‘OBSCENE TREATMENT’
Stars leap to Meghan’s defence
Meghan Markle’s peers have leapt to her defence on social media, with one calling the royal family’s treatment of her “obscene”.
Hostilities between the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace have escalated in the lead-up to the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, which will air on Sunday night, US time.
Earlier this week, the Times of London published allegations that the Duchess of Sussex bullied staff in the United Kingdom.
The Duke and Duchess accused the Palace of running a “calculated smear campaign” and using the press to “peddle a wholly false narrative”.
The palace then announced its HR team would investigate the claims against the Duchess.
Markle co-starred with Patrick J Adams in Suits for seven seasons before her relationship with Prince Harry forced her to quit acting.
In a fiery Twitter thread yesterday, Adams said the treatment of his former colleague had “sickened” him.
“She has always been a powerful woman with a deep sense of morality and a fierce work ethic and has never been afraid to speak up, be heard and defend herself and those she holds dear,” Adams said.
“It’s obscene that the royal family, whose newest member is currently growing inside of her, is promoting and amplifying accusations of ‘bullying’ against a woman who herself was basically forced to flee the UK in order to protect her family and her own mental health.”
Suits writer Jon Cowan posted his own message of support, saying Meghan is “a good person” who was “thrust into an unimaginable world”.
“Having spent three years working with her in her pre-Duchess days, I saw a warm, kind, caring person,” Cowan said. “I know nothing of her current situation, but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book.”
Meghan’s long-time friends have also defended her in recent days.
“I have known Meghan for 17 years. Here’s what she is: kind, strong, open. Here’s what she’s not: a bully,” actress Janina Gavankar said.
The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil questioned why the bullying allegations had emerged days before the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah.
“So lemme just get this straight. The Palace were fine with all of Meghan’s ‘bullying’ for years and years until a few days before they fear she may out them publicly,” she said. “Seems like a legit claim.”
In a two-minute clip of the hotly anticipated interview released yesterday, the Duchess tells Oprah it is “liberating” to make her own choices and speak for herself.
● CBS presents Oprah with Meghan and Harry will air in NZ on Tuesday at 7.30pm on Three.
The Palace were fine with all of Meghan’s ‘bullying’ for years and years until a few days before they fear she may out them publicly.
Jameela Jamil