ROYALS'Find Someone Else To Admonish': Patrick J. Adams Defends Former 'Suits' Costar Meghan Markle Amid Bullying Allegations, Slams 'Obscene' Royal Family
Patrick J. Adams is sticking up for Meghan Markle as his former Suits co-star came under fire this week with accusations that she bullied her staffers while she was still a working member of the royal family.
Slamming the royal family and the British press, the 39-year-old took to Twitter sharing a series of impassioned posts in support of the Duchess of Sussex, who married Prince Harry in 2018.
"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," the actor began his lengthy rant. "She remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued.
"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.
"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," he continued. "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."
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The Canadian actor also pointed out that the attacks cruelly continued after the Duke and Duchess welcomed their son Archie in 2019 and that there seems to be no letting up now that the couple is expecting their second child.
"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," he criticized. "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."
Before marrying Prince Harry, the 39-year-old former actress starred as Adams' love interest for seven seasons of USA's popular legal drama. The series continued for two seasons after Markle's departure and officially ended in September 2019.
"Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment," he concluded. "My friend Meghan is way out of your league."
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According to the new report by UK Times, the complaint against the 39-year-old was made in October 2018 by the couple's former communications secretary, Jason Knauf. At the time, Knauf claimed Markle "drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member."
Knauf reportedly sent an email to the Duke of Cambridge's private secretary, Simon Case, who is now the cabinet secretary, after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of HR.
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According to Daily Mail, the email read: "I am very concerned the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable. The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y."
After learning of Knauf's complaint, Prince Harry allegedly insisted on meeting with the couple's former communications secretary and begged him not to pursue the complaint. Lawyers for the the couple denied the meeting ever took place, The Times reported.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex slammed the accusations.
“Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation,” they said in a statement, while noting: “It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years,” referring to the couple's upcoming special with Oprah Winfrey.
In response to the allegations, Buckingham Palace then issued a statement saying that they will look into the matter.
"We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," the statement reads. "Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.
"The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace," the statement added.
