Charlie Hebdo: Fury over cover of Queen kneeling on Meghan’s neck like George Floyd

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has sparked fresh outrage with a cartoon showing the Queen kneeling on Meghan Markle’s neck in a disturbing recreation of George Floyd’s death.

The controversial publication used the caricature on the cover of this week’s issue with a headline that says “Why Meghan left Buckingham….” and her replying “because I couldn’t breathe anymore” when translated into English.

The comment about being unable to breathe is a direct reference to Mr Floyd’s death in the US last year, when a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.

His death led to widespread Black Lives Matter protests around the world and a reckoning on racism in society.

The new cover has been widely condemned as “utterly appalling” and using Mr Floyd’s death to make money.

The Queen kneels on Meghan’s neck in the disturbing Charlie Hebdo cover (Image: Charlie Hebdo) Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles

Dr Halima Begum, the CEO of anti-racism think tank the Runnymede Trust, tweeted the image calling it ‘wrong on every level’.

She said: ” #CharlieHebdo, this is wrong on every level. The Queen as #GeorgeFloyd ‘s murderer crushing Meghan’s neck? #Meghan saying she’s unable to breathe? This doesnt push boundaries, make anyone laugh or challenge #racism. It demeans the issues & causes offence, across the board.”

Campaign group Windrush Anchor posted: “A poor and ill-conceived response from #CharlieHebdo which if anything inflames the issue. This brand of simplistic satire has no place in the fight against racism. Utterly appalling and deeply saddening.”

Meghan accused the Royal family of racism during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (Image: Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese v)

Black and Asian Lawyers For Justice tweeted that the cover was ‘outrageous, disgusting, fascistic racism’ adding that the magazine was ‘pimping George Floyd’s trauma for profit’.

While Twitter user @_SJPeace_ tweeted to his 346,000 followers that the magazine ‘should be removed’.

He said: “A French magazine is laughing about Floyd’s death…and Meghan Markle. It read “why Meghan left buckingham” and “because she couldn’t breathe” This magazine is notorious for being racist and offensive and gaslighting people of color. This Magazine NEEDS TO BE REMOVED!”

George Floyd’s death sparked widespread Black Lives Matter protests (Image: Collect Unknown) Read More Related Articles

The publication comes days after Meghan Markle made racism claims in the Royal family during her bombshell interview, alongside Prince Harry, with Oprah Winfrey which was screened in the US on Sunday and ITV the following day.

The couple claimed an unnamed royal had made remarks about son Archie’s skin colour before he was born, sparking crisis talks at Buckingham Palace. It has since emerged that it was not the Queen or Prince Philip who made the comment.

On Tuesday Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that issues raised in the interview, including the allegation of racism, were “concerning”, and said the matter would be dealt with privately.

Prince William subsequently denied his family were racist when he was asked during a visit to a school in east London earlier this week.

Meghan raised the issue of race in the Oprah interview and has spoke out about Mr Floyd’s death before (Image: Courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS)

The image of the Queen kneeling on Meghan’s neck comes after Mr Floyd died in May last year when Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

On Friday it was revealed his family will receive $27million (£19m) payout to settle a lawsuit over his death and a jury has been selected for the start of his trial this week.

It isn’t the first time Charlie Hebdo has sparked outrage with satirical cartoons, one of which led to a terror attack when it published images of the prophet Muhammad.

In January 2015, brothers Saad and Cherif Kouachi armed with Kalashnikovs attacked the magazine’s Paris headquarters shouting “the prophet is avenged” as they murdered 12 people.

They claimed the publication used blasphemy to stir up hatred against Muslims around the world.