A Photo agency has responded to the “near catastrophic car chase” narrative from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and said that photographers had no “intention of causing any distress and harm.”
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Backgrid USA said it values “transparency and ethics in journalism, which include providing fair and factual responses to claims” when it comes to allegations that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and her mom Doria Ragland were “aggressively” pursued by paparazzi while in New York City Tuesday night.
“We are aware of Prince Harry’s statement regarding an alleged ‘near catastrophic car chase’ involving himself, Meghan Markle, and her mother, in New York City on Tuesday night,” the statement added. “We want to clarify that we have received photos and videos of last night’s events from four freelance photographers, three of whom were in cars and one of whom was riding a bicycle.”
“It is important to note that these photographers have a professional responsibility to cover newsworthy events and personalities, including public figures such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,” the statement continued. “Freelance contributors had no intention of causing any distress or harm, as their only tool was their cameras.”
The agency said that the photographers claimed “one of the four SUVs from Prince Harry’s security escort” was “driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless. The vehicle was seen blocking off streets, and in one video, it is shown being pulled over by the police.”
The company also responded to the claim from the royals that “this relentless pursuit [by paparazzi], lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.”
Photo agency denies Prince Harry, Meghan Markle were in ‘danger’ in car chase. https://t.co/ADL7KcIi8K pic.twitter.com/cddltZ82s3
— Page Six (@PageSix) May 18, 2023
The agency said in its statement, “according to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near-crashes during this incident. The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”
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The statement from Backgrid ended with a promise to look “into the matter,” adding that it “will be conducting a thorough investigation,” taking Prince Harry’s allegations “seriously.”
The New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Public Information Officer Julian Phillips responded on Wednesday to reports about the “near catastrophic car chase.”
“On Tuesday evening, May 16, the NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” a statement to The Daily Wire read.
“There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging,” the statement added. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”