Last Updated: March 12, 2024, 23:07 IST
United States of America (USA)
Samantha claimed that Meghan defamed her when she told Oprah during her 2021 interview that she grew up as an only child and didn’t have much of a relationship with her half-sibling. (Photo Credits: Instagram/File)
Meghan Markle, 42, was accused by her half-sister, 59-year-old Samantha Markle of spreading “malicious, hurtful, and damaging lies” during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey and on her Netflix show ‘Harry and Meghan
Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle won a defamation case brought against her by her half-sister Samantha. US District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, in her latest decision published on Tuesday, directed that the case never be brought back to court on the account that Samantha had “failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation or defamation-by-implication, a report by The Mirror said.
Meghan Markle, 42, was accused by her half-sister, 59-year-old Samantha Markle of spreading “malicious, hurtful, and damaging lies” during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey and on her Netflix show ‘Harry and Meghan’.
Samantha claimed that Meghan defamed her when she told Oprah during her 2021 interview that she “grew up as an only child” and didn’t have much of a relationship with her half-sibling.
Samantha also accused the Duchess of defaming her by revealing information in her biography, ‘Finding Freedom’, that allegedly destroyed their father’s “reputation and credibility in order to preserve and promote a false ‘rags-to-royalty’ narrative.”
According to a New York Post report, Judge Honywell noted that this was the third time Samantha had tried to amend the complaint against her half-sibling seeking $75,000 in damages.
The court had previously junked Samantha’s case in March 2022 after Judge Honywell ruled that Meghan’s remarks were opinions and “not capable of being proven false.”
The judge gave Samantha’s team another chance to amend the complaint, with this third attempt dismissed with prejudice. This means that Samantha cannot make the claim again in court.
Samantha’ Attorneys are yet to comment on the court’s decision. It is not clear at the moment if Samantha will file an appeal.
The Duchess of Sussex is yet to comment on the court’s ruling.
This win comes amidst rumours of trouble in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage as there are reports that the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, is keen on making a return to his royal duties after his father personally called to tell him about his cancer diagnosis, people familiar with the developments told UK-based news media outlets.
