Oprah: Meghan Markle was told to be “fifty percent less” than she was

Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is thinking about harming themself, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. You are not alone.

One day after their wide-ranging interview, Oprah Winfrey is revealing more about Meghan Markle’s treatment by the royal family.

Appearing on CBS This Morning, Oprah shared more about the explosive interview and her knowledge of Meghan’s royal life.

“In 2018 she [Meghan] had just joined the Royal Family. She shared a conversation with me then that really made me feel somewhat disheartened because she said she’d been told, been given advice, that it would be best if she could be 50% less than she was. That was the quote,” said Oprah.

“If she could be 50% less. And I remember hearing that in 2018 and I said specifically to her, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to survive being half of yourself.'”

The truth is—she almost didn’t. There were many moments in last night’s interview that were shocking, but perhaps none more so than when Meghan shared that she experienced suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy with Archie.

Under incredible stress and amid constant criticism, Meghan said at the time, she “thought [suicide] would have solved everything for everyone.”

“I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn’t say it—then I would do it,” she said. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”

WATCH: @Oprah Winfrey joins us to discuss more from her interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry. https://t.co/lLBVwL8ojN

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning)
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We’re deeply grateful that Meghan and Harry were able to draw strength from each other and navigate away from a toxic environment.

Learning that she had been advised to be fifty percent less than herself—that’s resonating with us.

How many women have been told something similar in their lives? By trusted adults, partners, colleagues, or strangers?

How often are we told to diminish ourselves so that others can feel larger? To take up less space, to speak with less passion or not at all?

Women of color constantly navigate these dynamics. They are asked to police themselves, their bodies, their voices, their tones—all to make other people more comfortable.

Be less than you are and be grateful for the opportunity.

It’s exhausting.

Meghan Markle was told to be less. She was told to be half of herself—half of a person.

She tried to follow that dehumanizing advice and nearly lost her life in the process.

We’re so grateful that she found her voice and her strength. We’re so glad that she chose herself—all of herself.

Meghan Markle was told to be less. Instead, she ended up being so much more than they ever thought possible.