Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Slammed For ‘Photo Op Disaster Tourism’ For L.A. Fire Relief Efforts

Justine Bateman, star of Family Ties, has blasted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their supposedly relief efforts for the L.A. wildfires.

On Friday, Fox 11 Los Angeles showed Harry and Markle at an evacuation center in Pasadena handing out food and other supplies to victims of the fire.

Fox reported that Markle and Harry had donated a variety of necessities to the affected community and additionally opened up their house to friends and family who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate.

Despite their philanthropy, Bateman, who lives in Hollywood Hills, blasted Harry and Markle for their “photo opp” at the evacuation center.

In a post to X, Bateman wrote, “Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive “photo op” they achieved.”

She continued, “They are “touring the damage”? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists,” and closed out the post, “#PalisadesFire.”

Harry and Markle have not responded to Bateman’s criticism.

While many have agreed with Bateman’s scorn of the couple, others have questioned whether the optics of an insensitive “photo app” should outweigh the couple’s benevolence and further asked Bateman what she has done to support victims of the fires. 

Bateman has been extremely vocal about her displeasure at how California officials have directed people through the wildfires. In an interview with Jesse Watters on Friday, Bateman declared, “If you’re going to run a city or run a state, you have to take care of the basics. And that’s [to] make sure that your fire and police department[s] are well funded.”

She continued, “If you’re not doing everything you can to take care of those problems if they arise, then get out. You are useless to us.”

As of Jan. 15, 24 people have died in the wildfires that erupted across Southern California last Tuesday. Thousands of structures have been destroyed, and over 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes. As the fires rage on, officials have been unable to estimate a death toll.

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