Meghan Markle has found herself in the legal spotlight once again as her half-sister, Samantha Markle, has initiated a new lawsuit against her, accusing Meghan of defamation.
Samantha argues that Meghan’s statements have severely tarnished her reputation, making it difficult for her to secure employment and impacting her daily life. According to the lawsuit, Meghan has publicly depicted Samantha in a highly negative light, labeling her as a deceitful, racist fame-seeker. Samantha contends that this portrayal has led to widespread harassment and made even simple activities, such as grocery shopping, distressing.
Court documents, obtained by The Sun, reveal that Samantha believes Meghan’s actions have had a global impact on her public image. The defamation claims are based on comments Meghan made during her infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the Netflix series "Harry & Meghan," which was released in December 2022. Despite the serious nature of these allegations, Florida Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell dismissed Samantha’s case in March. The judge concluded that Samantha had failed to identify any specific statements that could substantiate her defamation claims. The court's dismissal was with prejudice, meaning Samantha could not refile the case.
However, Samantha’s legal team remains resolute in their quest to overturn this decision. In their latest filing, they argue that Judge Honeywell overlooked the implied defamation resulting from omitted facts. The March ruling spared Meghan from a scheduled trial that was set for November. Samantha’s lawsuit is seeking at least $75,000 in damages for defamation and defamation by implication, particularly concerning Meghan's claim during the Oprah interview that she grew up as an only child and the assertion that Samantha only reverted to the Markle name after Meghan began dating Prince Harry.
Judge Honeywell's ruling emphasized that Meghan’s statements about her childhood were viewed as opinions rather than factual claims. The judge noted that Meghan’s comments about her relationship with Samantha were interpreted as Meghan’s personal views on their lack of closeness, rather than defamatory assertions. Additionally, the judge addressed Meghan’s statement regarding Samantha’s name change from Rasmussen to Markle, finding the claim substantially true based on the evidence. The judge observed that Samantha initially used one last name but changed it back to Markle shortly after reports of Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry became public.
One contentious aspect of Samantha's claim involved a statement made by Prince Harry in the Netflix series, where he criticized the role of British journalists in spreading hate and lies. Judge Honeywell found this statement perplexing and unrelated to Samantha’s claims, suggesting it either indicated a misunderstanding of the law or a rush to include irrelevant details.
Despite the previous dismissal, Samantha has filed a new appeal, which could potentially be her final attempt to seek redress. This appeal comes just two days after Meghan’s 43rd birthday, adding a layer of personal significance to the timing. Samantha’s lawyers are expected to request an oral hearing, though a date for this has not yet been confirmed. They have indicated that oral arguments may be necessary to clarify the complex issues involved.
This new legal challenge for Meghan Markle coincides with her recent public appearances, including a heartfelt interview on CBS News' Sunday Morning, where Meghan spoke candidly about her struggles with suicidal thoughts and the online abuse she endured while serving as a working royal. Meghan's openness about her experiences is intended to support young people around the world who may be facing similar issues.
