French Mag Charlie Hebdo Sparks Outrage Over Controversial Cover

The cover of a French satirical publication is being called out by social media users.

On Friday, Charlie Hebdo ignited an online firestorm when the cartoon cover depicted Queen Elizabeth II with her knee on Meghan Markle’s neck. The visual by the French magazine referred to George Floyd’s murder last May. Floyd suffocated as the result of a police officer kneeling on the man’s neck for more than eight minutes. 

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The headline added to the outrage. When translated, it read, “Why Meghan Markle left Buckingham Palace…Because ‘I couldn’t breathe.’”

French magazine Charlie Hebdo mocks George Floyd’s murder and Meghan’s racism concerns. The cover reads: ‘Why Meghan left Buckingham Palace’, ‘Because I couldn’t breathe’. pic.twitter.com/3Fuj789xn7

— Nadine White (@Nadine_Writes) March 13, 2021

Twitter users quickly responded to the egregious cover.

Shit like this is why that gunman clapped 12 of dem boys outside the Charlie Hebdo office

— D 🇳🇬 (@DanielOess) March 13, 2021

The Brits will hate this.
Not because of the overt racism or callous mocking of what happened to an unarmed Black man…but because of the physical appearance of the Queen in the picture.
Because optics matter to the UK! pic.twitter.com/kXcck3hX0G

— MisTÂûght (@Mis_TAught) March 13, 2021

Charlie Hebdo was always bigoted, it just stayed out of the headlines by preying on the most vulnerable in society while hidings behind freedom of speech

— Af Gabare (@Zaikal11) March 13, 2021

The enjoyment on the cartoon queen face is so horrible it says to cause pain to this person is ok and its also enjoyable, pleasurable. Why is the idea of hurting a black women enjoyment? that is the deeper question.

— Denise Headley (@Denise__Headley) March 13, 2021

Mind blowing!. I can’t believe they actually published this cover. Soo disrespectful!. 😱😖🤯

— BlkGirlGlo (@MissGloBlk009) March 13, 2021

Markle has had a long week of being in the media spotlight after her and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey last Sunday.

She was verbally attacked by British blowhole Piers Morgan following the interview. 

Although satirical writing is intended to provoke thought, Charlie Hebdo’s cover was just offensive.