News | Entertainment
9 Nov 2025 21:38
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    The Duchess of Sussex has continued "checking in" on a teenager who was a victim of an alleged hate crime

    The 38-year-old duchess spent 40 minutes on the phone to Althea Bernstein - who was allegedly doused with lighter fluid and set on fire by a group of white men in Wisconsin last week - last weekend and has subsequently been in touch with Michael Johnson, the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, to find out how the 18-year-old EMT is doing


    Michael - who has been acting as Althea's spokesperson and helped arrange the call with the duchess - wrote on Facebook: "I am blown away by Meghan Markle! She called me again today while my wife and kids were in the car and said, 'Hey Michael, this is Meghan, I am just checking in.'

    "We talked for about 10 minutes about a lot of things including Althea and her wellbeing."

    And Michael hinted the duchess - who has 13-month-old son Archie with husband Prince Harry - may get further involved with his organisation in the future.

    He added: "We also talked about some plans she supports but I can't share yet...so stay tuned.

    "I love how poised and down to earth she is, her passion, her commitment to children and how she is following up with genuine love and support.

    "Meghan, you are amazing and if you ever wanted to work for Boys and Girls Club in Wisconsin we would hire you in a minute."

    Michael had previously praised the former 'Suits' actress for her manner on the phone, as she sounded "almost like a seasoned high school counsellor" and was delighted when she agreed to his request to appear on a virtual town hall to speak with young people in the area.

    He said: "Her and Meghan talked about the importance of self care and allowing herself to heal.

    "And she applauded her for the way that she responded and pretty much said, 'Hey Michael, give me her cellphone number. I want to stay in touch. And let me know when you want me to come back and talk to people in Wisconsin...

    "As I heard her, I thought 'She has to talk to more kids,' and I'm thankful she agreed to do it."

    Meghan was said to have encouraged the teenager to stay away from social media to avoid reading negative comments, and they spoke about faith and their experiences of being biracial.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     08 Nov: Seth Meyers has hit back at Donald Trump after the U.S. president attacked him on social media
     08 Nov: Macaulay Culkin has stepped back into his Kevin McCallister role for a new Christmas advertising campaign with a message about family and ageing
     08 Nov: Patti Smith has revealed how she discovered the man who raised her was not her biological father
     08 Nov: Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been photographed spending time with former NBA player Sebastian Telfair inside FCI Fort Dix
     08 Nov: Sir David Beckham paid tribute to his wife Victoria Beckham with his knighthood ceremony outfit
     08 Nov: Tori Spelling has formally concluded her marriage to Dean McDermott
     07 Nov: Guillermo del Toro says his long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein feels deeply "autobiographical"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    In spite of a second half collapse at Murrayfield, the All Blacks will head for London tomorrow with their grand slam hopes alive More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Kiwis finances are giving them a headache - much more than during the pandemic More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    Two crashes on the same road, including one involving a Police car responding to the first crash has forced the closure of a section of Upper Hutt's State Highway Two River Road 21:17

    Environment:
    Firefighters battle out-of-control blaze in New Zealand national park 21:07

    Living & Travel:
    A Tauranga soprano now based in Hamilton has won first prize in this years New Zealand Aria Competition held in Rotorua this weekend 18:57

    Environment:
    Severe storms are moving through Kaipara, Whangarei and the Far North during the next hour 18:37

    Motoring:
    Feelings of failure and being unseen. What it's like to be a stepmum 18:17

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps have once again held their nerve to win the third T20 international over the West Indies by nine runs in Nelson 18:07

    Rugby League:
    The Kiwi Ferns have been trounced 40-8 by the Australian Jillaroos in the women's Pacific Championships final in Sydney 17:27

    Rugby League:
    Esteemed Kiwis playmaker Kieran Foran believes the Pacific Championships could become league's pinnacle event 17:27

    Rugby League:
    Kiwis halfback Kieran Foran expects a sold-out CommBank Stadium in Parramatta to be blown away by the forward battle in today's Pacific Championship decider 16:57

    Health & Safety:
    A new measles case has been confirmed in Nelson, with currently no known links to previous cases 16:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd