Actress Justine Bateman’s attack on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s meeting with victims of the LA fires has been called “sad” by a source with knowledge of the visit.
The “Family Ties” actress, 58, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) Saturday evening to blast the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their Friday visit to victims of the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, calling it a “repulsive ‘photo op’” and labeling the couple disaster tourists.
“Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers,” Bateman wrote. “What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved.”
“They are ‘touring the damage’?” she asked in her repost of news footage showing the couple in Pasadena, Calif., a stone’s throw from Altadena, one of the hardest hit communities by the fires. “Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists.”
However, a source with knowledge of Harry and Meghan’s visit to the Pasadena Convention Center and impacted areas of Altadena told The Post that Bateman’s characterization of events is just plain wrong.
“Justine’s claim is not only sad, it’s also very ill-informed,” the source told The Post. “They just showed up,” the insider added, stressing that the couple’s trip was meant to be an incognito visit.
Harry and Meghan were spotted Friday evening at the convention center after Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and California First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom drew news crews to the location, which has been used as an evacuation site for victims of the Eaton Fire.
A source previously told The Post that Friday’s visit was not a planned press event but rather an effort to make a meaningful difference in the community while trying to avoid causing disruption.
Harry and Meghan spent a long time volunteering before they met Mayor Gordo and Mrs. Newsom, who offered to take the pair to some of the impacted areas to help them understand the gravity of the situation and discuss how they can further aid the relief efforts.
Prior to the visit, the Duke and Duchess made financial donations through their Archewell Foundation and donated physical items to help support wildfire victims. The Post understands that some of those items were personal items, including toys that previously belonged to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and clothing.
The Post has reached out to a representative for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, dressed casually for their volunteer day, donning baseball hats as they tried to maintain a low profile. The former “Suits” star and LA native opted for a blue LA Dodgers cap, while Harry chose a black “Cali” hat from Los Angeles-based brand James Perse.
Sources told The Post that the Duke and Duchess were focused on supporting and helping both physically and emotionally without causing chaos.
After serving meals alongside volunteers from chef Jose Andrés’ World Central Kitchen (WCK), meeting elderly individuals and families affected by the crisis, speaking with first responders and visiting areas devastated by the fires, Meghan and Harry expressed their appreciation to all of the teams working tirelessly to support the community.
The Duke and Duchess are committed to further supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts and have already planned additional visits to the community, sources told The Post.
Mayor Gordo praised Harry and Meghan during an interview with Fox 11.
“They didn’t come out here for publicity; they came out here to work,” Gordo said.
“We went to visit some of the families in the impacted area and view first hand some of the impacted area,” he added. “And then they wanted to go visit the first responders and personally thank them for their efforts to help our families and our neighbors.
“They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders.”
The Sussexes have posted resources on their website for those wishing to help wildfire victims and suggested those who are able to open their homes to loved ones and friends who have been evacuated.
The couple recently opened their sprawling $29.5 million Montecito mansion to their friends who were displaced by the LA fires.
As of Monday, the combined death toll among the LA fires that began last week has risen to at least 24 people. Nearly 200,000 others have been displaced, and 39,000 acres of land have burned down.
