Meghan Markle's Childhood Boyfriend Has Spoken Out About "Bullying" Allegations
UPDATE Apr. 1, 2021: Meghan Markle's childhood boyfriend Joshua Silverstein has weighed in on the accusations that she bullied former palace staff members, telling Us Weekly he doesn't "personally see her" mistreating staffers.
"I see her doing whatever it is she feels like she should do in order to be happy and coexist within a system that has probably not been very welcoming to who she is and where she comes from," he said.
"When you find women of color — particularly Black women — standing up for themselves and speaking out and speaking against what they feel [is] disrespect or oppression, often times whiteness tends to classify that in negative ways because they don't want that to happen," he added. "It's almost like people are expected to know their place and whenever they don't fall in line with that, then people say it's a problem."
Back in 2013, Markle revealed in an interview that Silverstein was her first kiss, which he later confirmed to the Daily Mail.
Previously...
As we count down the hours to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, the haters are out like never before. Earlier this week, the Duchess of Sussex was hit with "bullying" claims that allegedly originated from former palace staffers.
Many, including a spokesperson for Markle and Harry, believe the reports to be part of a "calculated smear campaign" against the duchess.
In light of these defamatory allegations, Markle's friends and coworkers have come to her defense, sharing their own memories of their time spent with the duchess.
Stylist Jessica Mulroney posted a throwback photo of herself sharing a glass of wine with the duchess on Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, "I don't know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, the politics and the press like this woman. In the face of it all, I have never seen her waver from kindness, empathy and love."
Beauty boss Deepica Mutyala recalled meeting "the sweetest woman" six years ago before she'd begun dating Harry. "She was strikingly beautiful, yes, but what really stood out was her heart, intellect, & giving nature," Mutyala wrote in an Instagram post. "She went out of her way to help others, including myself, asking nothing in return."
Makeup artist Daniel Martin shared a photo of himself working with the duchess along with a passage from the Tao Te Ching. "Because she isn't self centered, people can see the light in her. Because she does not boast of herself, she becomes a shining example. Because she does not glorify herself, she becomes a person of merit. Because she wants nothing from the world, the world cannot overcome her."
Film producer Silver Tree shared several memories of the duchess, including what appears to be a never-before-seen photo of Markle and Harry's son, Archie.
"This is Meg. A real person — not a cover story," Tree wrote. "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."
RELATED: Meghan Markle Said It's "Liberating" to Finally Be Able to Speak for Herself
Tree referred to Markle as "the friend who stocks her house full of all your very favourite things when you visit and pretends she already had them."
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.
— Silver Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
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 Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
Tree went on to describe how Markle was attentive to her friend's needs on her own wedding day.
"It's her day, the world is standing by, it's a lot — but she wants the day to be special for me," Tree wrote. "'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.'"
On her wedding day she checks in on me in the morning. 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”
— Silver Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
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 paralyzed to form a plan.
— Silver Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
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.
— 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.❤️— Silver Tree (@silvertree77) March 5, 2021
Actress Janina Gavankar, who says she's known Markle for 17 years, tweeted that the duchess is "kind, strong, open," and definitively not a "bully."
I have known Meghan for 17 years.
Here’s what she is: kind, strong, open. Here’s what she’s not: “a bully”.
ANY of us who know her, feel the same thing from her broken silence: Relief.
The truth shall set you free.— janina gavankar (@Janina) March 4, 2021
TV writer Angela Harvey tweeted that she'd worked on the set of Suits and Markle was beloved by the crew.
I worked on a set in Toronto when Meghan was on Suits. The ADs, PAs, and other crew on my show who had also worked with her loved her. LOVED. Set dynamics being what they are... I do not believe this bullying narrative for a microsecond. https://t.co/451hrQB94r
— angela harvey (@nationsfilm) March 3, 2021
Patrick J. Adams, Markle's longtime Suits co-star, also had kind words to share.
"From day one she was an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family," Adams wrote in a lengthy thread.
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
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.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
She fell in love, moved to a new country, became a household name across the entire globe and began the difficult work of trying to find her place in a family dynamic that can at best be described as complicated and at worst, seemingly archaic and toxic.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
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 realized or understood and they would regret underestimating her.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
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.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
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 protect her family and her own mental health.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
IMO, this newest chapter and it’s timing is just another stunning example of the shamelessness of a institution that has outlived its relevance, is way overdrawn on credibility and apparently bankrupt of decency.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
Adams concluded his thread with a powerful rebuke: "Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league."
Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) March 5, 2021
Earlier today, CBS released a new clip from the Winfrey interview in which Markle discussed how "liberating" it is to finally be able to speak freely.
