Meghan Markle's friend says she treated him 'like a therapist' amid royal drama
Meghan Markle treated her friend Tyler Perry “like a therapist” after leaving the Royal Family almost four years ago.
In January 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry announced they would be stepping down from their roles as senior members of the monarchy with immediate effect, and faced a huge backlash from family members.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to the US, and the former Suits star was introduced to filmmaker Tyler Perry, who became an unlikely supportive figure in her life. The Gone Girl star helped Meghan through an incredibly tough period of her life, as she and Harry dealt with the aftermath of leaving the monarchy, and he spoke about that time in new interview.
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Talking to Kelly Ripa on her Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, Tyler revealed he became Meghan’s confidante after he reached out to the couple to offer them the sanctuary of his $18 million (£14.5million) Beverly Hills mansion when they arrived in America.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'“‘Everybody thought Oprah introduced us, but Oprah didn’t even know that I reached out to them,” the 54-year-old explained, adding that it was a mutual publicist who put him in touch with her.
“I sent them a note… and just said, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m here,’ and she called months later and just talked to me like I was a therapist and we just had a great conversation,” he continued.
He admitted he offered up his mansion to the couple because he wanted them to have a “safe place to land”, and was on hand to give them advice “that’s not going to be biased or from somebody who wants something from them.”
The billionaire media mogul said Harry and Meghan “hid out at my house for a long time” with their son Archie, even celebrating the youngster's first birthday at Tyler’s house, and was delighted to discover that their hiding place hadn’t been discovered by the press.
“It was so great. Every day. Every day that they were there, I looked to see if anything’s happening online. Nothing. They don’t even know, so weeks and weeks they were there. They were so happy. It was such a beautiful moment,” Tyler shared.
In last year’s Netflix docu-series, Harry & Meghan, the couple recalled living in Tyler’s home as they permanently relocated across the pond. “He [was] like, ‘My house is safe.… You’re going to stay as long as you need. And I’m going get you there safely. And I’m gonna keep you there safely until you have somewhere to go,’” Meghan recalled.
The couple have since splashed out on their own home, a $14 million mansion in Montecito, California,where they live with their son Archie, 4, and daughter Lilibet, 2.