[user104658]

Originally Posted by jet

I'm not condoning what Mr. Markle did, it was wrong.
But neither to I adhere to the ‘daughters and sons can treat their parents like s*** and they just have to suck it up’ school of thought either.
All adults are responsible for their actions.

It’s just sad the way things have turned out with Meghan and her Dad, especially when the whole saga could have been avoided by making sure her father was looked after when he was being hounded by the press and bringing Harry to meet him. Or just returning his desperate calls.

He was a hurt and frustrated man, and hurt and frustrated people do stupid things.

They don't have to suck it up, they don't have to say nothing, they don't have to like their children or their actions, they don't have to put up with mistreatment, they don't have to not be angry or express anger, or sadness, or whatever else they're feeling, to their children... or to confidants...

...they do have to refrain from taking action specifically designed to cause harm, and from exploiting for financial gain. He didn't "slip up" and accidentally sell tabloid stories, that's not something that can happen without plenty of opportunity to reconsider.

It's fine that you disagree but there are many people, including myself, who find his behaviour selfish and highly questionable in terms of what sort of person he is overall. It makes other criticism of him far more believable, at the very least.