Behind every great woman are great friends. That case is being made in spades this week as Meghan Markle’s celebrity friends support and defend her amid the latest controversy to plague the house of Sussex. It’s been a rough week for the Duchess and Prince Harry, who’ve been experiencing intense media scrutiny and online backlash over their use of private jets during recent vacations. And while it can’t be easy to sit back and weather the storm, it probably helps that Meghan’s famous friends are coming forward every day to clap back at all of the negative chatter.
ICYMI, the most recent round of criticism kicked off last weekend when The Sun reported that Meghan and Harry had flown in a private jet to their vacation villa in Nice, France. It didn’t take long for critics to decry the move as hypocritical, accusing the Sussexes of betraying their stance as environmental stewards. With The Sun positioning Meghan and Harry’s travel in an inflammatory way (“Meghan and Harry take fourth private jet in 11 days”), it’s little wonder a less-than-positive narrative began to develop.
The private jet backlash is the latest example in a growing list of times Meghan has been targeted by British tabloids and social media trolls. And, well, it appears her celebrity supporters are no longer willing to sit idly by. Here’s who is speaking up on her behalf.
On Tuesday, stylist Jessica Mulroney — a longtime friend of Meghan’s — took to Instagram to weigh in on the recent criticism. “When someone faces unfair criticism, you call it out. When that person is your friend and your family, you call those critics what they truly are. Shame on you, you racist bullies,” Mulroney wrote in her post, adding the caption, “3 years of undeserved hate and abuse. It’s enough.”
I’m happy to see people coming to the defense of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The way people treat her is the most public form of bullying I have seen in a while. It’s out of control. Let’s all be a bit kinder, huh? Let’s show our children that it’s cool to be kind.
— P!nk (@Pink) August 20, 2019
Never one to bite her tongue when she believes in something, Pink pointed out that the way Meghan is being treated online is “the most public form of bullying I have seen in a while.” The singer also issued a call-to-arms for people to practice kindness.
Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan in England to talk about their work on wildlife conservation. They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people. Imagine being attacked for everything you do, when all you’re trying to do is make the world better. pic.twitter.com/226pRO1fj1
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 19, 2019
Like other celebrities who have stepped forward, Ellen DeGeneres noted that her experience with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was extremely positive, calling them “the most down-to-earth, compassionate people.”
I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week. pic.twitter.com/WjVRDSMX0z
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 19, 2019
One of the first celebrities to step up in defense of Meghan and Harry in the wake of this week’s criticism, Elton John published a series of tweets lamenting the “distorted and malicious” reporting in the press about the couple’s trip to Nice. As John explained, he invited the Duke and Duchess to stay at his Mediterranean home — and then, at his cost, flew them out in a private jet through a company that mandates carbon offsetting.
The couple’s close friend and @Sentebale ambassador @nachofigueras has also spoken out: “The press focuses on attacking them and trying to find problems where there are not. I will defend them and what they do and who they are for as long as I live.” pic.twitter.com/qxfQuP4xEa
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) August 19, 2019
Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras (also known as the “David Beckham of polo”) jumped into John’s comment thread to echo support for Meghan and Harry. A personal friend of the couple and ambassador for Harry’s charity Sentebale, Figueras wrote, “They are the most humble and kind people that I know. And who they are should allow them to be even more inspiring to all of us. Instead the press focuses on attacking them and trying to find problems where there are not.” He then insisted he will defend them until his dying day.
Ugh. Dear England and English press, just say you hate her because she’s black, and him for marrying a black woman and be done with it God dammit. Your bullying is so embarrassing and obvious. You’ve all lost your marbles. It’s 2019. Grow up. https://t.co/OMwwRU31p9
— Jameela Jamil ???? (@jameelajamil) August 20, 2019
The Good Place’s Jameela Jamil always calls it like she sees it, and this week proved to be no different. She took to Twitter on Tuesday to put the British media on blast, writing, “Ugh. Dear England and English press, just say you hate her because she’s black, and him for marrying a black woman and be done with it God dammit.” Jamil called the public shaming “embarrassing and obvious,” telling the English media it’s time to “grow up.”
