Samantha Markle, Meghan Markle’s half-sister, is attempting to compel the Duchess of Sussex to appear in court again, arguing that she was depicted as a “lying, racist, fame-seeker.”
Samantha,59, filed an appeal of a court decision that denied her claim that Meghan damaged her reputation, and now she is preparing to sue Meghan for defamation.
Meghan allegedly discredited Samantha by implying that she was a stranger to her, according to court documents acquired by The Sun.
“Meghan knew what she was doing, and how to do it,” Samantha alleged.
“She destroyed Samantha publicly and on a global scale.” It was also alleged that Meghan “has made it so Samantha cannot work, or even enjoy the most mundane of activities, like going to the grocery store without harassment.”
Samantha’s case relates to Meghan’s remarks from the December 2022 episode of Harry & Meghan and an interview she gave with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
“I think it’d be very hard to tell all when you don’t know me. And I mean, this is a very different situation than my dad, right?” Meghan said in her 2021 interview with Oprah.
“When you talk about betrayal, betrayal comes from someone that you have a relationship with. Right? I don’t feel comfortable talking about people that I really don’t know.”
She added: “But I grew up as an only child,” she continued, “which everyone who grew up around me knows, and I wished I had siblings. I would have loved to have had siblings, so I’m so excited to be pregnant so that Archie has someone.”
Samantha’s complaint, which was brought in March 2022, was dismissed earlier this year by Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, who determined that Samantha “was unable to provide evidence to prove defamation,” according to The Sun.
Samantha’s lawyers, however, are now retaliating, claiming that the judge failed to take into account the implied defamation resulting from the deletion of relevant information. Samantha submitted her appeal on August 4, two days before Meghan’s 43rd birthday.
According to court records submitted to a Florida court, Samantha was painted as someone “who is out to harm Meghan and to capitalize on that harm caused.”
Samantha claimed that the remarks hurt both her personal and professional reputation. She added that she “faced relentless torment online” as a result of it. No date has been established for the oral hearing that her attorneys wish to arrange. Samantha’s lawyers stated, “Oral argument is desired as the issues may require some clarification.”
We’ve reached out to Meghan’s agents to get their thoughts.