Weeks before the trial of Derek Chauvin is set to start, a french cartoonist thought it was appropriate to evoke his death in a cartoon for the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. In a recent edition of the magazine, a cartoonist illustrates Queen Elizabeth kneeling on Meghan Markle's neck. Speech bubbles from the magazine show Queen Elizabeth stated, “Why Meghan Quit Buckingham." The cartoonist then depicts Meghan Markle replying, "Because I couldn't breathe."
"Charlie Hebdo, this is wrong on every level. The Queen as George Floyd's murderer crushing Meghan's neck? Meghan saying she's unable to breathe? This doesn't push boundaries, make anyone laugh or challenge racism. It demeans the issues & causes offense, across the board," Dr. Halima Begum of Runnymede Trust tweeted.
"It shows the further devaluation of Black life. Black Death and trauma played for laughs. It is not thought-provoking. Rather it furthers racist and thought," author Jasmine Mitchell added.
The cartoon emerged approximately one week after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey. During the interview, Markle details the harassment she faced from the Royal Family. At one point, she tells the story of how one family member raised concerns about how dark the skin of her children would be. Markle even said that she contemplated suicide before distancing herself from her in-laws.
***The images below depict acts of violence against Black Americans***
Markle and Prince Harry have remained out of the spotlight following the interview. They have not issued a statement regarding the recent cartoon from the satirical French magazine. As for the Floyd family, they have not issued a statement either. The family awaits the start of Derek Chauvin's trial later this month. Chauvin faces third-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. In the meantime, the Floyd family will finalize the details of a $27 million settlement between them and the city of Minneapolis.
Charlie Hebdo is known for sparking controversy with their work. It is unlikely that they will issue an apology for their work.
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