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Jenna Bush Hager Defends Meghan Markle Against Mom-Shamers, Asking Fans to "Lift Each Other Up"

Photo credit: Jamie McCarthy / Max Mumby/ Getty
Photo credit: Jamie McCarthy / Max Mumby/ Getty

From Woman's Day

Meghan Markle is getting mom-shamed, and Jenna Bush Hager is not okay with it.

On Wednesday morning's episode of TODAY, co-hosts Hager and Hoda Kotb discussed leaked paparazzi footage of Markle hiking on Vancouver Island with her son Archie strapped to her chest in a baby carrier. "The one thing I noticed that irritated me was there was a lot of mom-shaming around it," Hager said about the new footage of Markle and Archie. "Tons of people piled on." The footage and increased criticism of Markle has come after she and Prince Harry announced they'd be stepping away from their roles as senior members of the royal family last week.

Hager shared that she could relate to Markle's situation, as she also faced a lot of criticism as a new mother. "As mothers, we're constantly questioning ourselves," Hager said. "Let's lift each other up. We don't know what her circumstances are."

Kotb said she has also been a recipient of a lot of critique for having to be away from her children during business trips. "I think people don't realize whether you do it on social media or whisper to your friend, or some people even say things... but give everybody a little bit of a break," Kotb said.

Hager insisted that if dads aren't being shamed for their parenting style, moms certainly shouldn't be either. "Here's the thing: Joel [Schiffman] and Henry [Hager] aren't sitting around being shamed about their dadding," she said. "They're just dads, and they're free. As women I'm gonna challenge myself when I have thoughts like that, to put them out of my head. When I want to say something that's none of my business — stop! We are so awesome. Being a woman is awesome, and our generation has to stop this so my girls aren't worried about this."

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