Melissa McCarthy has shown support for her friend, Meghan Markle, amid the barrage of criticism she’s suffered following the launch of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.
McCarthy called Meghan a «wonderful» and an «inspiring» woman, insisting that people are only «threatened» by her.
The former «Suits» actress recently gave a peek into the offerings of her brand after gifting jam jars to several of her friends and influencers.
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Melissa McCarthy Defends Meghan Markle Against Critics
The «Life of The Party» actress defended Meghan against the criticism of her American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand.
During the recent Broadway opening of «Suffs,» McCarthy called the Duchess of Sussex an «inspiring» woman, intimating that she’s only suffering «hate» for getting on with her «own life.»
According to Page Six, the comedian went further to say Meghan is a «wonderful» and «awesome» person and that her critics feel «threatened.»
«It bums me out for every woman and every person that for no reason people just like to attack,» McCarthy said. «A smart interesting woman that has her own life, for some reason, is incredibly threatening to some people.»
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«I always think, how inspiring. I’ve never once been threatened by someone who is amazing. I just think how inspiring. It’s really on the people throwing the hate,» she added.
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Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Brand Faces Harsh Criticism
Meghan’s lifestyle brand has been plagued with ridicule and backlash from critics since she announced its launch.
According to the DailyMail, an anonymous individual bought up American Riviera Orchard’s domain name in the UK and used it to link to a food bank’s GoFundMe, which has raised more than £21,000 in donations in a week.
One X user disagreed with McCarthy’s comment, claiming that Meghan’s «intelligence» isn’t at all «threatening.»
«It’s the fake feminism, bullying, grifting, jealousy, lies, & malicious behavior people have an aversion to. She’ll dump you too,» they added.
Other X users shared that McCarthy seemingly doesn’t know Meghan well enough, with one noting that the funny woman will be «dumped by Christmas.»
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The Duchess Allegedly Cut Ties With Her ‘Suits’ Co-stars
The criticism against the duchess follows the report that she had severed ties and lost contact with most of her former «Suits» co-stars.
Gina Torres, who played Jessica Pearson in the hit legal drama, recently claimed that no one on the show still has the Duchess’ contact details.
An interviewer asked her at the Golden Globes in January if any of them «texted Meghan and said, ‘You’ve gotta come to the Golden Globes, Meghan Markle.'»
«We don’t have her number. We just don’t so. She’ll see. She’ll watch. She’ll be happy that we’re here,» Torres replied.
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Despite these claims, Meghan still seems to be in touch with Abigail Spencer, who played Dana Scott on the show. Spencer also disclosed over the weekend that she got one of the fifty limited edition jars from the Duchess’ American Riviera Orchard brand.
Meghan Markle Gifts Her Friends ARO Strawberry Jam Jars
Besides Spencer, Meghan gifted a few of her other friends jars of strawberry jam, and some subsequently took to Instagram to show off the product and thank her for the kind gesture.
«@americanrivieraorchard breakfast, lunch, and dinner just got a little sweeter,» designer Tracy Robbins, wife of Paramount boss Brian Robbins, gushed about her jam jar on her Instagram Story.
«Thank you for the delicious basket! I absolutely love this jam. So not sure I’m sharing with anyone. Thank you, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard,» she added.
Robbin’s jar had a «17 of 50» text written on it, meaning Meghan only released 50 of those to her friends and influencers.
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Meghan’s Argentine model pal, Delfina Blaquier, the wife of Prince Harry’s best friend and polo player Nacho Figueras, also received a jam jar.
Melissa McCarthy Speaks About ‘Suffs’ The Musical
According to Page Six, the «Gilmore Girls» actress went to see «Suffs» last week and said that the Broadway show made her «appreciate who’s come before me that’s made my life and my daughters lives better.»
«Suffs» is a musical based on the American women’s suffrage movement, especially the events leading up to the Constitution amendment and legal procedures that gave women the right to vote.
The actress admitted that she’ll have to learn about the women portrayed in the musical, including Alice Paul, Inez Milholland, Ida B. Wells, and Ruza Wenclawska.
«I should say I thought I did [know about women’s history], and I was a little disappointed with myself that I didn’t know the full story, and it’s really set me off into a wormhole of how much I really need to learn,» she admitted.