Jessica Mulroney’s estranged husband, Ben Mulroney, has shared a rare update on Jessica’s friendship with Meghan Markle.
Ben, 49, discussed the status of his ex-wife’s friendship with the Duchess of Sussex, 44, during a Wednesday, January 28, appearance on the “Can’t Be Censored” podcast.
“There’s so much interest in that period, that friendship, all that stuff. Do you want to say anything about where things are?” host Travis Dhanraj asked after they chatted about Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
Ben responded, “It’s Jess’ story to tell. I wouldn’t speak for her, so if she ever wants to talk about it, but from what I understand, they are on positive terms.”
Ben’s comments come six months after a source confirmed to Us Weekly that he and Jessica, 45, had split following 16 years of marriage. The pair tied the knot in October 2008 and share twin sons Brian and John, 15, as well as daughter Ivy, 12.
Meanwhile, Meghan and Jessica were close friends for years before Meghan met Harry, 41. The pair met while Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto and quickly hit it off, bonding over their shared love of fashion, fitness and other interests. Jessica, a stylist, even selected looks for Meghan to wear on Suits, including the wedding dress that her character, Rachel Zane, wore on the show.
“They went to the same yoga and Pilates and became firm friends,” royal expert Kate Nicholl told Cosmopolitan in May 2018.
Jessica and her family notably played a major role in Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding. The Canada native wore an all-blue outfit to the ceremony in an apparent nod to Meghan’s “something blue.” Meanwhile, Ben and Jessica’s sons served as page boys in the nuptials, while their daughter was a flower girl alongside Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William’s daughter, Charlotte, now 10.
In June 2020, it was widely reported that Meghan and Jessica had a falling out after influencer Sasha Exeter called out Jessica for alleged “problematic behavior and antics” in the fashion community. Jessica apologized and referenced Meghan, which reportedly fractured their friendship.
“As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and center,” she told Exeter, seemingly referring to Meghan’s own battle with racism. “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.”
Jessica addressed their friendship status in September 2020, writing via her Instagram Stories, “I’m going to tell this once and for all. Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend and has checked up on me every day. Tabloid culture is atrocious. It creates lies and hurtful storyline. Stop feeding into it. Done.”
Despite her declaration, Jessica and Meghan’s friendship seemed to halt. A source exclusively told Us Weekly after the drama with Exeter that Meghan “could not get over” Jessica involving her in the situation.
“That was hugely offensive to Meghan and the deciding factor for her,” the insider said in June 2020. “Meghan considers the relationship to be done.”
