Melissa McCarthy says Meghan Markle backlash is down to people being ‘threatened’ by her

Melissa McCarthy is standing in solidarity with Meghan Markle amid a storm of negativity.

The Bridesmaids star expressed her dismay at the relentless onslaught of criticism directed at the former Suits actress.

“It bums me out for every woman and every person, that for no reason people just like to attack,” McCarthy shared with Page Six at the Broadway debut of Suffs.

The actress, 53, reflected on the backlash faced by Markle, touching on the scrutiny she said women often endure simply for being independent and successful.

“I always think, how inspiring! I’ve never once been threatened by someone who is amazing. I just think how inspiring. It’s really on the people throwing the hate,” McCarthy added, highlighting the importance of uplifting and supporting one another.

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McCarthy showered praise on the Duchess of Sussex, describing her as “wonderful” and “awesome.” The two collaborated on a humorous video in 2021 to celebrate Markle’s 40th birthday and the launch of her mentorship program, 40×40.

Reflecting on her experience working with the royal couple, McCarthy fondly recalled: “They were so sweet and funny. I just found them very inspiring. They’re carving out their own lives. They’re carving out their lives for their kids.”

Attending the premiere of Suffs, a musical honoring the American women’s suffrage movement, McCarthy admitted her own need for education about historical figures such as Alice Paul, Inez Milholland, Ida B. Wells, and Ruza Wenclawska, portrayed in the production.

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“I should say I thought I did [know about women’s history] and I was a little disappointed with myself that I didn’t know the full story and it’s really set me off into a wormhole of how much I really need to learn,” McCarthy confessed, highlighting the importance of understanding and celebrating the contributions of women throughout history.

Among the star-studded audience at the premiere were notable figures such as producer Hillary Clinton, human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, Rachel Brosnahan, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

As for Markle, she was the subject of criticism again after she was accused of asking a lady not to pose next to her husband Prince Harry.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had attended the Sentebale Polo Cup in Miami – an annual event aimed at supporting Sentebale, which is the charity Prince Harry co-founded back in 2006.

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The atmosphere was festive as Harry led the Royal Salute Sentebale Team against the Grand Champions Team, ultimately emerging victorious, with Meghan proudly presenting him the trophy amid cheers from the crowd.

Prince Harry’s victory on the polo field was not the only highlight of the day. The match itself was filmed by a Netflix camera crew, offering a glimpse into the world of professional polo as part of an upcoming series produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the royal couple. Video footage that surfaced after the event captured a moment of discomfort as Meghan appeared to request a woman in a white dress to adjust her position for a photo op with Prince Harry.

The exchange, albeit brief, caught the attention of those who are critical of the Duchess.

Some branded the exchange as “awkward” and others went as far as to call out Meghan for “only [thinking] about herself” and questioned “why [she] was up there in the first place”.