Beyoncé, Serena Williams, Oprah react to Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan's shocking interview

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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan gave Oprah Winfrey an explosive interview that had many people talking.

In the two-hour special that aired Sunday night on CBS, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened up about mental health struggles, the gender of their second child and an emotional exchange Meghan had with Prince William's wife, Duchess Kate, among other bombshells.

Speaking Monday to pal Gayle King on "CBS This Morning," Winfrey said she was most surprised that Harry and Meghan shared that they faced discussions about what Archie’s skin tone would look like.

"Even I on the take, you can hear me go 'whoa,' like, ‘I can’t believe you’re saying this right now,' " she said.

Winfrey hasn't spoken to Harry and Meghan since the interview, save for a text from Meghan on Sunday night asking how it was going while she was putting Archie to bed and waiting for the interview to air on the West Coast. She'll probably connect with the couple today, she added.

Winfrey and King also noted that the interview did not happen at King’s house, as many on social media speculated. Winfrey said it was filmed “at a friend’s house” but declined to say who.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey in the backyard of their California home for a two-hour interview that aired March 7 on CBS.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey in the backyard of their California home for a two-hour interview that aired March 7 on CBS.

'I didn't want to be alive anymore': Duchess Meghan opens up in Oprah Winfrey interview, plus more major moments

After the interview, Beyoncé thanked Meghan for her "courage and leadership."

The singer shared a photo from their first meetup in 2019 at the European premiere of "The Lion King" on her website Tuesday, adding, "We are all strengthened and inspired by you."

Serena Williams praised her "selfless friend" Meghan in a statement posted on her Twitter account, adding that the duchess' comments "illustrate the pain and cruelty she's experienced."

"I know firsthand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us," the tennis icon wrote. "We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimization are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal."

"I don’t know what people thought, but nobody was expecting that," King said Monday.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki shared her thoughts with reporters Monday at a press briefing: "For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggle with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage. … That's certainly something the president believes."

The revelatory interview drew other strong reactions on Twitter.

Viral inaugural poet Amanda Gorman lamented the British royal family missing out on Meghan's "light" as an "opportunity for change, regeneration, and reconciliation in a new era."

She added: "Meghan is living the life Diana should have, if only those around her had been as brave as she was. Meghan isn’t living a life without pain, but a life without a prison. ... Unclear if this will change the Royal family, but Meghan's strength will certainly redefine family everywhere. Think of the women who will be inspired to stand up for their lives, the partners who will be kinder & more courageous than the kin they were born into."

In an interview with The Washington Post, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the interview was "so heart-rending to watch" and "an extraordinary two hours of television."

“Every institution has got to make more space and acceptance for young people coming up, particularly young women, who should not be forced into a mold that is no longer relevant, not only for them, but for our society," she said.

Clinton also said it was "heartbreaking" to watch Meghan and Harry detail "how difficult it was to be accepted, to be integrated, not just into the royal family as they described, but more painfully into the larger societies whose narrative is driven by tabloids that are living in the past."

She added, "I just hope that there will be some serious, thoughtful consideration in all of the institutions, not just in response to what Meghan and Harry were talking about, but literally across all of our societies."

"It’s true what Meghan Markle told @Oprah, we don’t know what goes on in people’s lives behind closed doors," wrote Maria Shriver. "That’s something we can all remember."

“Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” will air this Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. EST/PST.
“Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” will air this Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. EST/PST.

"This is so sad," tweeted Andy Cohen. "And riveting. And I want to see every second of the rest of it."

Meghan McCain wrote: "Monarchy has been an archaic and toxic concept since 1776," along with a GIF of the Broadway musical "Hamilton."

"Real Housewives" alum Bethenny Frankel spoke out after writing "cry me a river" in a since-deleted tweet criticizing Meghan for complaining while living a luxurious life.

"I watched M & H sit down. Emotional distress & racism must feel suffocating & powerless," she wrote. "I’m a polarizing, unfiltered(often to a fault)flawed person w a voice. When I heard of the interview, during a pandemic, it felt like a surprising choice. I’m sorry if it hurt or offended you."

MSNBC host Chris Hayes said the special highlighted Winfrey's skill as an interviewer.

"I didn’t actually quite understand Oprah’s singular genius as a broadcaster and interviewer until I became one but she’s legit on another level," he wrote.

Director Ava DuVernay agreed, tweeting that Winfrey's "interview skill set is at peak and epic proportions. That was a master class."

Former Fox News and NBC host Megyn Kelly, on the other hand, thought Winfrey "stayed too broad" in her interview.

"I wanted more," she tweeted. "'who?...Be specific...what exactly did they say? Who was jealous of M after Australia? How did u know that? What do you mean ur family hasn’t 'educated themselves' the way u have? They’re racists? WHO?' Eventually they’d have to get specific."

Ratings: Oprah's CBS interview with Harry and Meghan claims big 17.1 million viewers

E! host Nina Parker reflected on how the interview hit close to home: "You know why Black women believe Meghan? Because we know exactly what micro aggressions look like. And how they slowly drive you insane."

"Bachelor" star Matt James wrote that he was "not surprised at all by what I’m hearing, just a sad reminder."

The interview gave George Takei thoughts on how to settle the controversy with the royal family.

"Maybe they should just make Oprah queen and call it a day," he wrote.

Jada Pinkett Smith also cracked a joke about the drama, sharing an edited picture on Instagram of Queen Elizabeth II appearing on Red Table Talk.

"Going to start referring to all of my Twitter followers as 'the firm,'" joked Billy Eichner.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan criticized the interview, calling it "an absolutely disgraceful betrayal of the Queen and the Royal Family."

"I expect all this vile destructive self-serving nonsense from Meghan Markle – but for Harry to let her take down his family and the Monarchy like this is shameful," he added.

In the virtual interview room at the Critics Choice Awards, which aired opposite Oprah's exclusive sit-down, Seth Meyers offered parenting advice for the duke and duchess, who announced in the interview they are expecting a baby girl.

The big Oprah interview: Duchess Meghan says speaking for herself is 'liberating'

"You let your kids tell you the kind of parent they need, and each one’s going to need you to be a little bit different," Meyers said. "You’ve got to be the variable.”

Tennis legend Billie Jean King commended the duchess' honesty about her mental health struggles. During the interview, Duchess Meghan revealed she contemplated suicide while living in the palace.

"Among the revelations from the Meghan and Harry interview is Meghan’s struggle with mental health," she wrote. "Her honesty will hopefully lead to more acceptance and more help for those who need it."

Hugh Jackman also commended the duchess' bravery.

"There we were, witnessing an incredibly high-profile woman and her husband speak so openly, courageously, honestly, with such dignity about, really, the hardest time in their life and their cry for help," he said in an Instagram video Monday. "It is such an incredible example to never worry alone. Seek help."

Watch the special here.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meghan, Harry, Oprah interview: Beyoncé, Gayle King react