Meghan's ex-BFF Jessica Mulroney ‘regrets' friendship amid marriage split: report
The Duchess of Sussex's former BFF Jessica Mulroney 'somewhat regrets' their friendship, according to a new report.
It emerged this week that the Canadian stylist, 45, is divorcing her husband, Ben, after 16 years of marriage – and according to the Daily Mail, the scrutiny that came with her association to the Duchess of Sussex had 'later caused tensions … in her marriage'.
The two women had been best friends for years after meeting in Canada, where Jessica had introduced Meghan – who was then based in Toronto while filming Suits – to the city's glittering social scene.
They remained close during the early stages of her relationship with her future husband, and Jessica and Ben's children – twins Brian and John and daughter Ivy – even served as page boys and bridesmaid at their royal wedding in 2018.
However, the friendship appeared to sour following Jessica's 'white-privilege' scandal in 2020, where the stylist was axed from both her TV gigs following her racially charged spat with black lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter.
Amid the rampant online — and professional — backlash, Jessica issued an apology and Ben quit his job as a television presenter to help her.
'If [Jessica] could go back, a part of her wishes she was never part of [Markle and Prince Harry's 2018] wedding,' an insider alleged to the Mail on Friday.
'While she enjoyed all the exposure it brought her at the time, that same exposure is what caused her social media rift to blow up in the way it did and led to the end of her friendship with Meghan and her marriage.'
Sources further alleged that while Jessica 'did consider Meghan family' at one point, she now reportedly 'sees that whole time as a 'dark cloud.'
Back when the scandal broke, it was reported that Meghan reacted with shock after hearing of Jessica's 'tone deaf' threats to sue Exeter, and swiftly decided she can 'no longer be associated with her'.
'Meghan is absolutely mortified that she's been dragged into this complete mess. She said Jessica is in no way a racist, but the way she handled the situation was tone deaf and heartbreaking,' a friend of Meghan's told the Daily Mail at the time.
In 2020, Exeter publicly blasted Jessica in an emotional 12-minute Instagram video, describing how she had threatened her during an argument about 'speaking up' against racism and had left her feeling 'paralysed in fear'.
Exeter claimed that Jessica had 'taken offence to a very generic call to action' posted online, causing the women to engage in an argument about racism and white privilege.
Exeter then claimed that Jessica had sent her a series of offensive messages, which ended with a threat to her livelihood.
Jessica herself commented on the video to apologise, and alluded to her friendship with Meghan, who has been at the centre of racist attacks since she began dating Prince Harry in 2016.
'I am unequivocally sorry for not doing that with you and for any hurt I've caused. As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre,' she wrote.
'It was deeply educational. I learned a lot from that. I promise to continue to learn and listen on how I can use my privilege to elevate and support black voices.'
However, Exeter then shared a screenshot on her Instagram story of a private message sent by Jessica shortly after her public apology, which appeared to confirm her intent to sue for 'liable' (sic).
Jessica was subsequently dropped from featuring as an expert on a daytime lifestyle show and
Meanwhile, Page Six reported on Tuesday about Jessica and Ben's split, alleging they'd broken up 'some time ago'.
The publication added that Jessica shared the news with fellow guests at a recent Toronto wedding, with a source claiming she 'seemed sad, but also relieved to have some clarity'.
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