A US judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, by her half-sister Samantha, over comments made in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and the Netflix series ‘Harry and Meghan.’
A defamation lawsuit filed by Samantha Markle, the half-sister of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been dismissed by a US judge in a conclusive ruling. The lawsuit was centred on comments made by Meghan during a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey and in the Netflix documentary series “Harry and Meghan.” The court, led by Judge Charlene Honeywell in Florida, ruled in favor of the Duchess, stating that Samantha Markle failed to prove any of the statements made were defamatory.
The legal action initiated by Samantha Markle in March 2022 accused Meghan of spreading false and malicious lies regarding their family relationship. Specifically, it focused on claims made during the Oprah Winfrey interview and allegations of defamation through an unauthorized biography discussed on live television. However, in a detailed 58-page judgement, Judge Honeywell concluded that the comments in question were either expressions of opinion, corroborated by evidence as true, or not defamatory by nature. As a result, the case was dismissed, with the ruling also stipulating it cannot be reopened in court.
Expressing satisfaction with the court’s decision, Meghan’s legal representation underscored the dismissal, bringing closure to this instance of legal conflict against the Duchess. Notably, Meghan Markle has been estranged from her half-sister Samantha for several years, adding complexity to the familial dimensions of the lawsuit. This legal victory marks the end of this particular dispute for Meghan, who has encountered several challenges and criticisms in recent years, especially after stepping back from her royal duties.
