Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is once again embroiled in a legal dispute with her half-sister, Samantha Markle, as the latter has filed an appeal in a defamation lawsuit that was previously dismissed. The case, which has been a point of contention between the sisters for years, revolves around comments Meghan made during a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and in the 2022 Netflix series “Harry & Meghan.”
Samantha’s appeal, which was filed with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, claims that Meghan knowingly made false statements that have caused significant damage to her reputation. According to court documents cited by The Sun, the appeal argues that “Meghan knew what she was doing, and how to do it. She destroyed Samantha publicly and on a global scale.”
Central to the lawsuit is Meghan’s statement during the Oprah interview where she said, “I grew up as an only child, which everyone who grew up around me knows, and I wished I had siblings.” Samantha contends that this comment was a deliberate falsehood intended to undermine her and her memoir.
Another contested statement comes from the Netflix series, where Meghan claimed, “I don’t remember seeing her [Samantha] when I was a kid at my dad’s house.” The appeal argues that this comment was made to discredit Samantha’s assertion that she was an active part of Meghan’s upbringing.
The appeal further states that Meghan is responsible for the defamatory statements, whether she directly made them or published them through others. Samantha’s legal team contends that Meghan’s actions were intentional and aimed at harming her half-sister.
Samantha’s attorney, Jamie Alan Sasson, told Fox News that Meghan’s statements have led the public to believe that Samantha is a “fame-seeking stranger,” further damaging her reputation.
Court documents detail the ongoing consequences Samantha faces as a result of these statements, including daily harassment and threats both online and in person. The appeal notes that Samantha, who was once respected in her Florida community, now lives in constant fear for her safety and has had to relocate multiple times due to violent threats.
The appeal concludes by highlighting the severe impact Meghan’s actions have had on Samantha’s life, making it difficult for her to work or even engage in routine activities without facing constant harassment. The court will now consider the merits of the appeal as the legal battle continues.
