Beloved author Meg Cabot has been compelled to issue a public apology after a social media post intended as a heartfelt tribute to her late mother backfired due to a technical malfunction.
A Tribute Gone Wrong
The writer, best known for The Princess Diaries series, shared a poignant scene from the classic 1965 film The Sound of Music on her social media accounts. The clip showed Captain Von Trapp tearing a Nazi flag in half, a moment Cabot explained was one of her mother's favourites. However, a glitch meant the animation failed to play for some followers, leaving a static image of the Nazi flag visible on her profile.
This led to confusion and distress, with some fans mistakenly believing the author was endorsing fascist imagery. Cabot addressed the incident in a detailed Facebook post on January 15, expressing her horror at the misunderstanding.
Clarifying the Intent
"Apparently, the GIF didn't work for some people, who then assumed I simply posted a picture of a Nazi flag in honour of my mother," Cabot wrote. She offered a sincere apology to anyone hurt or confused, adding a deeply personal context to her rejection of such symbols. "I'm very sorry to anyone who was hurt or confused by this, especially since my mother's father (my grandfather) was shot during WWII, fighting Nazis," she stated.
Concluding her clarification with a nod to her famous literary creations, she wrote, "I hope everyone knows that I'm not a fan of fascism, only democracy and constitutional monarchies run by princesses."
Fan Reaction and Personal Loss
While Cabot was mortified, many of her followers responded with support and humour, understanding the clear technical error. One fan commented on the post, "I know this was probably mortifying for you but let me tell you how hard I laughed reading this." Another supporter noted, "Anybody who has spent 0.2 seconds reading any of your work knows what you support."
The tribute was shared following the death of Cabot's mother, Barbara "Jinx", who passed away on November 27. Cabot revealed the loss in an Instagram post, writing, "Losing my mom on Thanksgiving Day was tough... 'Jinx' will be missed, but never forgotten."
Cabot's Princess Diaries series, published in over 38 countries, was adapted into a successful 2001 film starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, cementing her status as a cherished author for a global audience.
