“What we got instead looked steady, controlled, and perfectly placed. Not ‘kid with a phone for five seconds’ energy. More like ‘adult set the phone/camera & pressed record’ energy.”
Accusations of ‘Manufactured Intimacy’
One user went further, calling the post a “lie” and arguing that Meghan “did not need to mention who filmed it at all,” but did so to make the moment “feel intimate and authentic.”
“Saying the child filmed it attempts to do three things at once. First, it sells innocence. It makes the moment sound spontaneous and family warm. Second, it shields it from criticism… Third, it forces the audience to picture the child witnessing the whole performance, which is exactly the emotional hook they want.”
The same critic later doubled down, writing, “A 4 year old doesn’t film like a trained cameraman with zero wobble. That was propped up on something, tripod or shelf, and they still had to toss in the ‘Lili took it’ lie for the fake wholesome points. Clowns.”
Comparisons to Princess Catherine
Meghan’s decision to credit her daughter also prompted comparisons with her sister-in-law, Princess Catherine of Wales. In February last year, Catherine shared a ‘Mother Nature’ image for World Cancer Day and credited her then seven-year-old son, Prince Louis, with taking the photo.
The Sussexes’ video was labeled “cringe” and “awkward” by some, with critics drawing parallels between the two posts.
“Because Catherine shared a photo taken by Louis, so of course Meghan had to try to one up it by claiming Lili filmed the video,” one suspicious commenter claimed.
Another added, “Let’s face it the only reason she has the credit for the kid filming it is because C [Catherine] credited her son for her photo.”
“They hate each other. It is hard to feign romantic when you would rather be anywhere else.”
Ongoing Backlash and PR Troubles
As criticism intensified over the weekend, Meghan reposted the same dancing clip to her Instagram Story on Saturday, January 18.
The renewed backlash comes amid what many online observers have described as a “bad PR year” for the Sussexes. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently topped Ranker’s list of the most disliked celebrities of 2025, with Meghan ranking at No. 1.