A lawyer named Joanna Toch is experiencing some professional repercussions for some swipes she took at a literal newborn. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently welcomed a little girl they named Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, according to People, as a way to honor both Harry’s mother, Diana, and Queen Elizabeth, whose family nickname is Lilibet.
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What should be positive news (or neutral at best) was turned into something ugly when Toch and her Internet buddy, writer Julie Burchill, decided to share some ‘jokes’ about it on Twitter.
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It’s all “let’s be racist against a new born baby” when you’re down a couple of glasses of wine on a Sunday evening and then suddenly “These Tweets are protected” when you face the consequences in the morning @Joannatoch pic.twitter.com/ZCUNXq7rvt
— AM
(@iDontHaveTawita) June 7, 2021
Burchill, who is supposedly a contributor at The Telegraph and The Spectator, first wrote, “They could’ve called it Georgina Floydina!”
The reference to George Floyd, an American Black man murdered by police, is racist as a standalone comment, but it seemed like Burchill was also being snide about the Duchess’s heartfelt comments on police violence and Floyd’s murder.
Jumping in with glee, Toch responded to Burchill by referring to Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, writing, “No Doria? Don’t black names matter?”
The racist back-and-forth continued, with Burchill answering that she “was hoping for Doria Oprah, the racist rotters.”
“Doprah?” Toch responded as a suggestion.
The outrage over the comments sprang up quickly, and at this point, both of their accounts seem to be disabled. Toch did post an apology before she disappeared, tweeting, “It was a joke and I’m sorry if it upset you.”
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She then added, “I am very sorry for the comment and what I saw as a joke. I’ve fought during my professional life against racism which is abhorrent. I’m not a judge and I have children of colour and I apologize unreservedly.”
It seems Toch is experiencing consequences offline as well; her employer Family Law Cafe released the following statement:
“Family Law Cafe Limited (‘FLC’) has suspended Joanna Toch with immediate effect pending an internal review into her recent comments on Twitter. FLC considers her comments as offensive, unacceptable and highly contradictory to the inclusive matter in which FLC has always and will continue to work with members of all communities in managing the challenges of matrimonial and family disputes.”
The royal couple has experienced a considerable amount of racism from both the public and their own family, leading to a disconnect from their former obligations to the crown. Perhaps this means the tide is turning on how Harry and Meghan might be treated in the future.
*First Published: June 9, 2021, 9:16 am
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