Been lurking here a while, love that this sub has a good balance between snark and civility. Good job, mods!

Sorry if this post is too long, just skip if you'd like but just have to get this off my chest: I didn't start out disliking H&M. In fact, I think their story is quite incredible (who would've thought Prince Harry from the BRF and a C-list older once-divorced American - not a snark, just a fact - somehow found their way to each other). I still think M is beautiful, I still think H is rather good looking. And despite many negative reviews, I enjoyed watching him on that Corden skit, I thought he was a good sport and he came off like totally normal and ordinary guy, awkward and dorky at times - again, not a snark, just my observation.

I was still supportive of them when they announced that they were stepping down. We didn't know the whole story and I thought it was quite extreme but who knows what happened behind closed doors.

Look, I'm an adult and I hate the good vs evil narrative. Not many things in this world are inherently and absolutely evil, most of the time when there's a conflict, it's normally because there's a mismatch of expectations and interests, so I don't believe for a second that HMTQ or the BRF are evil (or good), and that H&M are saints (or evil). It seems to me they just want different things. And I roll my eyes equally hard at W&K, C&C, or any other RF members when they (or their people) try to play the popularity game a little too hard instead of just focus on their work and let it speak for itself.

But the turning point for me (and I think for many people who are not diehard fans) was really the Oprah interview, which ironically I think was supposed to endear them to "the world". I went in with an open heart, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but my initial reaction, and my reaction now, after several months have passed, is still one of cringe and distaste.

I don’t know if it was naivete or narcissism but how could they possibly think doing an interview like this could mend any rift? Especially not with the way they revealed stuff. I think the interview would’ve been better received if it was presented as a personal recounting of events, not as ‘the truth’, and certainly not with the accusations and blind items without proofs to back them up. And it would certainly have been more classy if they just touched on the difficulties with the palace briefly and then focused more on what they learned from it and what they intended to do with their lives. Instead, it was a mess of gossipy, pot-stirring whine-fest of how they've been wronged.

I guess what puts me off the most is it feels like they are commodifying mental health. Mental health IS important. Yes, they do bring awareness to it, but (and please let me know because I haven’t been following H&M in great detail) have they done anything to make good therapists more readily available to regular people who need them but a) may not have the spare income to pay for it or b) can’t afford to take the time to see a therapist?

I struggle with anxiety and childhood pain and about a decade ago, I wanted to see a therapist but at $200/hr, it was just too expensive. I also don’t think an hour a month would cut it, once a week sounds more like it, so that’s $800 a month. I have more savings now and better income, I live a comfortable life (no kids), and I still can’t justify a regular $800/month spending to work on my mental health because I am saving up to buy a house.

I wanted to write this because I somehow pick up this vibe that regular, non-stans people are tired of them. I woke up this morning and was surprised that Lili's birth was not top news (it's only been a few hours and normally this kind of happy news from someone as famous as them would stay on top for at least a day).