Meghan Markle is once again at the center of controversy, this time for allegedly moving a wheelchair user without permission at the Invictus Games in Canada. A viral TikTok video by disability advocate Lucy Edwards ignited a heated debate over respect for disabled individuals and their autonomy.
The video, which has been viewed over 100,000 times, shows Markle adjusting the wheelchair of Canadian Team athlete Adria Brochu while she was mid-conversation. Edwards, a blind TV presenter, criticized the action, saying, “Mobility aids are an extension of our disabled bodies. You should always ask before touching someone’s wheelchair.”
@lucyedwards Did Meghan Markle mean to grab this lady‘s wheelchair without her permission? Whether she did or didn’t this has opened up a very important discussion about autonomy within the disabled community. For years we have said Just Ask Don’t Grab. A fantastic. Hashtag started by @GuideDogAvaandAmy but why are we still seeing this happen? Maybe Meghan didn’t mean any offense she was most likely coming from a well meaning place not wanting to have anyone left out of the photo but it’s so important to ask someone before grabbing. Mobility aids really are an extension of our disabled bodies. If someone is to touch Miss Molly without my permission while we’re walking, it could endanger my life and causes us to lose concentration. If someone grabs my cane, I suddenly cannot feel the textures of the floor that I need to know to understand the environment around me. If you touch someone’s wheelchair without their permission they may not want to go in the direction you’re pushing them in and this is just disrespectful. The amount of times that I have been pulled across the road by a well meaning stranger I can’t count on both hands and often people don’t necessarily know what they’re doing is wrong because we’re not taught about disability rights in our education systems or our workplace, but it is wrong. Please understand and remember that we all have the right to live free independent lives. I’m sure so many of us have made this mistake, I haven’t personally, but I know I make so many mistakes every day. It’s how we learn from our mistakes and make sure they don’t happen again. What do you think? #MeghanMarkle #Invictus #JustAskDontGrab ♬ original sound – British blind girl 👁🦮👩🦯
While some saw Markle’s actions as well-intended, others argued that it reflected a lack of awareness about disability rights. “This is about independence,” Edwards emphasized. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve been grabbed by well-meaning strangers who think they’re helping.”
Brochu, the athlete in question, came to Markle’s defense, calling the moment “genuinely happy and caring.” She told the British press, “Meghan was incredibly kind and only adjusted my wheelchair for the photo to make sure I was comfortable and included.”
Despite Brochu’s statement, many online were not convinced. The debate played into broader criticism of Meghan Markle, who remains a polarizing figure. Social media erupted, with critics calling it another example of her “tone-deaf” behavior.
Nick Booth, CEO of the True Patriot Love Foundation, dismissed the controversy as overblown, stating, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were warmly welcomed, and the entire morning was positive.” However, critics argue that Markle’s repeated missteps show a pattern of insensitivity.
The incident has reignited discussions about disability etiquette and whether public figures like Markle should be held to a higher standard. Edwards hopes the conversation will lead to greater awareness, stating, “It’s not about Meghan. It’s about educating people on the importance of autonomy for disabled individuals.”
For many, however, this is just another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of Meghan Markle’s public behavior. Whether intentional or not, the backlash is yet another reminder that even small actions can have big consequences—especially for someone already under the microscope.
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What in Gods name , have this woman done to you people, that you all hate her so much?
If you weren’t there, don’t know all the details, don’t know if there was prior conversation(s) and/or knowledge that this was going to be done, or if, Goddess forbid, Meghan was moving her out of the way (possibly to keep the person from harm) then quit dramatizing it and making EVERYTHING some kind of media spectacle and some kind of “hurt” or “sleight” or whatever “imagined” thing you can come up with. I use a wheelchair and unless they were moving me and sending me down a ramp or whatever, I would not take it personally, and sure in heck wouldn’t take to social media and make it all about how sensitive the disabled are. And no, the last thing I think is that the wheelchair is an extension of myself. It’s just a tool to get me from point A to point B. It helps me get around. It is NOT a part of *me*. For the love of all that is sacred, I seriously doubt she did it as an intended negative action against the person, so stop stirring the pot trying to make it seem that way, at least until you know the ACTUAL details and not stuff floating around the internet.
If this had been anyone other than Meghan Markle doing this action, would you still be raising such a fuss over it?