The recent controversy surrounding the absence of Catherine, Princess of Wales, from public life following her abdominal surgery has turned into a PR disaster for celebrities who took advantage of the situation for personal gain. From far-fetched conspiracy theories to tasteless jokes made by the likes of Blake Lively and Kim Kardashian, many individuals seemed to take pleasure in mocking a woman who was actually undergoing cancer treatments.
One of the most repulsive displays came from liberal comedian and host of the late-night show, Stephen Colbert. Before Catherine’s video message was released to the public, revealing the true reason for her absence, Colbert decided to draw attention to one of the grossest rumors floating around at the time. This rumor alleged that Prince William, Catherine’s husband and heir to the British throne, was having an affair with family friend, Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Hey @colbertlateshow, You are absolutely disgusting. Have you no remorse making jokes about Kate Middleton being absent post surgery and suggesting her husband was having an affair. You are a pathetic excuse for a human being. You should be sued. https://t.co/eGOx90qz6U
— LindaRN (@LindaG_RN) March 23, 2024
In response to Colbert’s inappropriate “joke”, In Touch reported that Hanbury and her legal team have sent a legal notice to the comedian. According to their statement, they have reached out to CBS and other reputable media organizations to correct the false allegations.
While these rumors have been circulating for years, there is no evidence to support the claim that William was unfaithful to his wife, just like his father Charles was to Princess Diana in the 90s. However, that did not stop Colbert from making a mockery of the situation.
In his opening monologue on March 12, Colbert added fuel to the rumor mill by stating “the kingdom has been all aflutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton.” He then goes on to make fun of the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, calling her names such as the “Marching Band of Chicanery” and the “Marcus Mumford of Chumbawumba.”
Hanbury, who has been married since 2009 and has three children, did not find Colbert’s jokes amusing. Her legal team released a statement, reported by Business Insider, stating that the rumors are completely false. Now, they have decided to single out Colbert for sparking this rumor once again.
From the beginning, it was clear that the internet gossip surrounding Catherine’s absence was baseless. Buckingham Palace had announced in January, when they revealed she had undergone surgery, that she would not return to her public duties until after Easter. However, this did not stop the rumors from circulating, especially the hurtful allegation of an affair.
Colbert, as a well-known figure in the media, should have recognized the harm in bringing up such a painful rumor during a difficult time for the royal family. His actions were inexcusable and showed a complete lack of empathy. It is now up to him to take responsibility for his actions and publicly apologize to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Kate Middleton should never have had to give this statement.
They may be Royal but everyone has the right to privacy when it comes to health and children.
Disgusting media vultures forcing this????????#KateMiddleton #PrincessCatherine #Cancer— Ashlea Simon (@AshleaSimonBF) March 22, 2024
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Colbert has used his platform to attack and spread false information. Instead of promoting love and unity, he often uses his position as a “comedian” to push his own political agenda and promote the establishment. A person in his position should be held to a higher standard and it is disappointing to see him stoop to such a low level.