When it rains it pours. Amid a bombshell report about treating employees unkindly, Meghan Markle is still reeling from her and Prince Harry being dubbed “disaster tourists.” Why it “touches a major nerve” for the 43-year-old British royal, ahead.

Criticism about California wildfires response ‘cuts extremely deep’ for Meghan

Meghan Markle | Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

As wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles, California, area, thousands were displaced and had no homes to return to. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited victims of the Eaton fire.

On Jan. 10, 2025, they were spotted in Pasadena the Pasadena Convention Center distributing food and supplies and speaking with first responders and victims.

Shortly after, Family Ties alum Justine Bateman blasted the pair on X. “Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers,” the actor and filmmaker wrote. “What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved” alongside footage of them on the local news. “They are ‘touring the damage?’ Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire.”

As an insider to Heat magazine, the criticism stung Meghan, who grew up in LA and now lives in Montecito with Harry and their two children. “For Meghan especially, it cuts extremely deep and touches a major nerve. This is her home city burning to the ground. She wants to help, and yet by doing that she’s still getting treated like garbage.”

They continued, saying that while Harry has offered Meghan words of encouragement it still “hurts” both of them. “Harry is telling her how proud he is, that the only way to handle it is to turn the other cheek and keep their side of the street clean. But, of course, it gets them down and hurts like hell for both of them. How could it not?”

The negative reaction ‘stunned and appalled’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The insider continued, saying the criticism has left Harry and Meghan “stunned and appalled,” seeing this as another example of being “unfairly treated.”

“It confirms what they already knew to a big extent, that they can’t win no matter what they do or don’t do,” the source said. “Their haters will always be out in force finding any way possible to tear them down.”

“The fact they’ve been name-called and labeled as opportunistic attention seekers simply for trying to help the community and put time and energy into such a worthy cause truly beggars’ belief, as far as they’re concerned.”

And as much as Harry and Meghan might’ve wanted to shake off the criticism they simply couldn’t. “A big part of them wants to just laugh it off. But it’s so sick and twisted in their minds that makes it way harder to turn the other cheek. Instead, they’re shaking their heads and feeling very unfairly treated.”

Meghan’s particularly ‘heartbroken’ by the California wildfires

The wildfires, which have killed 27 people to date and destroyed upwards of 14,000 structures has left Meghan “heartbroken.”

“Meghan is a California girl. This is heartbreaking for her on so many levels,” the insider said, sharing that she and Harry are “both so sad.” Despite the sadness, “they’re being proactive and they’re looking at ways their foundation can help. Emotionally they are very impacted by this, the collective pain and suffering that this city they both love is going through is devastating.”

Meghan also delayed With Love, Meghan, her Netflix show originally set to premiere on Jan. 15, 2025, due to the wildfires. It will now begin streaming on March 4, 2025.