Bullying allegations, obviously, always need to be taken seriously. Let’s get that straight.
In this instance, some former royal aides have made allegations of bullying against the Duchess of Sussex. This is a valid story which could be dealt with by the media based on facts.
But sadly – and unsurprisingly – the tabloids, which have relentlessly bullied Meghan themselves (She’s not holding the baby properly! Her wedding flowers could’ve killed Princess Charlotte! She’s stealing the limelight from Princess Eugenie! And Duchess Catherine! See this list by BuzzFeed that compares the way similar stories about Kate and Meghan are handled by the UK press) are now consumed by these allegations and, through their sensationalist headlines and fabricated, unsubstantiated narratives, are tearing her down even more.
It really is bananas, stepping back and watching all this play out from a distance.
The fact is, I don’t know what went on with the royal aides. Neither do the tabloids. And yet, somehow, they’re coming up with story after story after story after story about it. Interesting, huh?
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It’s also bananas how we, as a society, hold people who advocate for kindness and compassion to this unrealistic standard of having to be kind and compassionate all the time.
Kindness is an ideal.
It is not something any human can achieve 100% of the time. But it’s something we can all strive to achieve in the way we live our lives every day.
And today, Meghan’s friends are reminding the world that she is human and that she is undoubtedly, someone who strives to be kind:
Silver Tree who directed the US drama Suits – which Meghan starred in – shared the important point on Twitter that Meghan is “a real person – not a cover story.”
“She is one of my very nearest and dearest. Like all her friends, I love her madly,” Silver writes.
“She is the friend who insists on always hearing the details of your life, your day, your kids life, your kids day, before hers. Always before hers.”
The post is accompanied by a series of photos which show Meghan and Silver together.
This is Meg. A real person- not a cover story. She is one of my very nearest and dearest. Like all her friends I love her madly.
She is the friend who insists on always hearing the details of your life, your day, your kids life, your kids day, before hers. Always before hers. pic.twitter.com/n7xSR9p3oN
— Silver Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
“This is Meg before she met H. This is Meg now. She’s always been this person. She’s not a headline. She’s my friend. I love her. She’s the friend who shares all of her secrets with you, because despite having so many reasons to put walls up, her heart remains as wide open as it always has been.”
Silver then shared a story about Meghan being there for her at a difficult time in her life:
“When my son was going through a scary, complicated diagnosis, she is the friend who stopped everything and helped map out, step by step, how we would navigate things. She called all the people, all the places when I was too paralysed to form a plan.”
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Silver also shared a story about how Meghan checked in on her, on the day of her own royal wedding:
“It’s her day, the world is standing by, it’s a lot – but she wants the day to be special for me. ‘You’ve come such a long way’ she says. ‘Are you jet lagged?’ she says. ‘I made you a playlist to listen to while you get ready.'”
And the stories keep coming.
“When you move to a new city, she creates a book of all the special things that city can give you – all the little secrets it offers over to you so you’ll feel less homesick. She leaves it on your doorstep so you have it when you wake up,” Silver continues.
“The friend who stocks her house full of all your very favourite things when you visit and pretends she already had them – just because she wants the moment to be about you, not her. It’s always that way with her friends – us before her.”
Another of the Duchess’ friends, television producer Lindsay Roth, shared on Instagram that “goodwill runs in her bones.”
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“I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues,” Lindsay begins.
“If she’s driving with you in the passenger seat, she will fling her right arm in front of you at the slightest bump in a gesture of love to ensure your safety. If you have a specific goal, she will help you get there, and your passions will become hers on your behalf. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Meg – and I hope more of you do – you will see the altruistic, magnanimous friend who I am so llucky to have in my corner.”
Lindsay adds that Meghan is “funny. Like, laugh out loud funny. And smart. She’s more than just a cover story.”
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“She was this woman when we were students together at Northwestern University; she was this woman in Los Angeles when her days were spent auditioning; she was this woman living in Toronto as Rachel Zane on Suits; she was this woman before you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman after you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman when she became Duchess of Sussex and she is still – without a doubt – this very same woman today.”
And then there’s Meghan’s Suits co-star Patrick J. Adams:
“Meghan Markle and I spent the better part of a decade working together on Suits. From day one she was an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family. She remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued,” he begins.
“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. Like the rest of the world, I have watcher her navigate the last few years in astonishment.”
Meghan Markle and I spent the better part of a decade working together on Suits. From day one she was an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family. She remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
Patrick describes how Meghan became a household name around the globe and has been trying to “find her place” in the royal family.
“It sickened me to read the endless racist, slanderous, clickbaiting vitriol spewed in her direction from all manner of media across the UK and the world but I also knew that Meghan was stronger than people realised or understood and they would regret underestimating her,” he continues.
“And then they welcomed Archie. And on any sort of decent planet, that would be a time to stop sharpening the knives and let these two people enjoy the magical early months and years of starting a family. But we don’t live on that planet and instead the hunt continued.”
According to Patrick “it’s OBSCENE that the Royal Family, who’s newest member is currently GROWING INSIDE OF HER, is promoting and amplifying accusations of “bullying” against a woman who herself was basically forced to flea the UK in order to protect her family and her own mental health.”
Patrick ends by asking the haters to “find someone else to admonish, berate and torment.”
Actress Abigail Spencer also took to her socials to share some beautiful words about her friend “Meg” who has “modelled nothing but generous professionalism on sets and an even more generous friendship in private.”
She writes: “I’ve learned so much from Meg. The power of a handwritten note. The loveliness of surprise flowers. That she has a perpetual rolodex in her brain of recommendations for the heart, soul & body. When I’m headed to a new town, there’s a hotel or dinner reservation at the ready, as well as a connection with one of her friends to show my around so I feel less alone.”
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“She’s been there for me and physically held me in my darkest hours. After my dad died.After a gut wrenching break up she brought me into her home & nursed me back to health. Soup & salad waiting in the kitchen, just, if I needed it.”
“She and Harry are an incredible team. They are dedicating their lives to lifting up and amplifyinf those who do not have a voice for themselves.”
And it’s not just Meghan’s close friends who are sharing these stories today.
People the Duchess has met along the way are also speaking up about her kindness:
“I was lucky enough to meet Meghan & Harry 2 years ago when they visited Bristol. I shared my story with them & they were warm, open, empathic & genuine. I even got hugs! This meeting gave me the confidence to share my story far & wide. LET THEM BE!” shared one Twitter user @WalsheSam.
And finally, there’s entrepreneur Deepica Mutyala who met Meghan six years ago and describes her as “the sweetest.”
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“She was strikingly beautiful, yes, but what really stood out was her heart, intellect & giving nature. She went out of her way to help others, including myself, asking nothing in return,” she shared in an Insta post.
“Meghan is a lot of things….a lot of incredible things & it’s really time we focused on that. Period.”
(Feature Image Credit: Alan Fraser Images/Shutterstock.com)