Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly steering clear of Tyler Perry’s messy legal battle, and not everyone’s happy about it.
Tyler Perry, the Hollywood powerhouse and close friend of the royal couple, is currently facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a male actor. While Perry fights it out in court, Harry and Meghan—who once lived in his California mansion and made him godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet—are keeping their distance.
According to RadarOnline, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are intentionally staying silent, hoping to avoid being dragged into the high-profile case. “They are remaining quiet on purpose because they do not want to get involved in Tyler’s case,” a source told the outlet.
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But the decision to lay low is already rubbing some people the wrong way. The insider added, “Many think it’s hypocritical, since Tyler Perry has stuck up for them so many times, and it’s bad that the Sussexes don’t say anything to support him now.”
Perry famously provided Harry and Meghan with a safe haven when they first left the UK in 2020, even offering them his home for privacy and protection during the height of their royal exit. He’s been one of their most public defenders, backing them up when they were under intense scrutiny from the press and the palace alike.
Now, with Perry in legal trouble, some feel the Sussexes are nowhere to be found. “The Sussexes do not want to be on any lawyer’s radar – especially now, since they know anything they say could be turned around against them in court,” the insider added, suggesting the couple’s silence may be more about self-preservation than disloyalty.
Still, the optics aren’t great. Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich didn’t hold back in her criticism. Speaking to Fox News, she said, “Instead of offering their stalwart support as good friends who even lived in his home, this silence is a clear demonstration of… a total lack of moral courage.”
So far, neither Harry nor Meghan has made a public statement about the lawsuit, and it seems unlikely they will anytime soon. While the strategy may be legal caution, the backlash is already brewing.
For a couple known for speaking out on everything from mental health to family estrangement, this sudden silence on a scandal involving someone so close to them hasn’t gone unnoticed. And in the court of public opinion, that quiet might be speaking volumes.