Meghan Markle found herself embroiled in a heated dispute with talent agency WME after actress Blake Lively issued an apology for remarks that appeared to target Princess Catherine.
Lively, a longtime client of WME since 2013, faced backlash from fans following her endorsement of a drinks brand on March 13, where she seemingly mocked the photo editing controversy surrounding a family portrait of the Princess of Wales.
The incident unfolded when Lively, known for her role in “Gossip Girl,” shared a promotional photo for Betty Buzz, her beverage company, which appeared to allude to the editing debate surrounding Catherine’s Mother’s Day picture.
The royal had admitted to altering the image due to personal reasons.
However, the situation took a somber turn when Catherine disclosed her cancer diagnosis and commencement of chemotherapy treatment, prompting widespread reactions from the royal family and public figures alike.
In response to the unfolding events, Lively took to her Instagram stories last Friday to express remorse over her previous post.
The 36-year-old actress acknowledged the insensitivity of her actions, stating, “I made a silly post around the photoshop fails frenzy and, oh man, that post has me mortified today.
I’m so sorry.
Sending love and well wishes to all, always.”
Despite her public apology, Lively faced further criticism from fans who accused her of hypocrisy, citing her own efforts to shield her children’s identities while allegedly infringing on Catherine’s privacy.
Sources close to the situation suggested that Lively’s apology was influenced by pressure from WME, with claims that Meghan Markle leveraged her relationship with the agency to orchestrate the response in their ongoing public relations battle.
The fallout from Lively’s apology has reportedly strained the ties between WME and Meghan, as the agency’s compliance with Lively’s statement contradicted Markle’s stance.
Notably, Lively was not the only celebrity to make disparaging comments about Catherine, as public figures like Kim Kardashian, Andy Cohen, and John Oliver also faced backlash for their remarks on the matter.
In a separate incident, Kim Kardashian drew ire for a social media post that appeared to mock Catherine’s health struggles.
Despite calls for her to retract the post and issue an apology, Kardashian chose to leave the content unchanged, leading to intensified criticism from followers who deemed her actions insensitive and inappropriate.
The ongoing saga involving Meghan Markle, Blake Lively, and other celebrities underscores the complexities of navigating public scrutiny and the repercussions of making controversial statements in the digital age.
As the narrative continues to unfold, the implications of these interactions on personal and professional relationships remain at the forefront of public discourse.