 00:10:34,544 --> 00:10:36,488 Because, you're a journalist. 298 00:10:36,488 --> 00:10:39,891 If you did a report, and somebody didn't like something you had to say, 299 00:10:39,891 --> 00:10:43,749 You know...it's really psychotic, that anybody would 300 00:10:43,749 --> 00:10:47,184 go to that extreme, to suppress what you have to say, 301 00:10:47,184 --> 00:10:51,644 and to make every corner of your life public information, 302 00:10:51,644 --> 00:10:53,909 twisting it in a negative way. 303 00:10:53,909 --> 00:10:56,466 To put you in fear, or shame. 304 00:10:56,466 --> 00:11:00,502 [S. DaSilva] And, your reaction to the news spreading across the world 305 00:11:00,502 --> 00:11:04,069 that you were the target of the investigation for 306 00:11:04,069 --> 00:11:06,295 things you have said about your sister, 307 00:11:06,295 --> 00:11:08,190 vs. what actually is happening. 308 00:11:08,190 --> 00:11:11,051 [S. Markle] Well -- and I think that's really important too, 309 00:11:11,051 --> 00:11:13,282 because there is a problem with aggregate news. 310 00:11:13,282 --> 00:11:15,902 I understand that journalists and bloggers get so busy, 311 00:11:15,902 --> 00:11:17,940 and a lot of them, you know -- 312 00:11:17,940 --> 00:11:20,973 there is often, on one side of, you know, the coin, 313 00:11:20,973 --> 00:11:23,413 there is paid P. R. that spins things. 314 00:11:23,413 --> 00:11:27,912 But there is also aggregate news error, that happens. 315 00:11:27,912 --> 00:11:30,111 When they see fragments of information, 316 00:11:30,111 --> 00:11:32,771 they don't have a lot of time to pop the stories out, 317 00:11:32,771 --> 00:11:34,912 and they just copy them verbatim. 318 00:11:34,912 --> 00:11:37,790 Maybe, with extra words, and spin it a little bit more. 319 00:11:37,790 --> 00:11:41,295 And suddenly, the victim becomes the suspect. 320 00:11:41,295 --> 00:11:43,509 Because someone didn't understand 321 00:11:43,509 --> 00:11:46,307 what "being at the center of investigation" means. 322 00:11:46,307 --> 00:11:48,743 Well, it doesn't mean I'm the suspect. 323 00:11:48,743 --> 00:11:51,351 And, they didn't ask. They didn't bother to ask. 324 00:11:51,351 --> 00:11:53,274 They just assumed, and put it in print, 325 00:11:53,274 --> 00:11:55,418 that I was the suspect, not the victim. 326 00:11:55,418 --> 00:11:57,107 Shouldn't happen. 327 00:11:57,107 --> 00:12:00,469 [S. DaSilva] So there, as you -- Are you afraid for your life? 328 00:12:00,469 --> 00:12:02,091 Here in Polk county? 329 00:12:02,091 --> 00:12:04,111 [S. Markle] Well, yeah, I have been. 330 00:12:04,111 --> 00:12:06,610 And, and, you know, if you can imagine 331 00:12:06,610 --> 00:12:08,949 seeing your face on a bulls-eye 332 00:12:08,949 --> 00:12:11,212 behind broken glass, or on a dartboard. 333 00:12:11,212 --> 00:12:15,116 And, pictures of someone like Matt Damon, 334 00:12:15,116 --> 00:12:17,178 looking through a high-powered scope, 335 00:12:17,178 --> 00:12:19,081 a clip from a film, or a GIF. 336 00:12:19,081 --> 00:12:21,817 And, "You can run but you can't hide, Samantha." 337 00:12:21,817 --> 00:12:24,844 Those things are symbolic, and they are put out there 338 00:12:24,844 --> 00:12:27,790 with the intent of putting you in fear. 339 00:12:27,790 --> 00:12:28,995 Intimidating you, 340 00:12:28,995 --> 00:12:31,038 preventing you from publishing a book, 341 00:12:31,038 --> 00:12:33,392 um -- which happened, too. You know... 342 00:12:33,392 --> 00:12:35,543 "We're gonna, if you put your book out, 343 00:12:35,543 --> 00:12:37,808 we're gonna download it, and share it for free, 344 00:12:37,808 --> 00:12:39,379 so nobody buys it." 345 00:12:39,379 --> 00:12:42,091 Those are -- those are intimidation, uh, tactics, 346 00:12:42,091 --> 00:12:43,741 that are against the law. 347 00:12:43,741 --> 00:12:45,230 On many levels. 348 00:12:45,230 --> 00:12:47,011 And so, yeah, it was scary for me. 349 00:12:47,011 --> 00:12:48,495 I am in a wheelchair. 350 00:12:48,495 --> 00:12:50,011 I don't need to feel like, 351 00:12:50,011 --> 00:12:52,748 I am a slow moving target, going out of my own home. 352 00:12:52,748 --> 00:12:55,346 Nobody has a right to do that to me, and 353 00:12:55,346 --> 00:12:57,862 they are subject to legal sanction. 354 00:12:59,412 --> 00:13:03,478 It's just -- that's not how a legal, you know, 355 00:13:03,478 --> 00:13:06,752 high functioning society operates. 356 00:13:06,752 --> 00:13:09,754 And, those criminals need to be made examples of. 357 00:13:09,754 --> 00:13:13,712 They need to experience specific deterrents, under the law. 358 00:13:13,712 --> 00:13:17,237 And, they need to be made out to be, you know, 359 00:13:17,237 --> 00:13:19,070 examples of general deterrents. 360 00:13:19,070 --> 00:13:21,279 So other would-be cyber-bullies know, 361 00:13:21,279 --> 00:13:24,455 "Hey, don't do the crime, if you can't do the time," 362 00:13:24,455 --> 00:13:26,300 and most local law enforcement, 363 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:28,667 local and federal law enforcement agencies, 364 00:13:28,667 --> 00:13:31,389 will come get ya. 365 00:13:31,389 --> 00:13:33,090 You know, VPN or not, 366 00:13:33,090 --> 00:13:35,745 there are ways to find these offenders. 367 00:13:35,745 --> 00:13:37,989 [S. DaSilva] What do you say to critics who say, 368 00:13:37,989 --> 00:13:41,509 "You spoke out. You know, you were vocal, you wrote a book." 369 00:13:41,509 --> 00:13:42,765 [S. Markle] Well -- 370 00:13:42,765 --> 00:13:44,251 [S. DaSilva] "You tweeted..." 371 00:13:44,251 --> 00:13:46,894 [S. Markle] But, writing a book and speaking out... 372 00:13:46,894 --> 00:13:49,144 you know, my father had two heart attacks. 373 00:13:49,144 --> 00:13:51,966 I didn't agree with my sister's treatment of the family. 374 00:13:51,966 --> 00:13:56,576 That does not give some of these unhinged people 375 00:13:56,576 --> 00:13:58,783 license, or the right 376 00:13:58,783 --> 00:14:03,311 to engage in criminal activity against me. 377 00:14:03,311 --> 00:14:05,696 Stalk, harass, incite violence against me. 378 00:14:05,696 --> 00:14:07,691 It's like, any of us who have fought 379 00:14:07,691 --> 00:14:09,290 for freedom of speech, 380 00:14:09,290 --> 00:14:12,104 whether the issue is gender, race, political issues, 381 00:14:12,104 --> 00:14:14,417 just because you say something 382 00:14:14,417 --> 00:14:16,904 doesn't give people who disagree with you, 383 00:14:16,904 --> 00:14:19,945 the right to put you in fear and suppress your opinion, 384 00:14:19,945 --> 00:14:22,400 by threatening you when you do. 385 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,622 And that, you know -- 386 00:14:24,622 --> 00:14:27,814 I think that's what we really need to make a precedent. 387 00:14:27,814 --> 00:14:30,024 We're not tolerating this any more. 388 00:14:30,024 --> 00:14:32,834 We all have to 'agree to disagree' under the law, 389 00:14:32,834 --> 00:14:35,390 because if you take it beyond those legal boundaries, 390 00:14:35,390 --> 00:14:38,247 and you engage in criminal activity, intent, 391 00:14:38,247 --> 00:14:42,240 you know, um -- intimidation, and harassment, 392 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,174 um, with the intent to put someone in fear, 393 00:14:46,174 --> 00:14:47,792 if they speak? 394 00:14:47,792 --> 00:14:50,051 It's against the law. 395 00:14:50,051 --> 00:14:52,278 [S. DaSilva] Do you have any regrets 396 00:14:52,278 --> 00:14:55,227 for anything that has happened, since, you said, 397 00:14:55,227 --> 00:14:56,817 around the royal wedding? 398 00:14:56,817 --> 00:14:58,500 [S. Markle] Um... 399 00:14:58,500 --> 00:15:00,663 the only regret... 400 00:15:00,663 --> 00:15:02,525 no, I don't have regrets. 401 00:15:02,525 --> 00:15:04,290 Because I was being honest. 402 00:15:04,290 --> 00:15:05,802 And I've always said, 403 00:15:05,802 --> 00:15:08,299 "You shouldn't regret telling the truth." 404 00:15:08,299 --> 00:15:10,463 And, when you tell the truth, you know -- 405 00:15:10,463 --> 00:15:13,024 yeah, I don't think the whistle blower is the problem. 406 00:15:13,024 --> 00:15:15,030 But, if you do it from a heartfelt place, 407 00:15:15,030 --> 00:15:16,616 and it's about family, 408 00:15:16,616 --> 00:15:18,991 and it's about something you care about, 409 00:15:18,991 --> 00:15:20,952 when you tell the truth, 410 00:15:20,952 --> 00:15:22,491 the person on the receiving end, 411 00:15:22,491 --> 00:15:24,495 or who you are telling the truth about, 412 00:15:24,495 --> 00:15:26,288 has the opportunity, 413 00:15:26,288 --> 00:15:28,274 but, I believe also, responsibility, 414 00:15:28,274 --> 00:15:29,000 to say, 415 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,960 "Hey. Let me hear what you have to say. 416 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:32,264 Let's communicate. 417 00:15:32,264 --> 00:15:34,004 Let's have a meeting of the minds, 418 00:15:34,004 --> 00:15:35,481 and make things better. 419 00:15:35,481 --> 00:15:37,048 Let's do what's right, here." 420 00:15:37,048 --> 00:15:39,109 And, the only way the right thing can happen 421 00:15:39,109 --> 00:15:40,901 is if people talk about it. 422 00:15:40,901 --> 00:15:42,535 Silence, as the status quo, 423 00:15:42,535 --> 00:15:44,250 accomplishes nothing. 424 00:15:44,250 --> 00:15:45,782 So, you know, 425 00:15:45,782 --> 00:15:48,262 where people were afraid to speak, 426 00:15:48,262 --> 00:15:52,510 because of this high prestige issue, um... 427 00:15:53,750 --> 00:15:55,313 it's wrong. 428 00:15:55,313 --> 00:15:57,603 Because there's a real family issue there. 429 00:15:57,603 --> 00:15:59,174 The public got involved. 430 00:15:59,174 --> 00:16:01,384 They took it too far, without saying, 431 00:16:01,384 --> 00:16:02,906 "Hey, they are family. 432 00:16:02,906 --> 00:16:04,865 They can speak out if they want to. 433 00:16:04,865 --> 00:16:06,590 It's not really our business." 434 00:16:06,590 --> 00:16:08,445 But, they had their own agendas. 435 00:16:08,445 --> 00:16:10,561 So, you can't suppress freedom of speech. 436 00:16:10,561 --> 00:16:12,227 Or, none of us would be here, 437 00:16:12,227 --> 00:16:14,216 and you wouldn't have a journalism job. 438 00:16:14,216 --> 00:16:15,785 [S. DaSilva] Obviously, I think 439 00:16:15,785 --> 00:16:17,522 there are similarities, here. 440 00:16:17,522 --> 00:16:18,882 Between what you are saying, 441 00:16:18,882 --> 00:16:20,353 and what your sister is saying, 442 00:16:20,353 --> 00:16:21,260 and her husband. 443 00:16:21,260 --> 00:16:22,220 [S. Markle] Right. 444 00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:24,321 [S. DaSilva] About how they've been treated, 445 00:16:24,321 --> 00:16:25,342 [S. Markle] Exactly. 446 00:16:25,342 --> 00:16:26,873 [S. DaSilva] In the media, with 447 00:16:26,873 --> 00:16:29,146 false reports, online harassment, and trolling. 448 00:16:29,146 --> 00:16:30,314 How do you feel -- 449 00:16:30,314 --> 00:16:32,540 do you have compassion for them, in that way? 450 00:16:32,540 --> 00:16:35,150 [S. Markle] I do, and I've also learned, through this, 451 00:16:35,150 --> 00:16:37,402 that you know, in terms of aggregate news, 452 00:16:37,402 --> 00:16:39,366 at one point, they were seeing stories, 453 00:16:39,366 --> 00:16:41,561 probably reacting to what they thought we said, 454 00:16:41,561 --> 00:16:43,245 or what they thought we were doing. 455 00:16:43,245 --> 00:16:45,003 We were -- it was very reciprocal. 456 00:16:45,003 --> 00:16:46,086 We were reacting. 457 00:16:46,086 --> 00:16:47,549 But, the bottom line is, 458 00:16:47,549 --> 00:16:49,646 there was so much propaganda out there, 459 00:16:49,646 --> 00:16:52,245 that none of us really knew where the truth was. 460 00:16:52,245 --> 00:16:54,914 And similarly, with the bullying. 461 00:16:54,914 --> 00:16:57,578 You know, the people that disagree with her 462 00:16:57,578 --> 00:16:59,843 have bullied her, to threatening extremes. 463 00:16:59,843 --> 00:17:01,851 They bullied Kate and William. 464 00:17:01,851 --> 00:17:03,598 They've bullied me. 465 00:17:03,598 --> 00:17:05,581 But they have -- the difference is, 466 00:17:05,581 --> 00:17:08,312 they have the money and the social, um, 467 00:17:08,312 --> 00:17:12,742 or the financial resources, to protect themselves against that. 468 00:17:12,742 --> 00:17:14,076 A normal person, 469 00:17:14,076 --> 00:17:17,003 like me and my dad, you know, our family -- 470 00:17:17,003 --> 00:17:17,944 we don't. 471 00:17:17,944 --> 00:17:19,224 [S. DaSilva] Mm-hm. 472 00:17:19,224 --> 00:17:21,736 [S. Markle] We just got caught in the middle of it. 473 00:17:21,736 --> 00:17:23,885 But, nonetheless, we had the right 474 00:17:23,885 --> 00:17:25,475 to speak our feelings. 475 00:17:25,475 --> 00:17:27,511 [S. DaSilva] There are people, I'm sure, 476 00:17:27,511 --> 00:17:30,030 I will get tweets, facebook posts, whatever, saying 477 00:17:30,030 --> 00:17:31,906 you even doing this interview 478 00:17:31,906 --> 00:17:34,494 is you still trying to get publicity off your sister. 479 00:17:34,494 --> 00:17:36,738 Why are you speaking out today? 480 00:17:36,738 --> 00:17:39,071 [S. Markle] I am speaking out today because 481 00:17:39,071 --> 00:17:42,399 there has been this really, uh, interesting phenomena, of 482 00:17:42,399 --> 00:17:45,750 ...people have always demanded their freedom of speech. 483 00:17:45,750 --> 00:17:47,784 They speak out against the President. 484 00:17:47,784 --> 00:17:49,746 They speak out against, you know, 485 00:17:49,746 --> 00:17:51,233 whatever the issue is. 486 00:17:51,233 --> 00:17:52,568 Or, the celebrity. 487 00:17:52,568 --> 00:17:54,725 And, nobody says, "You just want attention." 488 00:17:54,725 --> 00:17:56,245 They're just out there, 489 00:17:56,245 --> 00:17:57,951 exercising their freedom of speech. 490 00:17:57,951 --> 00:17:59,733 But because of this royal situation, 491 00:17:59,733 --> 00:18:01,471 suddenly, it's all about, 492 00:18:01,471 --> 00:18:02,987 "Oh, you must want attention." 493 00:18:02,987 --> 00:18:04,412 Well, I worked in broadcasting 494 00:18:04,412 --> 00:18:05,505 for a long time. 495 00:18:05,505 --> 00:18:06,508 I am fifty-four. 496 00:18:06,508 --> 00:18:07,835 I don't need attention. 497 00:18:07,835 --> 00:18:09,481 It, it, it was a family issue, 498 00:18:09,481 --> 00:18:10,710 it was heartfelt. 499 00:18:10,710 --> 00:18:12,011 I was concerned with 500 00:18:12,011 --> 00:18:13,892 my father dying, without closure. 501 00:18:13,892 --> 00:18:15,655 And, and, in our communities, 502 00:18:15,655 --> 00:18:18,134 because there was no invitation to the wedding, 503 00:18:18,134 --> 00:18:19,641 it became public. 504 00:18:19,641 --> 00:18:21,019 And the assumption was, 505 00:18:21,019 --> 00:18:22,751 "Oh, you must not be worthy, 506 00:18:22,751 --> 00:18:24,298 since you weren't invited." 507 00:18:24,298 --> 00:18:26,643 So, it's not like It was a wedding in Ohio. 508 00:18:26,643 --> 00:18:28,848 And, we wanted attention: 509 00:18:28,848 --> 00:18:30,704 "Oh, why didn't we get invited." 510 00:18:30,704 --> 00:18:33,080 It's because all of our peers in the world 511 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,843 were suddenly, you know, 512 00:18:34,843 --> 00:18:36,393 putting us under a microscope, 513 00:18:36,393 --> 00:18:37,990 "Why didn't you get invited?" 514 00:18:37,990 --> 00:18:40,262 And it was some sort of character indictment. 515 00:18:40,262 --> 00:18:41,610 The implication that, 516 00:18:41,610 --> 00:18:43,046 "Oh, you must not be worthy." 517 00:18:43,046 --> 00:18:44,517 And then, aggregate news 518 00:18:44,517 --> 00:18:46,243 started spinning assumptions: 519 00:18:46,243 --> 00:18:48,613 about the book, about family members. 520 00:18:48,613 --> 00:18:50,882 And it got out of control. 521 00:18:50,882 --> 00:18:53,234 So, um. Do I want attention? 522 00:18:53,234 --> 00:18:54,275 No. 523 00:18:54,275 --> 00:18:56,551 What I really wanted out of all of this, 524 00:18:56,551 --> 00:18:58,620 was my sister to realize, 525 00:18:58,620 --> 00:19:00,682 "Hey. I got caught up in a whirlwind. 526 00:19:00,682 --> 00:19:02,847 What I did to my dad was wrong. 527 00:19:02,847 --> 00:19:04,744 We're all bigger people. 528 00:19:04,744 --> 00:19:06,761 Let's evolve, and do the right thing." 529 00:19:06,761 --> 00:19:08,416 And it takes just as much time 530 00:19:08,416 --> 00:19:09,838 to do the right thing, 531 00:19:09,838 --> 00:19:11,338 as it does to ignore it. 532 00:19:11,338 --> 00:19:12,511 And, um, 533 00:19:12,511 --> 00:19:15,125 I'd like to see him be able to communicate with her, 534 00:19:15,135 --> 00:19:16,493 before he passes away. 535 00:19:16,493 --> 00:19:18,920 [S. DaSilva] That was going to be my next question. 536 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,470 What do you hope for your relationship with Meghan, 537 00:19:21,470 --> 00:19:23,554 and your father's relationship with her? 538 00:19:23,554 --> 00:19:24,812 For her to reach out? 539 00:19:24,812 --> 00:19:27,143 [S. Markle] At some point, when she is ready. 540 00:19:27,143 --> 00:19:28,635 But, you know, with me. 541 00:19:28,635 --> 00:19:30,117 But, with my father, 542 00:19:30,117 --> 00:19:32,516 'at some point' may be too late. 543 00:19:32,516 --> 00:19:34,285 So, you know -- 544 00:19:34,285 --> 00:19:37,707 our repeated efforts to extend an olive branch... 545 00:19:37,707 --> 00:19:41,794 I would assume, you know 546 00:19:41,794 --> 00:19:44,447 when interacting with a, quote, "humanitarian," 547 00:19:44,447 --> 00:19:48,914 would be met with a very humble, um, 548 00:19:48,914 --> 00:19:50,792 acceptance, and yeah, 549 00:19:50,792 --> 00:19:53,518 "Let's look at this. Let's make this better." 550 00:19:53,518 --> 00:19:56,096 And, that's all I was trying to say. 551 00:19:56,096 --> 00:19:58,318 And, if that's bashing, wow. 552 00:19:58,318 --> 00:20:00,486 Then, so, sue me. 553 00:20:00,486 --> 00:20:02,773 [S. DaSilva] There were some bashing tweets. 554 00:20:02,773 --> 00:20:04,701 [S. Markle] But that's, you know -- 555 00:20:04,701 --> 00:20:05,903 'Bashing?' Well... 556 00:20:05,903 --> 00:20:08,287 I think a lot of the media labeled it as bashing, 557 00:20:08,287 --> 00:20:10,279 like, if I did the thing I said about 558 00:20:10,279 --> 00:20:11,801 Harry at the birthday, 559 00:20:11,801 --> 00:20:14,095 "While you're mac-ing down on your birthday cake, 560 00:20:14,095 --> 00:20:16,143 don't forget to wish Dad a Happy Birthday." 561 00:20:16,143 --> 00:20:17,742 Is that bashing, or is it witty? 562 00:20:17,742 --> 00:20:18,733 The problem -- 563 00:20:18,733 --> 00:20:20,781 [S. DaSilva] I think you called him a wuss. 564 00:20:20,781 --> 00:20:23,199 [S. Markle] Yeah. Take your pants back. Be a man. 565 00:20:23,199 --> 00:20:24,027 Because, 566 00:20:24,027 --> 00:20:25,759 the whole family was being ghosted, 567 00:20:25,759 --> 00:20:26,834 and I felt like, 568 00:20:26,834 --> 00:20:28,124 "Hey. You know, 569 00:20:28,124 --> 00:20:31,523 you're a man, too. You're letting my father suffer." 570 00:20:31,523 --> 00:20:34,517 And, there was no real invitation. 571 00:20:34,517 --> 00:20:37,534 Uh...so, I felt like, 572 00:20:37,534 --> 00:20:40,078 somebody has to step up, and do the right thing, 573 00:20:40,078 --> 00:20:41,416 and say something. 574 00:20:41,416 --> 00:20:42,999 I worked in broadcasting. 575 00:20:42,999 --> 00:20:44,115 I'm a counselor. 576 00:20:44,115 --> 00:20:45,803 I believe in communication. 577 00:20:45,803 --> 00:20:47,762 And, nobody was saying anything. 578 00:20:47,762 --> 00:20:49,556 And the problem with tweets, though, 579 00:20:49,556 --> 00:20:51,326 is that you can't hear tone of voice. 580 00:20:51,326 --> 00:20:53,366 So, while I thought I was saying something 581 00:20:53,366 --> 00:20:55,675 maybe cynical, maybe witty, 582 00:20:55,675 --> 00:20:57,191 people couldn't hear it. 583 00:20:57,191 --> 00:20:59,893 They were interpreting it through their own life lenses. 584 00:20:59,893 --> 00:21:01,190 Maybe they were angry. 585 00:21:01,190 --> 00:21:02,939 Maybe they've got a negative lens 586 00:21:02,939 --> 00:21:04,599 over everything in their lives. 587 00:21:04,599 --> 00:21:06,338 And, then, they were reacting to it 588 00:21:06,338 --> 00:21:08,645 from their own personal perspectives. 589 00:21:08,645 --> 00:21:11,600 Which does not always coincide with 590 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,671 the sender intent. 591 00:21:13,671 --> 00:21:16,302 So, I think that's something really important 592 00:21:16,302 --> 00:21:17,846 about social media, too. 593 00:21:17,846 --> 00:21:20,277 And because there can be those crossed wires, 594 00:21:20,277 --> 00:21:22,748 and they can be emotionally heated, 595 00:21:22,748 --> 00:21:25,294 twitter and facebook and Instagram 596 00:21:25,294 --> 00:21:27,493 have more of an obligation 597 00:21:27,493 --> 00:21:30,496 to...not moderate that, 598 00:21:30,496 --> 00:21:32,247 but, to keep it safe, 599 00:21:32,247 --> 00:21:36,471 when people's intrepretations carry it to such heated levels, 600 00:21:36,471 --> 00:21:38,751 that it crosses over into criminal activity. 601 00:21:38,751 --> 00:21:40,749 That, you know, people are -- 602 00:21:40,749 --> 00:21:42,920 [S. DaSilva] People say things on social media 603 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:44,752 they would never say to someone's face. 604 00:21:44,752 --> 00:21:47,678 [S. Markle] Right! Because the avatar, you know, is a shield. 605 00:21:47,678 --> 00:21:49,390 It's a false source of empowerment. 606 00:21:49,390 --> 00:21:50,959 You know, in the animal kingdom, 607 00:21:50,959 --> 00:21:53,507 they puff their chest, to look bigger than they are. 608 00:21:53,507 --> 00:21:55,718 Well, they can do that on social media. 609 00:21:55,718 --> 00:21:56,910 Behind an avatar. 610 00:21:56,910 --> 00:21:58,911 "Ooh, big words, on an avatar." 611 00:21:58,911 --> 00:22:01,217 "I've got a flower out there, or a kitty cat. 612 00:22:01,217 --> 00:22:04,344 But I'm going to say big, disgusting, terrifying things," 613 00:22:04,344 --> 00:22:05,608 and, you know... 614 00:22:05,608 --> 00:22:08,017 It's...not good. 615 00:22:08,017 --> 00:22:10,042 [S. DaSilva] How is your dad doing? 616 00:22:10,042 --> 00:22:11,734 [S. Markle] He's doing okay. 617 00:22:11,734 --> 00:22:13,668 He's doing better. He's, um... 618 00:22:13,668 --> 00:22:15,192 feeling, you know... 619 00:22:15,192 --> 00:22:16,747 I think, more empowered. 620 00:22:16,747 --> 00:22:17,885 This has been... 621 00:22:17,885 --> 00:22:19,902 a growth opportunity for all of us. 622 00:22:19,902 --> 00:22:21,941 But, I think more than anything, 623 00:22:21,941 --> 00:22:25,273 it's really interesting that the royals, 624 00:22:25,273 --> 00:22:26,649 Meg and Harry, 625 00:22:26,649 --> 00:22:29,291 and, you know, this side of the fence, 626 00:22:29,291 --> 00:22:30,488 the Markles, 627 00:22:30,488 --> 00:22:32,809 we are all kind of saying the same thing. 628 00:22:32,809 --> 00:22:34,447 It is that you can have, 629 00:22:34,447 --> 00:22:36,607 especially with the family, 630 00:22:36,607 --> 00:22:39,420 if there is an issue out there, or a social issue, 631 00:22:39,420 --> 00:22:41,110 you can disagree, 632 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:46,250 but you don't take it to the level of incredible, 633 00:22:46,250 --> 00:22:49,740 terrorizing, taunting, intimidation, 634 00:22:49,740 --> 00:22:51,215 threats. 635 00:22:51,215 --> 00:22:53,249 That's where we cap it. 636 00:22:53,249 --> 00:22:56,553 [S. DaSilva] Your father doesn't live in Polk county as well, does he? 637 00:22:56,553 --> 00:22:57,530 [S. Markle] Hmm-mm. 638 00:22:57,530 --> 00:22:58,494 [S. DaSilva] Okay. 639 00:22:58,494 --> 00:23:00,020 Um...I read some articles... 640 00:23:00,020 --> 00:23:01,430 I think you had said that you 641 00:23:01,430 --> 00:23:03,200 raised Meghan until she was twelve, 642 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:04,063 pretty much? Or? 643 00:23:04,063 --> 00:23:05,558 [S. Markle] See, here is where 644 00:23:05,558 --> 00:23:06,432 I am gonna talk -- 645 00:23:06,432 --> 00:23:08,270 [S. DaSilva] I'm gonna fact-check that. 646 00:23:08,270 --> 00:23:09,927 [S. Markle] Here's where I am gonna 647 00:23:09,927 --> 00:23:11,586 talk about aggregate news, see. 648 00:23:11,586 --> 00:23:12,564 [S. DaSilva] Yeah. 649 00:23:12,564 --> 00:23:14,450 [S. Markle] Even a journalist like you, 650 00:23:14,450 --> 00:23:16,103 and a lot of other journalists, 651 00:23:16,103 --> 00:23:17,923 and talk show hostesses, believe that. 652 00:23:17,923 --> 00:23:19,657 And I was sitting here, going, 653 00:23:19,657 --> 00:23:21,537 "Wow. Where did you hear that?" 654 00:23:21,537 --> 00:23:22,659 [S. DaSilva] Mm-hmm. 655 00:23:22,659 --> 00:23:25,014 [S. Markle] Because I had said in one interview, 656 00:23:25,014 --> 00:23:27,334 "I was integral in her life, until about twelve." 657 00:23:27,334 --> 00:23:29,174 I always lived about ten minutes away, 658 00:23:29,174 --> 00:23:30,663 she was born in our household, 659 00:23:30,663 --> 00:23:33,023 my dad and Doria divorced when she was about six. 660 00:23:33,023 --> 00:23:35,798 Still, it was during the week, weekends, intermingling, 661 00:23:35,798 --> 00:23:37,390 you know, when I wasn't working. 662 00:23:37,390 --> 00:23:38,629 And life was very normal. 663 00:23:38,629 --> 00:23:41,566 For families with big sisters, and you know, younger kids. 664 00:23:41,566 --> 00:23:43,700 But some journalists took it upon themselves 665 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:44,563 to say: 666 00:23:44,563 --> 00:23:46,281 "She said she raised her." 667 00:23:46,281 --> 00:23:48,250 I never said I raised her. 668 00:23:48,250 --> 00:23:51,090 I said "I was integral in her life, until about twelve." 669 00:23:51,090 --> 00:23:54,547 And then, even interacting all the way up through Northwestern. 670 00:23:54,547 --> 00:23:56,571 And when she was in Buenos Aires. 671 00:23:56,571 --> 00:23:57,905 And, even when... 672 00:23:57,905 --> 00:23:59,800 So, to set the record straight, 673 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,515 the last time I saw her was 2008. 674 00:24:02,515 --> 00:24:06,204 The last time I spoke to her on the phone was 2015, December, 675 00:24:06,204 --> 00:24:08,031 going on January, 2016. 676 00:24:08,031 --> 00:24:09,800 The last week of December. 677 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:11,468 So, no, it's not like -- 678 00:24:11,468 --> 00:24:12,661 and people said, 679 00:24:12,661 --> 00:24:14,000 "Oh, she hasn't spoken -- "