Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her long-distance boyfriend Shaman Durek Verrett have opened up about how their interracial relationship has sparked death threats.
They have been together since 2019 and reflect on the instant spiritual connection they feel, as well as the negative reactions to their relationship on Friday’s Tamron Hall Show. American Television’s first interview with a joint subject.
‘When I met Shaman Durek, it was like finding an old friend,’ Martha Louise said of the Los Angeles-based spiritual guide and healer, whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev, and James Van Der Beek.
Scroll down to see the video

Candid: Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her boyfriend Shaman Durek Verrett opened up about their interracial relationship on the Tamron Hall Show on Friday

True love: Martha Louise reflected on their instant spiritual connection, saying meeting Durek was ‘like finding an old friend’
The royal told the host that their bond is what helped them get through their months-long separation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘AShe explained that as soon we met we talked a lot on the telephone because of the distance between us. When I went back to LA, she also spent time with her in New York.
“It felt as if we were always catching up. It was like old friends are catching up. We could never reach the stage where we feel updated. There was so much we could share and so much that needed to be done.
‘And I think that also helped us through the COVID situation where we weren’t allowed to fly to each other and see each other,’ she added.
They confirmed to me that their inter-racial marriage has brought them harsh criticisms and death threats.

Major milestone: It was the couple’s first joint American television appearance since they started dating in 2019
“You know, when she entered her life as a person with dark skin and who represented the melanated skin tones, being a spiritual leader, many people didn’t like it and I received a lot messages from people all over the globe saying that they don’t want us to be together, which was Durek’s Norwegian, Indian and Haitian heritage.
The shaman admitted the public outcry was so difficult that Martha Louise told him he should leave her if it was too much for him.
She told me that if you do not want to go, we could leave. I’m okay. This is life as a queen. Everybody that comes into my family’s life, they will experience this.” I glanced in her eyes, she was crying, and I replied, “I will walk through the fire with them.” You can go through the fire with me. Because of our love, we can endure anything that is thrown at them,” he said.
Their heartwarming story of love is being used to teach others about racism and fight it around the world.

Hard to handle: Martha Louise and Durek confirmed that they’ve received harsh criticism and even death threats because of their interracial relationship

Faith: Durek acknowledged that the public outcry was difficult. Martha Louise advised him to leave her if it became too overwhelming. But he maintained that their love could withstand any kind of hardship.
Durek stated, “It’s all about education and helping people understand interracial relationships. We have to bring an understanding of fear as the main issue behind racism and other things that continue.”
Martha Louise announced earlier in the year she was moving California so she could be with her boyfriend for two years. She said that they live apart at the moment.
“We built our love upon the dissident and the friendship,” she stated.
Martha Louise, King Harald V’s only daughter, was also the eldest child. Norwegian newspaper VG in April that she was planning on bringing her children — Maud Angelica, 18, Leah Isadora, 16, and Emma Tallulah, 13 — with her to the U.S.

Love long distance: Martha Louise was separated from Durek for several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic


Claims to fame: Martha Louise is the only daughter and eldest child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, while Durek is a Los Angeles-based spiritual guide and healer, whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow (right)

Separated: Earlier this year, Martha Louise revealed her plans to move to California with her three children to be closer to him, but she said they are still living apart for now
She said, “Right now, there is COVID, and it is hard to plan. But we plan to move along with time.” “The children will join me, I’m sure.
“We will retain the Lommedalen home anyway,” she said. We must also have a Norwegian home. We will still be there a lot. Beautiful Norway is not something we can leave.
Durek was originally planning to propose to Martha Louise in Hawaii. But, due to the pandemic she didn’t see him for months and his engagement plans were cancelled.
He was supposed to be here but hasn’t been able travel over. This completely devastated me. “I fell further into depression. I couldn’t handle it,” she stated.
In a candid interview with Vanity Fair last year, Martha Louise revealed her turmoil over the death of her ex-husband Ari Behn, who died by suicide on Christmas Day in 2019 at age 47.

Loss: Martha Louise’s ex-husband Ari Behn (pictured in 2015) died by suicide on Christmas Day in 2019 at age 47

Difficult: ‘I was so lucky to have the support of Durek and my family and my friends all around us, but it’s a void,’ she said of the loss in an interview with Vanity Fair last year
Martha Louise, who was discussing the traumatizing day, said that they came home from the Christmas Eve church service and received the news.
‘They were saying that it was my fault and Durek’s fault — that if it hadn’t been for Durek, this wouldn’t have happened,’ she said, noting that she and her ex had been divorced for three years at that point.
Ari, who was well-known as a writer at the time, found a new partner and liked Durek after they first met.
She said, “It was a blessing to have Durek, my family, and friends around me, but it is a void.” ‘Suddenly I was a single parent, which is a very different horse, and of course the grief, the anger, the self-pity, the sadness over never seeing him again…it’s devastating.’
Martha Louise said that Derek’s relationship has helped her see how racist Norwegians can be.
‘Before I met him, I never thought that there was racism in Norway, because we’re all an open, happy family,’ she explained. “But, in Norway there is not that many people who are of color, so I was surprised.