Meghan Markle’s ‘Suits’ Family Defends Her Amid Bullying Claims: ‘Find Someone Else to Torment’

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Meghan Markle’s ‘Suits’ Family Defends Her Amid Bullying Claims: ‘Find Someone Else to Torment’

From friends to family! Meghan Markle’s Suits costars, including Patrick J. Adams and Abigail Spencer, showed their support for the former actress after she was accused of bullying royal aides. The former senior royal, 39, came under fire when The Times published a story on March 2 with claims that Markle mistreated her former royal advisers while living in the U.K. A rep for the philanthropist denied the claims in a statement to Us Weekly, saying, “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.” The California native and Prince Harry’s communications team also denied the allegations in a statement to The Times, saying, “Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.” The following day, Buckingham Palace commented on the story, saying, “We are all very concerned about the allegations,” and noting the “HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article.” The statement to Us emphasized that the palace “does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment.” [jwplayer fzGhFlGO-l3ahXupL] A source told Us on March 3 that friends close to the couple think the palace’s statement was issued to “strike back at Harry and Meghan for doing the [tell-all] interview,” claiming the royals “know that they will not be cast in the best light” during the upcoming CBS bombshell interview. The palace “doesn’t want Harry and Meghan coming off as victims,” the insider added. The bullying allegations against the Tig founder, who is pregnant with her second child, come after the duo confirmed in February that they will not be returning to their roles as senior royals one year after stepping back and moving to the U.S. with their son, Archie. The permanent exit seemingly sparked more drama between the couple and Harry’s family. Amid the controversy, which made waves ahead of the duo’s March 7 interview on CBS, Markle’s former TV squad, including executive producer Silver Tree and the show's creator, Aaron Korsh, have come to her defense. They’ve shared stories of love and positivity to counteract the negative claims toward her. Scroll down to see what the former actress’ TV pals have to say about her character in the wake of royal family drama. [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (3)

Meghan Markle’s ‘Suits’ Family Defends Her Amid Bullying Claims: ‘Find Someone Else to Torment’

From friends to family! Meghan Markle’s Suits costars, including Patrick J. Adams and Abigail Spencer, showed their support for the former actress after she was accused of bullying royal aides. The former senior royal, 39, came under fire when The Times published a story on March 2 with claims that Markle mistreated her former royal advisers while living in the U.K. A rep for the philanthropist denied the claims in a statement to Us Weekly, saying, “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.” The California native and Prince Harry’s communications team also denied the allegations in a statement to The Times, saying, “Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.” The following day, Buckingham Palace commented on the story, saying, “We are all very concerned about the allegations,” and noting the “HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article.” The statement to Us emphasized that the palace “does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment.” [jwplayer fzGhFlGO-l3ahXupL] A source told Us on March 3 that friends close to the couple think the palace’s statement was issued to “strike back at Harry and Meghan for doing the [tell-all] interview,” claiming the royals “know that they will not be cast in the best light” during the upcoming CBS bombshell interview. The palace “doesn’t want Harry and Meghan coming off as victims,” the insider added. The bullying allegations against the Tig founder, who is pregnant with her second child, come after the duo confirmed in February that they will not be returning to their roles as senior royals one year after stepping back and moving to the U.S. with their son, Archie. The permanent exit seemingly sparked more drama between the couple and Harry’s family. Amid the controversy, which made waves ahead of the duo’s March 7 interview on CBS, Markle’s former TV squad, including executive producer Silver Tree and the show's creator, Aaron Korsh, have come to her defense. They’ve shared stories of love and positivity to counteract the negative claims toward her. Scroll down to see what the former actress’ TV pals have to say about her character in the wake of royal family drama. [podcast_block]

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D.B. Woodside

The actor, who played Jeff Malone on Suits, told Entertainment Tonight, "I'm going to say this because this is one of those things that's really, really made me angry. Meghan is one of the sweetest, nicest, most intelligent, thoughtful human beings that I have ever met in my life. Meghan went out of her way to always see how I was doing, to just talk to me when we didn't have any scenes together, but we might just be on set at the same time. She is an amazing human being. And it bothers me so much what's happening to her because I know that what they're saying is untrue."

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Eric Roberts

“She’s not a bully in my experience, at all,” the actor, who played Charles Forstman, told Inside Edition on March 18. “She was always prepared. She was always easy, kind, accessible, approachable and not in a hurry. She could not have been more gracious and was always sweet to me.”

Roberts also recalled a rehearsal that Markle was unable to attend but joined via speakerphone: “[She] kept apologizing for not being there. She stayed on the phone for the entire read and not just her scenes.”

Credit: Courtesy Sarah Rafferty/Instagram

Derek Ursacki

"I usually don't say much or post about the people I have worked with, but I felt compelled to do so now in support of Meghan Markle," the Canadian crew member wrote via Instagram as the duchess' alleged bullying continued to make headlines. "I spent five years working with Meghan on Suits as an assistant director dealing mostly with cast. She was always a pleasure to work with and was always kind with a huge heart, easy going, humble even after the fame of the show and her popularity skyrocketed, so full of life, so giving, supportive and funny."

Ursacki said that watching Meghan open up during her CBS interview with Harry on March 7 was heartbreaking. "The media has been so ruthless towards her, with so many negative stories attacking her without really knowing what she is truly going through. Until you walk a mile in someone's shoes, nobody should judge or make negative comments about anyone and nobody should have to live under constant attack and fear for their safety," he added. "In my heart of hearts, I know Meg has not changed and is the still the sweet person I worked with for those five years. I wish her my very best and thank her for the many great memories I am fortunate and blessed to have had."

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Abigail Spencer

Amid accusations that Markle was unkind to royal aides before stepping down from royal duties, Spencer defended her via a lengthy letter on social media.

"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," she wrote on March 5.

Spencer's caption continued: "I can't tell you the value of having another working mother I can lean on when with [sic] the pressures of visibility & child-rearing woes become overwhelming," Spencer wrote via Instagram. "She's always been a safe harbor for me, someone I can fall apart in front of... and with. And I have."

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Vanessa Ray

After Spencer gushed about Markle in an open letter shared via Instagram on March 5, Ray backed up her claims with a kind comment.

"This is the Meg I knew as well," she wrote, supporting Spencer's claims that the duchess has always "modeled nothing but generous professionalism on sets and an even more generous friendship in private."

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Patrick J. Adams

Adams played Markle’s onscreen love interest, Mike Ross, for 7 seasons. On March 5, he shared a lengthy Twitter message about his friend, calling her, “enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family.” He noted that she’s “remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued.”

After 10 years of working together, Adams said, “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 watched her navigate the last few years in astonishment.”

The Canada native then directed his anger toward the trolls who have come for Markle since she married into 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,” he continued. “But I also knew that Meghan was stronger than people realized or understood and they would regret underestimating her.”

The Right Stuff actor revealed he wished things would get better for his pal after she welcomed Archie, explaining, “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.” Now that Markle is expecting another child, Adams pointed out, “It’s OBSCENE that the Royal Family, who’s [sic] 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 U.K. in order protect her family and her own mental health.”

He concluded by calling for the hate to stop, tweeting, “Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.”

Credit: Courtesy of Silver Tree/Instagram

Silver Tree

“This is Meg. A real person - not a cover story,” Tree, who was an executive producer on the USA series tweeted on March 5, alongside photos of Markle over the years. “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.”

She continued: “She’s the friend who shares her 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. The friend who stocks her house full of all your very favorite 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.”

Tree revealed that Markle is the friend that gives you peonies on your birthday, before sharing a story of how she “stopped everything” to help her when her son was sick. “She called all the people, all the places when I was too paralyzed to form a plan. That’s another one of her gifts- making you feel like you can get through anything,” she wrote. “When you move to a new city she creates a book of all the special things that city can give you- shares 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.”

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Rick Hoffman

Hoffman, who played Louis Litt for 9 seasons, “liked” Tree’s tweets about Markle’s kind actions throughout their friendship. One of the tweets he “liked” on March 5 read, “She’s not a headline. She’s my friend. I love her,” with a red heart emoji.

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Aaron Korsh

“Meghan Markle is not a monster. She’s a strong woman with a kind heart who’s trying to make her way in an unimaginable situation,” the show’s creator wrote via Twitter on March 5. “I don’t know the specifics of some incident from years ago but if late night emails makes you a horrible person, then I’m going to hell 50 times over.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jon Cowan/Twitter

Jon Cowan

The executive producer came to Markle’s defense on March 3, tweeting, “Having spent 3 years working with her in her pre-Duchess days, I saw a warm, kind, caring person. I know nothing of her current situation, but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book.” He also noted that it’s “possible the Duchess of Sussex is a good person thrust into an unimaginable world.”