Meghan Markle dancing while heavily pregnant in a hospital room led to a bizarre debate over her baby bump.
The Duchess of Sussex posted a clip of herself doing Starrkeisha’s “Baby Mama Dance” while overdue with Princess Lilibet in the hope of inducing labor.
For years, detractors on social media have argued Meghan faked her two pregnancies and seized on the shape of the royal’s bump as new evidence. However, other mothers came to Meghan’s defense, using their own pregnancy photos to argue her bump looked as expected.
Why It Matters
Meghan and Harry have faced numerous rumors and conspiracy theories, from talk of a secret divorce that Newsweek fact-checked as “false” to unfounded speculation that she faked her pregnancies.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
These social media trends can be difficult for Meghan and Harry to counter without amplifying them, a phenomenon known in the PR industry as the Streisand effect.
However, grassroots efforts by ordinary people, particularly those who are not dedicated fans of the duchess, may prove more successful.
What To Know
Some on social media said Meghan’s bump appeared fake because of its shape, but one ordinary mom went viral after stating any bumps were simply a baby heart monitor strapped to the duchess.
She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I seldom post my pics but I will to defend Meghan @KensingtonRoyal. This is me literally at the hospital just before giving birth. Notice the bumps around my belly? That’s is a fetal heart monitor wrapped in cloth. Notice I’m also wearing a dress for my comfort. Leave Meg alone.”
The post was viewed 491,000 times and liked 10,000 times. It was published in answer to another user who had suggested Meghan had “a blanket up her dress” in the video.
What People Are Saying
Christopher Bouzy, who investigated trolling of Meghan on social media through analysis firm Bot Sentinel, told Newsweek: “The Meghan pregnancy truthers operate just like any other extremist misinformation network.
“They rally people around a gross falsehood, stoke their anger and direct that rage at a target. This creates a dangerous feedback loop: The more the conspiracy is amplified, the more some individuals feel justified in acting on their hatred.
“In Meghan’s case, it has already gone far beyond nasty tweets. The U.K.’s former head of counterterrorism revealed that during Meghan’s time in Britain, she faced “disgusting and very real” threats from far-right extremists.
“Think about that. Completely unfounded online conspiracies (tinged with racism) helped create an atmosphere where a duchess and mother had to worry about terrorists and stalkers. This is the society we risk becoming if such digital lynch mobs are allowed to carry on unchecked.”
Bouzy gave an interview about Meghan’s harassment to her Netflix biopic Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022.
One account described Meghan as having “the lumpiest looking bump I’ve ever seen,” but health care professionals have said that all bumps look different.
Pip Davies, an NHS midwife, told The Sun: “Everybody carries differently, and factors like muscle tone, baby’s position, and even your height can affect how your bump looks and this can change regularly with time of day, day on day or week on week.
“Some bumps are high and round, others are low and wide, but all perfectly healthy and unique.
“What matters most is that you and your baby are doing well, not how your bump compares to anyone else’s.”
Meghan Markle’s ‘Baby Mama Dance’ Video
The duchess posted footage from her pregnancy with Lilibet to her Instagram account to mark her daughter’s fourth birthday.
She wrote: “Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work—there was only one thing left to do!”
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Update 6/10/25, 1:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Christopher Bouzy.
