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Prince Harry and Meghan Make Stunning Claims In New Interview; Church Raveged By ISIS Welcomes Pope Francis; Deadly Blast In Equatorial Guinea. Aired 10:00-11a ET
Aired March 08, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:25]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEGHAN MARKLE, BRITISH PRINCESS: I just didn't -- I just didn't want to be alive anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice-over): Tonight, shocking revelations challenging a centuries old institution, the British royal
family. All the details are ahead. Then just started getting back from an historic trip to Iraq.
Pope Francis is planning a new trip to another country in the Middle East. We look at where ahead.
And my interview with Melinda Gates.
Well, Happy International Women's Day to you all I want to start with a quick rewind, the U.N. started officially marking the very day, March the
8th way back in 1975 when there were scenes like this. Women in their thousands demanding basic rights just as their forebears paved the way for.
And yes, we have all come a long way since then, but there is still a long way to go.
Today, we'll be hearing from some remarkable women who are changing our world.
From Melinda Gates to Natalia Vodianova to yes, Meghan Markle, all with one thing in common, they shall be heard. Well, it's a stunning look behind
world closed doors. We start tonight with allegations of the toxic issues of race and privilege at the very top of British society. Prince Harry
speaking out about "time, which was so cruel and so mean." He and wife Meghan revealing their side of the incendiary royal rupture to Oprah
Winfrey.
Tell all interview aired last night in the United States. He doesn't go out in the U.K. for another six hours but -- some heavy hit is associated with
the British monarchy and the U.K. government are reacting and calling for action. The British Shadow Education Secretary says the palace should
launch an investigation into allegations of racism. This after Meghan made Oprah's jaw drop revealing royal concerns about what color her son Archie
skin might be before he was born.
We'll get you first to CNN's Royal Correspondent Max Foster and his wrap of what was said. His report begins with a story of emotional desolation. Take
a listen.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, this was built around the world is a bombshell interview. And in the end, it appears they underplayed it,
revelation after revelation, and some of them very difficult to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARKLE: I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.
FOSTER: Driven to despair by the family she married into and the institution behind it.
MARKLE: We had to go to this event and I remember him saying I don't think you can go and I said I can't be left alone.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Because you were afraid of what you might do to yourself?
FOSTER: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, opening up to Oprah Winfrey, about being singled out. She believes forced out of the royal family for her race.
MARKLE: That's pretty amazing.
FOSTER: Concerns even raised by unnamed Royals, about the color of a child's skin.
MARKLE: And also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.
WINFREY: What?
MARKLE: And --
WINFREY: Who is having that conversation with you? What?
MARKLE: So --
WINFREY: There is a converse -- hold up, hold up.
(CROSSTALK)
MARKLE: -- several conversation.
WINFREY: The conversation with you?
MARKLE: With Harry.
FOSTER: An even more shocking allegation that she was told her child couldn't be a prince, for unstated reasons, not even afforded a security
detail.
HENRY CHARLES ALBERT DAVID, BRITISH PRINCE: It's the opposite.
MARKLE: The idea of our son not being safe, and also the idea of the first member of color in this family not Being titled in the same way that other
grandchildren would be.
[10:05:05]
FOSTER (voice-over): A barrage of negative press damaging Meghan's mental health. She says the palace did nothing to help her. Instead refusing to
combat media rumors, including allegations she made her sister in law, the Duchess of Cambridge cry when Meghan says it was the other way around.
Harry comparing their experience to his mother's.
DAVID: What I was seeing was history repeating itself, but more perhaps, or definitely, far more dangerous because then you add racing.
FOSTER (voice-over): The couple deny claims they blindsided the Queen when they announced their departure. Another rumor they believe was peddled by
the palace.
DAVID: When we were in Canada, I had three conversations with my grandmother and two conversations with my father before he stopped taking
my calls, and then said, can you put this all in writing what your plan is?
FOSTER (voice-over): Harry says he has a deep respect for his grandmother, the queen and has spoken to her more in the last year than he has for many
years. As for his father.
DAVID: I feel really let down because he's been through something similar. He knows what pain feels like. And this is -- and Archie is his grandson.
FOSTER: This is a huge story in the United Kingdom. But no one's actually seen that two-hour interview because it plays out on British television
tonight. there's going to be a huge amount of interest, a huge audience. The question is, will it change people's view of Meghan here in the U.K.
where they're a bit more cynical about her than they are in the U.S.? Well, this interview has gone down a storm. Becky?
ANDERSON: Max Foster reporting. If you know someone in need of help, there are resources available to you. Reach out to the International Association
for Suicide Prevention or Befrienders Worldwide. You can see their Web site right here on your screen. If you're in the United States, do reach out to
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can call them at 1-800-273- 8255.
Well, that interview sending shockwaves around the world and it's yet to be aired as Max said in full in Britain. Let's connect to Windsor where the
Queen has been staying through this pandemic. CNN Salma Abdelaziz is there. There are some serious allegations made in this interview, not least the
allegations about remarks made by someone in the royal family about their son, Archie's skin color. Is it clear who made those comments?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Becky, it is not clear who made those comments. And throughout the interview. The couple are very careful not to
name any specific individuals in the family when someone like the Queen comes up. She's described as generous and kind and welcoming by the
Duchess. When someone like Prince Harry's father comes up, he says he's disappointed. But he does not make any specific allegations against any
specific named person.
Now, Oprah Winfrey was asked about this later on. And here's how she responded, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: Yes, and he did not share the identity with me. But he wanted to make sure that I knew and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was
not his grandmother nor his grandfather that were a part of those conversations.
GAYLE KING, CBS HOST: that it was not his grandmother and Prince Philip he said?
WINFREY: Yeah.
(CROSSTALK)
WINFREY: Not his grandfather. Neither his grandmother nor grandfather were a part of those conversations. He did not tell me who were a part of those
conversations. As you can see, I tried to get that answer.
KING: Yeah, yeah.
WINFREY: On camera and off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now they do not name anyone, Becky. But what they do talk about what the couple keep referencing is the firm, the institution, the system,
the palace as a larger elite, predominantly white institution where Meghan Markle entered as the first modern man of color. And her experience of
allegations of racism, whether consciously or unconsciously, the sort of challenges she faced as being the first woman of color that is going to
resonate with many people of color here in Britain.
Who can point to instances in their lives where they felt marginalized, or excluded, who can point to that feeling of being left out of spaces of
white privilege, as Meghan Markle points to, and you can ultimately relate to the mental health struggle that she says, came from this struggle and
this experience. So yes, this is sending headlines in shockwaves. But beyond the controversy, we have to remember the timing of this couple's
departure.
Just a few months after they left, that's when the Black Lives Matter movement swept not just in the United States, but here in London. That's
when you saw protesters, literally pulling down the statues of slave traders in cities like Bristol. So, this interview will reexamine these
institutions that will put that critical eye on them again for black brains who are going to say what are these institutions doing for us today?
[10:10:11]
ABDELAZIZ: And have they reformed and changed to fit a modern, Becky?
ANDERSON: Whatever our viewers think about what was said in this interview, it's absolutely clear this was a huge get by Oprah Winfrey and was so
effectively on social media, and is generating an enormous response both in the U.S., in the U.K. and indeed around the world.
What's the palace say?
ABDELAZIZ: So far, Becky, we have no response from the palace. We understand, of course, that they have seen this interview that they are
looking at this interview. But it's important to remember what the tradition is here. And the tradition is for the palace to remain tight
lipped. they very rarely comment on interviews or on public appearances or on statements in the press. So this will be carefully balanced.
We do know, of course, that there was accusations and allegations in the past. We know the palace has said in the past, that they beefed up their
social media operations around the Duchess' pregnancy, when there seemed to be a rise in hate speech online against the Duchess. But their silence will
be judged just as much as any commentary Becky, of course, by hear people in the U.K. but also in the United States.
And we need to remember here the commonwealth, that's something that the couple continue to bring up the -- in the interview, is that the Duchess
was able to relate to the commonwealth countries, which of course, are made up predominantly of people of color.
And so, the question is, what does it mean, if you come from a commonwealth country, and you're looking at the royal family? What does it mean that
that very first person of color entered that palace, and now walked out just two years later, with all of these accusations, these allegations,
these stories.
Whether or not the palace comments, I think the damage here and the judgment that could be had, it's kind of done back.
ANDERSON: This interview is in large part about the alleged institutional racism that Meghan face as a member of the royal family for a however
shorter period that was. She opened up about alleged conversations within the palace concerning her son, Archie skin colors, we've been reporting, I
just want our viewers to just listen to that exchange again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARKLE: In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time. So we have in tandem, the conversation of you won't be given security, it's
not going to be given a title. And also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.
WINFREY: There is a converse -- hold up.
(CROSSTALK)
MARKLE: There are several conversations.
WINFREY: There's a conversation with you?
MARKLE: With Harry.
WINFREY: About how dark your baby's going to be?
MARKLE: Potentially and what that would mean or look like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Some of these are major allegations against somebody in the royal family, the palace, the monarchy is an institution and we will have
discussion. Certainly we have a discussion upcoming about what this story tells us about racism in modern Britain today. And before we move on to
that point, I just want to -- you reported that there is nothing as of yet from the palace.
But there are calls, not least from the shadow Education Secretary today for action to be taken on the back of this interview. What more do we know
at this point? And what might our viewers around the world expect to see next?
ABDELAZIZ: There will be calls for action, Becky. There might be a statement by the palace, but we must remember that again, their tradition
is to be tight lipped, to be careful and balanced in whatever statements or information they put out. The Queen's role has always been to be disengaged
to make sure that she takes a role that is a step back from the day to day whatever controversy that might be.
So, you can kind of put the palace in that tradition, in that box and that they will continue to follow that tradition whether or not they issue a
statement. Now the public at large. And that is really the question here. Because this is -- the couple were very careful here, Becky, they did not
want to talk just about a specific allegation of racism. They did not want to say to you at 2:13 and 15 seconds one person in the family said this to
me.
They wanted to speak about a system at play about a larger institution here and one that is of course rooted in the history of colonialism, we're
talking about the monarchy, we are talking about Britain's colonial history in a sense historically.
[10:15:07]
ABDELAZIZ: And that is something that this country has already been grappling with, not just now, of course, that's been heightened by the
Black Lives Matter movement in the anti-racism movement. But all of the institutions in this country, it's very class system is being questioned at
a time like this. And again, beyond the allegations, beyond the accusation, you're going to have people who are going to look at the lived experience.
That's what this is about, Becky. The lived experience of being a person of color, even if you are in one of the most powerful office in the land. With
one of the most powerful titles of the land, you are still not immune to this. And again, about that lived experience, that sense of being an
outsider. Meghan Markle was the first modern royal of color. There is no way there would not have been some struggle, some cultural divides.
She's not only the first modern royal of color, she's an American, she's a divorcee. She's an actress. There was going to be a cultural divide. The
question is, how do you tackle that? The question is, when a person of color enters a space that is predominantly elite, that is predominantly
white, that it is an institution that has in the past been entrenched in colonialism, racism, through systems of power, how do you begin to reform
those places?
How do you begin to make those places inclusive? And I think the first thing is you begin to have the conversation. One of the things that Prince
Harry says in that interview, is I had to learn, I had to learn from my wife, I could not have had these experiences if I did not learn from my
wife. And I think ultimately, that's what this country is going to have to take way, is this a learning moment?
Is this an opportunity to teach and to learn about what it means to be a person of color and Britain today? Or will this be an opportunity again, to
be silenced stiff upper lip, let's talk about it. Let's shut the doors. Let's ignore it. That would be very damaging, Becky.
ANDERSON: Salma Abdelaziz is in Windsor and well done for competing with the drill behind you, Salma. Thank you. Well, former press secretary to the
Queen, Charles Anson says the interview was raised some issues that needs to be looked at carefully but insists there is not a "Strand of racism in
the royal household." Charles Anson will join us next hour. So do be sure to stay tuned for that.
All of you royal watchers out there, some news for you. CNN's has just launched its own royal newsletter for more on the history of the monarchy,
the stones and all the updates. Just log on to cnn.com/royal news.
Well, Pope Francis made history during his trip to Iraq. After the break, you'll hear the message he brought to the faithful in a former ISIS
stronghold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (voice-over) Services have resumed at the church of the vacuolated conception. Rituals conducted for centuries, once again part of
the rhythm of daily life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): But it was a landmark moment for Iraqi Christians as Pope Francis visited a church that had been ravaged by ISIS. More on what
has been an historic trip coming up.
On this International Women's Day, I speak to supermodel a new Goodwill Ambassador Natalia Vodianova, her advice to women and girls to help them be
more effective leaders. That is all coming up.
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[10:20:32]
ANDERSON: Well, Pope Francis just wrapped up a trip to the Middle East and he is gearing up for another. On his trip back to Rome from Iraq the Pope
told reporters on the flight that he'll visit Lebanon next. He didn't say when. But it likely won't be soon. He called his historic visit to Iraq
more exhausting than others, well, during his four-day trip, his message was the same coexistence over war. Nowhere was that more evident than in
Mosul.
That city was once an ISIS stronghold, but is now a host to the head of the Catholic Church amid rubble and the hollowed out shells of buildings Pope
Francis said hope would never be silence. We're covering all angles of this historic trip.
Ben Wedeman reporting from Erbil where the Pope celebrated mass on Sunday in front of thousands at the stadium there. Firstly, let's get to Delia
Gallagher who is back in Rome where she and the Pope arrived a little earlier. Devia, just explain a little bit more about how the Pope described
this trip, if you will.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky coming back on the plane, the pope talked quite a bit about the trip. He said for example,
before going he thought and prayed a lot about it, particularly about the situation of COVID and the potential risks that it -- his trip might pose
to the Iraqi people that he said ultimately, he decided that if God wanted him to go, then God would look after the people.
He also said that his meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was good for his soul. He was asked if it might lead to a kind of joint
declaration, such as the Pope has already signed with the leader of Sunni Muslims, the Grand Imam al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, and he said, it is a first
step, emphasizing, of course, that those kind of declarations take a lot of preparation and reflection, but he called al-Sistani a great, wise man of
God.
And he said he was particularly honored, Becky, because he had been told that al-Sistani doesn't ever stand up to greet guests. And in this case
with the Pope, he stood up two times. The Pope also said, as you mentioned, that Lebanon will be his next trip to the Middle East. He does have a trip
to Hungary planned in between, but he said that when he was planning this trip to Iraq, the patriarch of Lebanon, called him and asked him if he
would stop in Beirut and the Pope said that that would be too little.
He called it crumbs for a country that is suffering as much as Lebanon. He said Lebanon is in a crisis for its life. And he wanted to devote an entire
trip to the country. So, that will be the Pope's next stop in the Middle East. Becky?
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Thank you, Delia. Glad to you're home safe and well. The Pope leaves behind a country still feeling the deep scars of ISIS
occupation. And that made his visit to a church gutted by ISIS, and especially emotional moments. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Francis reading the faithful in Quaragosh. The largest Christian city in Iran, walking freely among the crowd. Different
from his other more tightly controlled appearances in the country.
Ben Wedeman has been in Iraq for the entirety of the Pope's visit, and everything leading up to it and he joins me now from Beale. And Ben, you
know, you you've probably forgotten more about Iraq than most people watching this show will ever know. I mean, you -- I know that you'll agree
with me that we simply cannot overstate the significance of this trip. Not least the impact that it has had on the region's Christians but also
Muslims as well. Just reflect on what you saw and heard.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we saw over this these last few days was really an incredible event given all the bad news
people are used to reporting on out of Iraq. For this last few days, it's been by and large, a very happy event and this trip has really put in sharp
focus.
[10:25:10]
WEDEMAN: An ancient minority that was very much in the crosshairs of the so called Islamic State.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): ISIS was here and here and here. Their reign of madness in the mostly Christian town of Qaraqosh ended more than four years
ago. Services have resumed at the church of the Immaculate Conception, rituals conducted for centuries, once again part of the rhythm of daily
life. Almost all the towns inhabitants fled before the onslaught of ISIS. The joy of return clouded by the shock of what was left of their homes.
You can't imagine, says Imam Abdullah, it was empty, destroyed, they left nothing. In April 2017, shortly after liberation, we attended the first
mass in the scorched and vandalized Cathedral.
WEDEMAN (on camera): This church has been repaired since then, but still damaged is the confidence of this ancient community that it will be able to
live and prosper in this land.
Father Ahmad Yarko (ph) worries decades of trauma have left a deepest still raw wound. The visit of Pope Francis he hopes will have a lasting impact on
hearts and minds.
Iraq is in a dark tunnel, he says. There are challenges caused by wars by the terrorism still present in some areas by economic problems and by the
corruption so widespread in Iraq. (INAUDIBLE) two daughters gave up and left went to Sweden, the other to Australia. The visit of Pope Francis he
hopes will have a lasting impact on hearts and minds.
Maybe there will be love and peace, Yohana tells me, maybe will soften and melt frozen hearts. Much but not all of the damage to the town has been
repaired. But many of the residents who fled ISIS never returned. With those who stayed hoping darkness will not descend upon them yet again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Now the country builds on this trip if it does, of course. It will be important, Ben, going forward. Before I let you go just briefly,
next stop, at least in the Middle East, Lebanon, that is where you are normally based. Surprised?
WEDEMAN: Not really. In fact, a few months ago, he did express a desire to go to Lebanon. But now it definitely appears that the wheels are spinning
in terms of perhaps planning. We don't know when but Lebanon is a country that, like Iraq has lots of problems. We are right now in the midst of a
profound economic, financial and political crisis. There have been road closures by demonstrators today.
The economy is in a tailspin. Inflation is somewhere between 300 and 400 percent. I read recently that salaries have dropped on an average by 82
percent in terms of the purchasing ability and so, Pope Francis will have his work cut out for him. That's a country where you have a much larger
Christian community that has real political power. But all Lebanese, Christians Druze, Shia, Sunnis, it's a huge -- a country gripped by crisis.
And Pope Francis is going to have to do a lot of reading up about that country before we see him again, perhaps soon. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is in Iraq. Ben, appreciate it and thank you for all of your reporting in the lead up to and during the Pope's visit in Iraq.
Thank you. Next hour. I'll speak to the Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Matti Warda. He'll talk about the challenges facing a bill and recent progress
particularly in education. Well, ahead on the show, an explosion of Equatorial Guinea takes lives and leaves a city of ruins. We are live with
details about that loss up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: But you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. It is just after half past 7:00 here in Abu Dhabi. This is a released
broadcasting hub of course. Well, a series of colossal explosions of furred torn through a town in Equatorial Guinea, killing at least 17 people and
injuring hundreds more. You can get a sense of the scale of what's going on in these images. They are just -- these just coming into it's here on
CONNECT THE WORLD.
The country's president blames the explosion on improperly stored explosives, which ignited when nearby farmers was burning their fields.
Stephanie Busari, CNN.com supervising editor in Africa. She joins us now from like Lagos in Nigeria. And you're keeping one eye on this story. What
is the very latest, Step?
STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN SUPERVISING EDITOR: Yes, so, good afternoon, Becky. What we're hearing is that 31 people so far have died in these explosions
happened about yesterday afternoon, early afternoon. And we're hearing that that number will likely increase because this happened in a residential
area and a military camp. And also we talked to civil liberties groups who said that families of the military, the soldiers also lived in these
barracks.
So, the number is likely to rise far higher than the 31 that we're hearing now, Becky. And, you know, the questions I've been really asked is why were
dynamite stored in the middle of the residential area? This place Bata is the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. And, you know, this was a Sunday
afternoon, lots of people out on the street. So, the impact would have been devastating as you're seeing in those pictures there.
With spoke to one resident who was in her car when the -- when the bombs went off, and she described it as just confusion and terror. And she
actually said it look like a scene out of an atomic bomb like atomic bomb had gone off. Her name is (INAUDIBLE) and she was some -- she lives in that
area and her house and made buildings around was shattered. And windows just, you know, glass flying everywhere.
She says the hospitals have collapsed in this -- in this city because they are just overrun with people who have been pulled out of rubble, who are
being quite, you know, crushed by buildings, just really horrific scenes coming out of Bata, Becky
ANDERSON: Stephanie, I also want to watch you about protests in Senegal where officials are saying that the country is on the verge of an
apocalypse. Can you just explain what's going on?
[10:35:02]
BURASI: Yes. So we're day four into protests in Senegal which of course many people by surprise, because Senegal has long been touted as one of the
kind of more stable countries in this region. And young people have taken to the streets in thousands. They are protesting because an opposition
leader Ousmane Sonko was arrested on allegations of rape. But people are saying that these allegations are politically motivated.
And because he's so popular with young people and President Macky Sall they're saying has ulterior motives in having him arrested. So, these
protests have largely erupted because of the arrest of the opposition leader. But, you know, it really points, Becky, to Malays amongst African
youth I think. We saw protests in Nigeria, of course, last, last. last year, we saw protests in the media. We saw some kind of unrest in Uganda.
There's a - there's a -- there's a protest against the economic conditions that have left, you know, young people unemployed, and of course, COVID had
a massive impact on economies in in African countries. So, we're seeing that a sense of frustration I think bearing out of these conditions. It's
not just -- I mean, the arrest might be a catalyst for I think there are deeper issues at play here, Becky.
ANDERSON: Stephanie Busari is in Lagos in Nigeria for you. Steph, thank you. Still on this show. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. The moment of
inspiration seen around the world. The first black woman ever to stand on a Formula One podium talks about what is a history making moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, it is International Women's Day, a day set aside each year to recognize the achievements made by women and also to highlight the
obstacles we still face. Despite the pandemic marches are still being held in places like Spain, France and Pakistan just to name a few. This year the
campaign is asking people to choose to challenge gender bias and disparity in their own communities because as the campaign says from challenge comes
change.
Well, the United Nations putting a spotlight on the disproportionate burdens women carry especially during the COVID-19 crisis. I just spoke to
Natalia Vodianova about that. She's the Russian supermodel known as Supernova who's just been made a Goodwill Ambassador at the U.N. for
women's health. I ask her about her experience in the past year and what she has learned during the pandemic. She had a message on International
Women's Day.
[10:40:10]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATALIA VODIANOVA, RUSSIAN MODEL: You know what it taught me that I am important? That I need to -- I need to really take care of myself because
not only it's good for me, and it's good for my family, it's also much more effective. I am just a much more effective leader. If I had enough sleep,
if I had -- if I'm kinder to myself, and actually today, I'm -- my message on international Wednesday will be about that.
And as you know, un topic for this International Women's Day, it's women in leadership, and I think it starts with girls in leadership. And I think
that the important message today should be to girls, take care of yourself, love yourself, don't be too hard on yourself. This is really, really
important because that what will make you an accomplished woman one day, not running around the world trying to do, you know, too much.
Because in the end, yes, you do a lot and you're proud of it, but it's very important quality versus quantity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Natalia is the U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Women's Health. And we talked at length in that interview about tackling stigmas, and to booze
on that topic, like menstruation and reproductive health. And you can watch that full interview on our blog at cnn.com/connect. Coming up soon. Well,
next hour, I speak with Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation about the millions of women falling into poverty because of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
She calls that a crisis that must be addressed. And she has some interesting ideas about what governments can do to face that crisis. That
is in the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. Do stay with us for that. On this day, for women, here is an image 70 years in the making. Stephanie Travers
attract side engineer accepting the trophy for Mercedes last year. She is the first black woman ever to stand on a Formula One podium.
That moment caught Travers very much by surprise and she talks about it with CNN Sports. Don Riddell joining me now. Don.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Yes, this is a remarkable story, Becky, inspirational obviously. She was one of 7000 applicants for that job
at Mercedes. And she got picked. So that was remarkable. But then of course, when she found herself on the podium, as you can imagine, she just
welled up with emotion. She said, good job. She was wearing a mask during a pandemic because we couldn't see how emotional she was.
But it is just a wonderful story. Very, very inspirational. And we're really excited to share it with you on "WORLD SPORT" on International
Women's Day.
ANDERSON: That's fantastic. Thank you for that. That is coming up. After this short break. I'll be back after that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RIDDELL: Hello there. And welcome to WORLD SPORT. I'm Don Riddell at CNN Center. The very nature of sport is to be better to go where nobody has
gone before in the sports industry that is still heavily dominated by men both in terms of media exposure and financial compensation. The women who
shine truly are trailblazers.
[10:45:08]
RIDDELL: The Syrian Grand Prix in Austria last July, history was made when the Mercedes engineer Stephanie Travers stepped onto the podium to
celebrate alongside Lewis Hamilton. It was the first time a black woman had been on the podium in the 70-year history of Formula One. Afterwards,
Hamilton celebrated Travers on social media describing how she was chosen out of 7000 Africans.
He acknowledged her hard work positivity and passion for her job. Travers has been telling Amanda Davies about her remarkable journey from Zimbabwe,
to the Motorsports summit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANIE TRAVERS, MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ENGINEER: My first reaction was a show, I don't think you've got the right person. It's not me. But it all
happened so quickly. And before I knew it, I was walking up on the podium, I still can't put it into words for you. It was such a surreal moment for
myself and a momentous occasion for myself and my family. They were there from home watching, screaming.
My sister and sent me videos afterwards, to see their response. And the response I got from the entire world it was -- it just touched my heart.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: And what is that view like? That moment standing on the podium looking out at the crowds.
TRAVERS: The emotions really got the best of me at that point, I was quite lucky to be wearing a mask, you couldn't see the tears in my eyes, knowing
that the team was there standing with me and supporting me in that moment. And we're all celebrating the wind that we had worked so hard for that
weekend. It was -- it was a great feeling. And I'm just so thankful that I got to experience it from both sides, to be honest.
DAVIES: And how much were you aware at that moment of the magnitude of what it represented being the first black woman to stand on a Formula One
podium?
TRAVERS: To be brutally honest with you in that moment, I actually did not know that that was the case. So, when that was pointed out to me
afterwards, it took me back and I was completely speechless, and the emotions just came to me. So it was -- yes, I still can't even put into
words what it means.
DAVIES: And Lewis afterwards obviously paid that fantastic tribute to you on Instagram. How much have you had chance to speak to him directly about
his initiatives?
TRAVERS: Yes, after the podium moment, we had a few brief words. And it was just great for him to publicly congratulate me on social media for the hard
work and passion that I put into my role. Growing up watching the sport, it was Lewis that gave me that extra push of seeing someone like me on the
T.V., I knew that it was possible for me to get into the sport, if I really put my mind to it. So, that's something that will stay with me for the rest
of my life.
DAVIES: Growing up, did anybody ever question that you as a female wanted to become an engineer?
TRAVERS: I was encouraged by my parents to pursue what I was passionate about. And when I told them about engineering, my dad was extremely happy
as following in his footsteps. And my grandfather's I remember watching Formula One, on the weekends, even back in Zimbabwe and discussing the
sports alongside my parents and my siblings. And that liking for the thought just grew as I got older and older.
And when I went to university, I was one of only a few females on my cohort. But it -- I didn't let that determine. And I just really knew that
I wanted to work in the sport. I think the most important part me of the whole experience was just lifting up the trophy.
And just getting that response from the team when the entire world and I got lots of personal inboxes from a lot of people, the ones that really
touched me the most, but the young girls telling me that I have now opened their eyes and they can see someone like them pursuing such a career in
Formula One.
For that to happen it really touched my heart and that's something that I really stand for and I hope that from young people seeing me on the TV that
they can one day get there themselves.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIDDELL: One of the story. Well play, Stephanie Travers. You know who else is on TV these days setting an example? Bryson DeChambeau, the American
golfer is pretty hard to miss standing on the tee, looking like the Incredible Hulk. But he's now racking up the wins on the PGA Tour. On
Sunday, the biggest hitter in golf won the iconic Arnold Palmer Invitational, holding off the challenge of the British veteran Lee Westwood
on a really tense Sunday afternoon.
But for all of these rippling muscles, it was his nerves that he relied on at the end, sinking this pot to win it by a single stroke. The reigning US
Open champion has now won a PGA Tour titles including (INAUDIBLE) tournament and also the tournament hosted by the great Jack Nicklaus. He
revealed afterwards that he received some encouragement from another legend as a sport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL WINNER: I got a text from Tiger this morning and, you know, he obviously had done really well here
and was very instrumental and Mr. Palmer's life as -- Mr. Palmer was the Tiger and, you know, we just talked about just keep fighting no matter what
happens.
[10:50:10]
DECHAMBEAU: And, you know, play boldly like Mr. Palmer said, and, you know, my heart has been heavy with Tiger and what's been going on with him and I
just kept telling myself, you know, it's not how many times you get kicked down. It's about how many times you get picked back up and you keep going.
And that's what I certainly did out there today. And it's thanks to Chris Cuomo Mike Shay and a bunch of others behind me that have been
instrumental.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: Pretty emotional there, Bryson DeChambeau. Okay. It is always cool when athletes support other athletes especially when they're from
completely different sports. We're speaking with the skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin, the expert. Why is she talking about tennis?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKAELA SHIFFRIN, AMERICAN ALPINE SKIER: Honestly, maybe someday we could play tennis because I'm not that good. But that would be really fun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RIDDELL: Well, it finally happened Manchester City didn't win a game of football. Their incredible run of 21 consecutive victories in all
competitions came to a screeching halt on Sunday and it happened against their local rivals Manchester United in the Manchester Derby City. There
were still 11 points clear at the top of the premier league table. Man you came into this one on the back of three consecutive goalless draws but they
came to play leading after just 80 seconds with this penalty from Bruno Fernandez.
Man City now in the repetition of having to chase a game coming from behind but the response never came. Instead it was united discord again, this time
early in the second half. Luke Shaw making a two nil there. And that is how this one finished. Getting to the top in any sport is hard. Obviously
staying there is even harder, especially when life throws additional challenges your way. That's why the American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is one
of the most inspirational athletes in the world.
She dominates on the slopes, but she does so with humility, and she handles adversity with dignity and grace. Shiffrin has made history at the World
Championships in Italy recently. That was the first major events since the death of her father. She's been telling WORLD SPORT's Christina MacFarlane
about the emotion of that experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR (voice-over): Competing without her dad for the first time at this year's World Championships was tough for
Mikaela Shiffrin. But she knows what he would have thought.
SHIFFRIN: I'm sure he would have come and watch this whole world champs and been so excited about how skiing the Super G and the G.S. as well. And he
would have probably had some pointers for me and so on. I'm going to miss those moments, that's for sure. But it still meant a lot to me to go
through this world champs. I felt some level of that competitive spirit coming back and -- I just every single race, every step of the way this
season it's been a learning experience. And certainly appreciate being here more than I ever have.
MACFARLANE: To come away with four medals and to make history doing it, after the year that you've had. What did it mean to you?
SHIFFRIN: It felt a little bit like a milestone at not only my career, but in my life over the last year and a half. Just getting back to a point
where I could smile way more than I have for a long time.
[10:55:02]
SHIFFRIN: I mean I love having four medals coming out of this world champs but I felt like the whole experience reminded me that how much there is to
live for even outside of winning medals. And then -- and then we get another record. It's like every race, there's a record, I'm like, OK, let's
do it.
MACFARLANE: As it's International Women's Day, I just want to reflect for a moment on the thousands and thousands and girls around the world that you
have inspired. One of them in particular is the 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek who at 19 years old says that you are one of her greatest
inspirations. How did it feel so cool to hear that?
SHIFFRIN: I watched her at the French Open and bit kind of keeping tabs ever since. And of course, I went like straight her Instagram page, I was
talking all her workouts, I'm like, well, maybe I should do that. I mean, anytime an athlete from another sport records recognizes an athlete from a
different sport I think that's really cool. It just brings more connection into the world of sports.
And it's not, you know, one sport against each other. It's just, we're all athletes, and we get how hard it is to get to the top. In our own sport,
and, and for every other athlete out there. Honestly, maybe someday we could play tennis because I'm not that good. But that would be really fun.
But I've always wanted to see what it feels like to try to return like a real tennis serve.
And most likely, that means that I won't even hit the ball, but I just want like, I want to see it. I want to feel what that's like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: Mikaela Shiffrin says she's not that good at tennis. I've heard that before from these athletes. They're good at all sports. I would
imagine, Becky, if you and I got on the court with her she would absolutely thrashes. And certainly, she and Swiatek on the court, I would love to see
that too.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. You're absolutely right. I mean, you know, an athlete -- once an athlete or as an athlete, right? At almost every sports. Thank
you.
RIDDELL: You're welcome.
ANDERSON: CONNECT THE WORLD's up after.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
