‘Family Ties’ Star Justine Bateman Slams Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as ‘Disaster Tourists’

Family Ties star Justine Bateman put Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on blast as “disaster tourists” after they handed out food and other supplies at an evacuation center for victims of the L.A. fires.

The former teen star, now 58, played Mallory Keaton alongside Michael J. Fox in the hit series, which ran for seven seasons and earned Bateman two Emmy nominations, in 1986 and 1987. Bateman attacked the couple after they were filmed speaking with victims and first responders, writing online over the weekend: “Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers.”

“What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved,” her post continued. “They are ‘touring the damage?’ Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists.”

Meghan and Harry’s team did not respond to Bateman’s criticism.

The British royal family typically tiptoe around such controversy by tending to avoid visiting disaster sites until several weeks after the emergency response is completed.

Meghan and Harry’s arguably hasty appearance at the Pasadena relief center has sharply divided opinion, with critics like Bateman accusing the couple of showboating by appearing alongside Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of the embattled California Governor Gavin Newsom.

They faced similar criticism when Meghan visited the town of Uvalde, Texas, after the horrific school shooting there in May 2022. They subsequently donated a considerable sum of money to the community for building new children’s play areas.

However others have praised the couple for setting a positive example. Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, thanked the couple and said they “really buoyed the spirits of the first responders… people were very happy to see them.”

Meghan, who this weekend announced the release of her new home entertaining and cookery show set in California would be delayed, was born and raised in L.A.

The couple’s team have also let it be known that they have opened their home to friends affected by the fire and have made donations to World Central Kitchen, whose founder José Andrés was one of the people they met with at the centre.