When Someone Shows You Who They Are, Believe Them

It's largely been my experience in life that Maya Angelou's line, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time," holds true. What hasn't been my experience is, as has been purported, that a 36-year-old Meghan Markle, upon entering Kensington Palace for the first time, morphed into someone the people who have known and loved her for years wouldn't recognise. If we dial it back for a moment and consider basic human nature -- fundamental dispositions and personality traits -- we know these are ingrained in us and we build on those characteristics as we navigate life. How many of you can believe someone who was considered kind, a girl's girl, the sort of person who wrote notes to classmates when they were going through tough times, volunteered in soup kitchens as a teenager, a girl who grew into a woman who carried those values into her career as a successful actor, and thus far has utilized the platform she has to uplift women, then somehow magically in her mid-thirties -- overnight -- transformed so completely into someone who is now attacking other women, "intent on always having someone in her sights". Does it sound plausible? I certainly don't think so.

In response to the allegations, friends of Meghan and her former colleagues have come to her defence because the woman being described in The Times is not the woman they know. I've read time and time again television sets are incredibly stressful places to work. Shooting schedules are demanding. Cast and crew are exhausted quite a lot of the time. We often read about tempers flaring during movie and television series productions. In six years on Suits, no one who worked with Meghan had a bad word to say - in fact quite the opposite. Suits writer Jon Cowan tweeted, "It's also possible the Duchess of Sussex is a good person thrust into an unimaginable world. Having spent 3 years working with her in her pre-Duchess days, I saw a warm, kind, caring person. I know nothing of her current situation but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book."

Suits creator Aaron Korsh offered insight into the dynamics behind the scenes. "When we all went, there were about 10 of us or something..it was unbelievable. I think it changed our lives in certain ways forever. But if it had never happened, we were a family on Suits for 10 years."

Perhaps the most striking, among a sea of messages from those who know Meghan, came from Patrick J Adams, better known as Mike Ross to Suits fans - Rachel Zane's husband. The pair worked closely together from the pilot until Meghan's last day on set.

Patrick shared a series of tweets describing his thoughts on the latest attack:

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.'

Writer Angela Harvey shared her insights. "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."

TV Insider writer Damien Holbrook had this to say.

Meghan's friend Janina Gavankar, who you might recall took Harry, Meghan and Archie's Christmas card photo in Canada in 2019.

One of Meghan's dearest friends, Lindsay Roth, shared the following on Instagram, "Meg’s M.O. has always been kindness; goodwill runs in her bones. I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues. If she’s driving with you in the passenger seat, she will fling her right arm in front of you at the slightest bump in a gesture of love to ensure your safety. If you have a specific goal, she will help you get there, and your passions will become hers on your behalf. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Meg - and I hope more of you do - you will see the altruistic, magnanimous friend who I am so lucky to have in my corner. She's funny. Like, laugh out loud funny. And smart. She’s more than just a cover story."

⁣Lindsay continued, "She was this woman when we were students together at Northwestern University; she was this woman in Los Angeles when her days were spent auditioning; she was this woman living in Toronto as Rachel Zane on Suits; she was this woman before you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman after you knew was dating Harry; she was this woman when she became Duchess of Sussex and she is still - without a doubt - this very same woman today."

Longtime make-up artist and friend Daniel Martin shared a quote in support of Meghan.

Friend and Suits co-star Abigail Spencer shared several lovely stories. "A few years ago, Meg and I were at a Sentabale Charity polo match H was playing in. There were no photographers. No “coverage.” We sat on a picnic blanket on the back of their open trunk chatting, catching up on life. A little girl hovered nearby, clearly in awe of my friend. (I know the feeling.) Meg went over to the girl, who couldn’t have been more than ten. Thirty seconds in, the two were conversing back and forth in Spanish. Laughing. I could tell that that little girl saw herself in Meghan. M could communicate with her in her native language, and in the deeper language of the heart. I saw that little girl’s life change before my eyes. Meghan told her she could be anything she wanted to be and do anything she wanted with her life. She hugged her and the little girl went skipping back to her family. And Meg came home to hers."

Abigail recalled one day in particular:

'It was 2015 and I was in Austin at a work event, headed to dinner at a local outdoor, dusty establishment. My childhood friend and her husband had come to Austin for the weekend to see me. On the way to dinner I was texting Meg telling her where I was going and that she and her castmates should join me. I wanted her to meet my Rectify family, wanted my friends to get a taste of the local fare, wanted Meg to meet my childhood friend, and most of all I wanted everyone to meet Meg.

Meg arrived. This incredibly singular beauty danced over to the group, with a huge, easy smile, to warmly greet the table. Meg and I hadn't seen each other in a minute. But when we did, boy oh boy. Picture butterflies trying to hug. After our greeting, she got right to business: getting to know my friends. She was so curious about each of them, relishing the time... with them. Disarming them with her charm and genuine curiosity. I was so touched.

By this point I had known and worked with Meg for years. She’s what I’d call “an on-call friend.” At the ready. She’s modeled nothing but generous professionalism on sets and an even more generous friendship in private. And on that night, she took my friends as her own.

The dinner ended. I said goodbye to my elegant friend in her black t-shirt and jeans. We two-stepped off into the humid Texas dark of night.

In the cab ride back to the hotel my friends - who had never seen Suits - were giddy: “WE LOVED HER! Oh my goodness, how can we be friends with her? Can we be friends with her? I mean, Abs you're great and all but MEGHAN!” I sat with a knowing smile. (I still get the texts: "but how is Meghan? we LOVE her.”)

This is the person I’ve known the past fourteen years.

I am extremely private about my friendship with Meg. I’m not here to tell you her story. That’s for her. So why am I writing this now? I felt drawn - in all this melee, with all the untruths swirling around - to present something real. From a real friend. About a real friend. There are some people who are so bright and exude such deep purpose that they change the molecules in the air simply through their being. She was all of this from the moment I met her fourteen years ago. And remains so to this day.

Meg walks the walk. She’s a doer. In the face of darkness, she shows up in light and in love. When they go low, she goes high. Again and again. She works tirelessly - and often quietly - for the causes she believes in. She writes her own speeches. She and Harry are an incredible team. They are dedicating their lives to lifting up and amplifying those who do not have a voice for themselves.'

Reflecting on their fourteen year friendship Abigail added "She’s been there for me - and physically held me - in my darkest hours: After my dad died. After a gut wrenching break up she brought me into her home & nursed me back to health. Soup & salad waiting in the kitchen, just, if I needed it. She’s taken my son in as her own. I can’t tell you the value of having another working mother I can lean on when with the pressures of visibility & child-rearing woes become overwhelming. She’s always been a safe harbor for me, someone I can fall apart in front of... and with. And I have."

Another moving message of support came from a friend of Meghan we haven't heard much about. Silver Tree is a producer and director who has worked on shows such as Justified, You and Dead to Me. Alongside several images of Meghan with Silver and her family, she wrote, "This is Meg. A real person - not a cover story. 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 kid's life, your kid's day, before hers. Always before hers. 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. When you move to a new city she creates a book of all the special things that city can give you- shares 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."

"On her wedding day she checks in on me the morning of. 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.' She gives you peonies on your birthday.

"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. That’s another one of her gifts -- making you feel like you can get through anything."

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. 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

Silver shared one additional photo of Meghan with her children and Archie, though later deleted it, most likely because Archie was in it. It showed the adorable little man looking inquisitively at a book, The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin (as spotted by Sussex98 via Twitter). The book is told from the perspective of a parent, who says, "When I look at you and you look at me, I wonder what wonderful things you will be..." I looked at the photo of Archie and thought of the day he'll learn about all this, how his mother was vilified and tormented yet again when she was expecting his little brother or sister. Perhaps the saddest part of seeing this unfold again is the knowledge all involved know Meghan's not only pregnant, but lost a baby less than a year ago. Despite all of this, I suspect both Meghan and Harry will tell Archie they are glad they took the leap of faith they did. Given the events of the past several days and the calculated timing of this -- we can safely say they made the right choice.