55: Duchess Meghan hater Emily Giffin is still canceled, Prince Andrew is finally getting scrutiny, but not for the right reasons

Intro: Minutes 0 to 6:45 Royals: Minutes 6:45 to 25 Omid Scobie, who is publishing Finding Freedom in August, asked in Harper’s Bazaar why no royals have spoken out about Black Lives Matter because it’s a human rights issue and isn’t political at all.  We got a new photo of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth which looks highly Photoshopped and like a proof of life photo.  Minute 14: In May Author Emily Giffin posted text messages about Meghan after her cute video reading Duck Rabbit to Archie. We talked about that in episode 51. Back then Giffin called Meghan “phony,” “attention-seeking” and wrote that she seemed “annoyed” with Archie. Giffin  did a recent interview with the AP in which she didn’t apologize, called herself “unfiltered,” said “I need to be more careful about the impact of my words” and admitted that she was “mean.” Chandra thinks Giffin is trying to appeal to Kate fans.  Minute 16:00: Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, is married to Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son. She’s known for being quietly effective and is the Queen’s favorite. She did an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine where she said she hoped that Harry and Meghan were happy. Many people took that as shade, especially given how she actively ignored them on Commonwealth Day. It sounded like she was trying to stay neutral. Minute 17:30: Kate hired a new private secretary to replace Catherine Quinn. Kate also zoomed into a rehab facility she last visited in 2012, saying it felt like only yesterday. It said so much about how she sees work. The Cambridges haven’t made a post-lockdown schedule like the royals in other countries.  Minute 21:30: Prince Andrew is wanted for questioning by the US Department of Justice for his involvement with Epstein. They’re trying to accommodate him by saying he can sit for questioning in the UK, but he’s refusing. In his response, Andrew’s lawyers claimed that the DOJ lied when they said he had offered zero cooperation and that “they are perhaps seeking publicity.” Andrew’s version is that he has offered a witness statement. Chandra points out that Andrew had to step down because of his interview, not because he was raping trafficked teenagers. JK Rowling: Minutes 25:00 to 30 JK Rowling went on a bizarre and ill-timed rant against transgender women. We think she should listen to experts and trans people and stop marginalizing an already marginalized group. Thankfully Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne and Emma Watson have posted defenses of transgender people. Racism reckoning and awareness: Minutes 30:00 to 32 Due to racist incidents and a racist culture, The Bon Appetit editor resigned, the Crossfit CEO resigned, and Bravo has fired four people from Vanderpump Rules. Anna Wintour apologized to staff for her lack of diversity and inclusion. We talk about the cringey video by white celebrities saying they take responsibility. User Feedback: Minutes 32:00 to 35 Comments of the Week: Minutes 35:00 to 38