Meghan Markle was visibly shaken as legal representatives from BackGrid presented a five-year agreement involving the Duchess during a court session.
The recent incident involved Meghan and Prince Harry claiming to have been chased by paparazzi in a dangerous car pursuit, aiming for a lucrative photo opportunity.
However, doubts quickly surfaced regarding the accuracy of their account, even prompting New York City Mayor Eric Adams to express skepticism.
He remarked that the idea of a two-hour high-speed chase seemed dubious, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the actual duration of the alleged pursuit.
In response to the backlash received, Meghan and Harry, through their legal team, demanded that BackGrid, a celebrity photo agency based in California, provide all images related to the purported chase.
This request, delivered with a sense of entitlement more commonly associated with royal protocol than Hollywood practices, was met with a firm rebuttal from BackGrid’s lawyers.
They emphasized that in the United States, property rights are respected, and third parties cannot arbitrarily demand access to private material, contrasting it with outdated notions of royal authority.
The identity of the lawyer behind the scathing response, dubbed “The Sick Burn,” remained undisclosed until now.
Joanna Jo Ardalan, a partner at a prominent Beverly Hills law firm specializing in intellectual property law, expressed astonishment at the audacity of Meghan and Harry’s demands.
Ardalan, who also serves as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School, dedicated considerable time crafting a sharp retort to assert legal boundaries.
She questioned the couple’s expectation to infringe on businesses fulfilling their duties and highlighted the absence of evidence supporting claims of a perilous chase through bustling Manhattan streets.
For Meghan and Harry, this legal dispute highlights not only the unreasonable nature of their request but also their efforts to redefine the traditional exchange between celebrities and paparazzi.
The established dynamic of providing visibility in exchange for financial gain was disrupted, prompting scrutiny of potential double standards.
Allegations from sources like Meghan Kelly and Piers Morgan, suggesting Meghan’s collaboration with photographers when beneficial, further complicate the situation, portraying a narrative of ingratitude towards the industry that propelled their fame.
Ardalan disclosed that BackGrid had maintained a professional relationship with Meghan predating the recent events, preserving all contractual agreements with the Duchess and other celebrities to safeguard against denial tactics affecting their reputation.
The revelation sheds light on Meghan’s early interactions with paparazzi, including orchestrated photo opportunities, raising questions about her past engagements with media outlets.
The disclosure underscores the intricate dynamics of celebrity image management and the blurred lines between orchestrated publicity and genuine privacy concerns.