Prince Harry interviewer says he 'lost himself' after suffering 'demeaning' backlash
Prince Harry was interviewed by Gabor Mate in March
GETTY / Reuters
One of Prince Harry's interviewers has admitted he "lost himself" after suffering "demeaning" backlash.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, spoke with Hungarian-Canadian doctor Gabor Maté about "living with loss and the importance of personal healing," while promoting his autobiography Spare in March.
Maté said he regrets his interview because the "foofoo" that surrounded it took over his entire life and made him "lose himself".
The interview was live-streamed, however, it cost $33 (£27) to watch.
Prince Harry heavily promoted his book Spare
Reuters
Harry's interview was scrutinised by many, especially because Maté had compared Hamas to the Jewish heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis in the past.
In addition, he has defended the Palestinian rocket fire at Israeli civilians and branded Israel's government as terrorists.
Maté is also an outspoken supporter of decriminalising drugs.
During an appearance on Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO, the doctor spoke about his interview with Prince Harry.
Prince Harry charged audiences to watch his interview
Reuters
He said: "There was an incredible social media reaction to it, which was, for the most part, so negative and so demeaning and so dismissive and so distorted.
"I barely even know how to talk about it. I thought by this age I would know better, but you know what, it really got to me.
"I was in a dark place, I'm a human being like the rest.
"It's so difficult to ask for help but I did."
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The doctor added: "I had a gut feeling all along that I shouldn't agree the way they set it up. Because the way it was set up, to watch it, people had to buy a copy of Harry's book.
"I thought, 'This is not fair, four million people have already bought the book. Why can't they watch this interview?' They had to buy another copy.
"I believed this should be a free public service from two people who are having a very interesting conversation. But out of sheer opportunism, I agreed to it. I didn't follow my gut feeling. I agreed to something that I didn't really like.
"Not that I didn't like the idea of talking with him, I didn't like the idea of putting myself behind a pay wall. I lost myself just in agreeing to do it."