Meghan Joins Fortune MPW Summit: "If You Look Back at Anything I've Said, It's Not Controversial"

The Duchess of Sussex participated in Fortune's Most Powerful Women Virtual Summit today to discuss how our experiences online shape our communities offline. In conversation with Fortune senior editor Ellen McGirt, Meghan said: "I think we can all see it and feel it, whether we are directly involved in the online world or not - we know it’s not sustainable the way that it is. We have got to all put our stock in something that is true and we all need to have reliable media resources that are telling us the truth...without that I don’t know where it leaves us."

In response to a question praising her efforts to "brings things forward" as a woman who had "powerful people, a sitting president and powerful forces" trying to take her down, Meghan said it's important "to be authentic". She added "If you look back at anything I’ve said, it's really interesting. What ends up being inflammatory is people’s interpretation of it. But if you listen to what I actually say it’s not controversial." We are all going through a reset and we are all going through a moment of reckoning and probably a reevaluation of what really matters. For me, it's been amazing to spend time with my husband and watch our little one grow and that's where our attention has been. In addition to, of course, how we can be a part of the change of energy that so many people are craving right now and whatever we can do to help in that capacity."

On her moving speech for the graduating class of her high school, Immaculate Heart, she revealed she had pre-taped it, but after the murder of George Floyd she "knew she couldn't use it". Meghan recalled explaining to Harry how heartbreaking she found it and was in tears preparing to deliver it. She sat down and delivered a speech "from the heart". Meghan continued: "It felt reminiscent to the state of Los Angeles after the Rodney King beating. And so, for these girls to be graduating from high school, which should be such a celebratory time, to be plagued with this unrest - it felt very troubling to me."

More from Harper's Bazaar:

'Meghan reiterated the importance of working to shape a kinder, more humane online experience and expressed that she and Harry's nonprofit foundation, Archewell, would work to uphold those same values.

"Part of our focus with the Archewell Foundation is to just ensure that we are helping foster healthy positive communities—online and off—for our collective wellbeing," said Meghan. "It really just includes not contributing to or even clicking on misinformation. And when you know something is wrong, reporting it, it, talking about it, ensuring that the facts are getting out there. I think that is one clear tangible thing that everyone could be doing."

Meghan added: "If you continue to hit this brick wall of, at the moment what is happening in the digital and online space, then in many ways it’s like taking two steps forward and five steps backward." She added it isn't "a dismissal of all things online, but it has to be a recognition and a reckoning of what's happening there".

WWD reports:

She also publicly supports the Stop Hate for Profit campaign against Facebook, in which organizers got thousands of advertisers to stop advertising on the platform for the months of June, and more recently had a host of celebrities pause their Facebook and Instagram accounts to bring attention to Facebook’s lax policies on hate speech. Markle admitted she’s not looking to “take down Facebook” but still isn’t sure that a limited boycott is a recipe for lasting change online.

“Most of the advertising executives and cmo’s I had spoken to said a month is not enough, and some have taken it through the end of the year,” Markle said. “I think maybe that is the takeaway, that we can’t have just that slap on the wrist. If we’re looking for long-term solutions, what are the actions that we can take now that are going to lay that future foundation. And that doesn’t happen in a month.”

I thought Ellen McGirt did an excellent job. You'll notice a copy of Together: Our Community Cookbook in her home. A great spot by tweeter Eleanor Amelia.

The Duchess noted the value of ignoring the noise and focusing on your own moral compass before sharing a quote by artist Georgia O Keefe who is known as the "Mother of American Modernism". "I used to have a quote up in my room many, many moons ago, and it resonates now maybe more than ever when you see the vitriol and noise that can be out in the world."

The Duchess wore the blue and white stripe poplin shirt by With Nothing Underneath (a great spot by What Meghan Wore). The £85 piece is described as: "The WNU shirt is inspired by classic menswear styles, but reimagined for women. The classic boyfriend style, taken out of the bedroom for the boardroom or the beach. Made from crisp poplin cotton this is your new wardrobe staple."

The London-based brand was launched in 2017. The Duchess has worn several of their shirts. Inspired by icons like Carolyn Bessette and Charlotte Rampling, With Nothing Underneath is described as "a shirt to live in, work in, dine in, sleep in, with or without thought, or anything underneath". Below, Meghan wearing a white stripe shirt by the brand during a visit to Luminary Bakery.

Thanks to the impact of the 'Meghan Effect' following the appearance, With Nothing Underneath's team decided  it was a perfect opportunity to see what they could do to give back. Since then, they have become a corporate partner of Luminary Bakery - donating a portion of the profits from the shirt Meghan wore.

Meghan accessorised with gold jewellery including what appears to be Diana's Cartier Tank watch. What Meghan Wore also noted the Duchess wore her Edge of Ember Kismet necklace. 

I'll update if additional footage becomes available.