Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were accused of being ‘local villains’ in Montecito (Image: Getty)
and have been dealt yet another blow after a new scathing report claimed to into the spotlight.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were labelled “the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet” by Montecito locals who slammed them for contributing to making the area a tourist hotspot with surging house prices.
Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito, California, following their exit from the Royal Family and move to the US in 2020.
The fancy California suburb has other celebrities listed as its former or current residents, including Natalie Portman, Jeff Bridges, John Carradine, Kirk and Michael Douglas, Jonathan Winters, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adam Levine, Jimmy Connors, T.C. Boyle, Leonardo DiCaprio, Neil Young and Daryl Hannah, Michael Keaton, and Oprah Winfrey.
Now Vanity Fair published a new bombshell report citing for taking away the area’s “quiet” and “neighbourliness” and “bringing more attention” to the place.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito after quitting the Royal Family (Image: Getty)
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According to the outlet, one Montecitan resident said the prince and “the scarlet” as he dubbed Meghan have “become local villains” and turned their once-peaceful neighbourhood into a haven for fast cars and tourists.
They said: “They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States.
“I still think they’re the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet.”
Elsewhere, they accused the Sussexes, as well as other Montecitan celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, for housing price increases and “out-of-towners coming in, driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking by local trails”.
Another resident criticised Meghan for allegedly trying to “monetise” Montecito by naming her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. Santa Barbara, where Montecito is located in, is known as American Riviera.
The resident said: “It’s such a kind of hucksterism. It’s just finding every way she can to monetize something.”
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The story further stated: “And in doing so, bringing more attention to the place where the Sussexes say they want to be left alone.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, Sharon Stone recently praised the couple as neighbours and said they have become an integral and caring part of the community following their relief efforts amid the devastating fires that have been spreading havoc in neighbouring Los Angeles.
In an interview with , she said: “You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community, they came here to be a part of our community.
“My friend said she was sitting in her car and they bicycled across the street and waved at her while she was sitting at the red light.”
She added: “They’re a part of our community, they’ve become a giving, caring, participating part of our community. They’re not here to be like ‘Would you like to kiss my butt?'”
The Sussex couple recently visited LA to volunteer and support those affected by the fires, but their appearance sparked backlash led by actress Justine Bateman, who labelled them “disaster tourists”.
However, royal expert Jennie Bond said it is “disturbing” the amount of criticism the couple receive.
She told the : “Harry and Meghan must have expected much of the criticism they received after their accusations about the rest of the Royal Family.
“But I find it disturbing that almost everything and anything they now do is still criticised, in my view quite unfairly.
“They could have stayed holed up in their Montecito haven while so much of California burned.”