First Lady of Nigeria Clarifies Comments About Meghan Markle amid False Reports

The First Lady of Nigeria is clarifying her remarks after a recent speech was misinterpreted as criticism of Meghan Markle’s attire during her visit to the country.

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First Lady of Nigeria Clarifies Comments About Meghan Markle amid False Reports
“At no point did she say anything about Meghan’s dressing,” the office of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu said

By Janine Henni Published on May 31, 2024 03:36PM EDT
Remi Tinubu and Meghan Markle
(Right) First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 19, 2024; (Left) Meghan Markle at a polo match in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 12, 2024. . PHOTO: MUSTAFA KAMACI/ANADOLU/GETTY; KOLA SULAIMON/AFP/GETTY
The office of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has clarified her recent speech mentioning Meghan Markle
The First Lady’s office said that she never referenced “Meghan’s dressing”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Nigeria at the invitation of its highest-ranking military official from May 10 to May 12

The First Lady of Nigeria is clarifying her remarks after a recent speech was misinterpreted as criticism of Meghan Markle’s attire during her visit to the country.

First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu made headlines after Meghan’s visit when a video surfaced of her discussing the challenges faced by Nigeria’s youth at an event celebrating the first year of her husband, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s, presidency.

“We are not having the Met Gala . . . We don’t accept nakedness in our culture,” First Lady Tinubu said in part during her speech. “It is not beautiful at all . . . They are mimicking and trying to emulate film stars from America. They don’t know where they come from. Why did Meghan come here, looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with. We know who we are, and don’t lose who you are.”

According to the First Lady’s office, Tinubu’s reference to the Duchess of Sussex was about her journey to understand her identity and where she came from after Meghan learned she is of Nigerian heritage.

“She meant Meghan appreciates the people we are and hence her coming here,” the First Lady’s office said in a statement to AFP Fact Check in a story published on May 30. “At no point did she say anything about Meghan’s dressing.”