LBC presenter James O'Brien faced a backlash online after reacting to reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK. The Sussexes are reportedly moving back six years after stepping down as senior working royals and relocating to Montecito.
The couple are said to be making their home in a non-royal residence outside London, while their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have been enrolled in schools.
O'Brien criticises 'obsessive' coverage
Reacting to what he described as the media's "obsessive" coverage of the Sussexes' announcement, O'Brien said on his LBC radio show: "The Daily Mail reports 'couple moves house.' Page one, the absolute splash. This is the only story on the front page of their newspaper. 'Harry swanning back in must be enraging from William.' How do you know? Spoiler alert, you don't. 'Their friends tell me Meghan is fully behind the shock move.' Right."
He continued: "'How this will shape the future of the monarchy.' Okay. It's good that we're not getting carried away here, lads. Let's keep it on the down low. And then the front page. 'Return of the prodigal prince. Sussexes' security could cost taxpayers £5 million a year – Will it? No idea, but it could. It could cost £50 million, it could cost a gazillion pounds here, it could cost 12p, but stick all that on the front – Doesn't matter, you've got your front page."
He also blasted the "breaking news" of the couple moving house, calling out what he described as the newspaper's "obsession" with Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45.
Listeners accuse presenter of obsession
The comments sparked backlash, with many claiming it is O'Brien who is obsessed with the couple. One wrote: "Late middle aged, individual demonstrates exasperation at the amount of media coverage for a pair of grifters by btc out of anyone listening by covering the same topic on his show."
Another agreed: "By obsessively covering the obsessiveness you are by default obsessive. However James O'Brien is irony impaired like any far lefty. Still won’t put this channel on my car for danger of even hearing his rants."
A third echoed: "JoB is literally talking about it; does he not think he's part of the media? He's no different from using the Markle's for something to broadcast."
A fourth commented: "From what I've seen, nobody obsesses over them more than this man." Another argued: "Obsessive? Harry and Meghan spit on their family with lies, interviews, national publication, and now crawling back for money cause they don’t have shit in the United States. They dished it out. They definitely deserve to get it right back."
