Meghan Markle’s brother has been jailed for appearing to mock her in a series of YouTube videos, dressing up with a pillow in his jumper and calling himself ‘Me-gain’.
Thomas Markle Jr, 57, has fired off a series of insults and conspiracy theories in clips aimed at his estranged half-sister, the Duchess of Sussex.
He is seen appearing to put a pillow on his top while wearing a wig and tiara and making fun of the Duchess.
Former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond branded the videos ‘grotesque’ and accused him of ‘the ultimate betrayal’.
And a former minister has also called for tougher action from internet companies to combat ‘campaigns of intimidation and intimidation’.
The Duchess of Sussex’s estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., has attacked her online
Harry and Meghan attended a polo event for a charity fundraiser in Florida this weekend
Thomas Markle Jr, 57, has reportedly not spoken to Meghan in more than a decade
The Duchess, 42, has reportedly not spoken to her brother in more than a decade.
He has set up his own YouTube page with regular videos and livestreams in which he rants about Meghan and the royal family while answering questions from many of his 36,500 subscribers.
The latest video of him donning a wig and a pillow to mock Meghan was posted last Wednesday, although he had been dressed similarly in previous footage.
He describes himself as ‘Me-gain’, a disparaging nickname that internet trolls have aimed at the Duchess.
Mr Markle has also suggested plans to release his own range of merchandise, such as glasses, mugs and T-shirts Sunday mirror reported.
Addressing the camera as if in dialogue with the Duchess, he rages: “It’s not just your freedom of speech, Meghan, it’s everyone’s freedom of speech.
“So if you don’t like it, don’t watch, right? I’m going to ride those coattails, baby – oh yeah, if it wasn’t for Meghan Markle, I don’t know what I’d do.”
Journalist and royal family expert Bond responded by saying: “To let your own flesh and blood lead, the attack must feel like the ultimate betrayal for Meghan.”
Conservative MP and former technology and digital economy minister Damian Collins said: ‘The big social media companies must do more to tackle harmful content on their platforms, including harassment and intimidation campaigns.
“They have created systems that have not only allowed conspiracy theories to flourish, but are also actively promoted by the recommendation systems designed by these big tech companies.”
Thomas’ latest statements come as Meghan was spotted with husband Harry, 39, in Palm Beach this weekend while filming his new Netflix show about the world of polo.
The pair were the main attraction as they attended a charity match at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Miami, Florida – although there was a potentially awkward moment when she asked a woman not to pose next to Harry for a photo.
Thomas Markle Jr. you saw at the beginning of one of his videos sticking a pillow in his shirt
He has previously revealed how he wrote to Prince Harry ahead of the couple’s wedding in 2018
Harry and Meghan married on May 19, 2018 in Windsor
The event raised money for the Sentebale charity, which Harry co-founded in 2006 to help children living with HIV in Africa.
A camera crew followed the couple’s every move as Harry scored a goal and then took to the stage to receive a trophy and a kiss from his wife.
This isn’t the first time her half-brother has caused controversy.
Ahead of the Duke and Duchess’ wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018, Thomas sent Harry a letter telling him it wasn’t “too late” not to marry her. He described his sister as “clearly not the right woman for you.”
Thomas slammed the American actress, insisting she was a “jaded, superficial, conceited woman who will make a joke about you and the legacy of the royal family.”
He wrote to Harry: ‘As more time passed before your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in the history of the royal wedding.
“Meghan Markle is clearly not the right woman for you. I’m confused why you don’t see the real Meghan that the whole world is seeing now.
He also took part in a Big Brother VIP Australia series in 2021 in which he told fellow contestants that he had warned Harry that his “very superficial” sister would “ruin” his life and had abandoned her “own flesh and blood”.
But later in the series he was filmed writing a second letter apologizing to the couple for his ‘harsh’ words.
He read the note out loud on the screen and said: ‘Dear Meghan and Harry, the first thing I want to say to both of you is that I am deeply sorry for the terribly mean letter I wrote to you earlier. to your wedding.
“And I want you both to know that it didn’t come from the real person that I am, but from a very dark and hurting part of my heart.
“I’m not a mean person at all and I have more love in me to give than anything.”
Big Brother VIP star Thomas Markle Jr apologized to estranged half-sister Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in a second letter he wrote during the 2021 TV series
Thomas claimed at the time that his earlier harsh words came “from a very dark and hurting part” of his heart, while insisting he was “not a mean person at all.”
Today, Thomas and Meghan are depicted in their childhood, before becoming estranged as adults
Thomas went on to say that the first message to Harry was written out of “hurt” after Meghan described him as “distant relative.”
He said: ‘The letter was definitely written out of me and I felt really hurt and confused when I was informed of your response that I was a distant relative and that you didn’t know those people.
“I was very hurt and confused because of the wonderful bond and relationship we shared growing up together, and all I could do was put up a wall of defense to protect my heart.
‘I know it was very immature and wrong and I really regret it. When your relationship with Harry became known to the world, my life became public.
“Along with everyone in our family, I became public figures overnight. No more privacy. And I can tell you that it was very stressful being all alone and no help at all.
‘A real nightmare and constant pressure. I wish I could turn back the clock and do it all again, knowing what I know now.”
Meanwhile, Harry has made £22 million ($27 million) from his controversial memoir Spare, despite it only being released in hardcover, fellow bestselling author Richard Osman claimed last week.
The Duke of Sussex’s tell-all became Britain’s fastest-selling non-fiction book ever after it was published by Penguin Random House in January last year.
Harry was believed to have received a £16 million ($20 million) advance in June 2021 as part of a £32 million ($40 million) four-book deal, following a bidding war.
In the 39-year-old royal’s front-page headline, he accused his brother Prince William of pushing him into a dog litter box, lining up over his wife Meghan Markle.
It was also claimed that William teased Harry about his panic attacks, King Charles put his own interests ahead of his second son and saw Harry refer to his use of cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms and his enjoyment of the TV show Friends.
Meghan Markle congratulated her husband Prince Harry with a passionate kiss after he won a charity polo match in Miami on Friday
Meghan joined her husband’s team as they celebrated their win
The couple arrived hand in hand on Friday at the event raising money for Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Harry to support children in Lesotho and Botswana.
And on a new episode of his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, Osman said, “I think — and his book hasn’t come out in paperback yet, so this book is purely in hardback — I think he made $26, $27 million.
‘So he made an advance of twenty million dollars on the hardback of his first book alone. Forget the rights to other things and audiobooks and whatever – he’s already earned that.
“When the paperback comes out, it’ll just be money flowing into the Sussexes.”
MailOnline has contacted representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment on her half-brother’s YouTube rants.