I’m sure Meghan Markle’s mother prepared her ‘for the ugly side of human nature like any woman of colour would teach their child’, says her on-screen father Wendell Pierce
- Wendell Pierce, 55, who played Meghan Markle’s onscreen father, spoke on GMB
- Said Meghan’s mother would have prepared her for ‘ugly side of human nature’
- Revealed he said before her wedding day how life was going to be ‘very different’
- Admitted protocol meant staying in touch was hard but she ‘has a friend in him’
- His words came following a divisive ITV documentary on the Sussex’s first tour
Actor Wendell Pierce, who played Meghan Markle’s father in the US series Suits, has spoken out in support of the Duchess of Sussex following a flurry of headlines in the wake of a divisive ITV documentary.
Pierce, 55, who is originally from New Orleans, and played Robert Zane in the long running lawyer series, said Ms Markle’s mother would have prepared her for ‘the ugly side of human nature like any woman of colour would teach their child.’
Speaking to Susanna Reid on GMB about the struggles of being in the spotlight, he urged that ‘millions care for her’ and revealed that in the last moment he had with the Duchess of Sussex, he told her: ‘Life is going to be very different.’
Wendell Pierce, 55, who is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and played Robert Zane in the long running lawyer series, said Ms Markle’s mother would have prepared her for ‘the ugly side of human nature like any woman of colour would teach their child’
The actor then added: ‘But in those tough times just remember you have a lot of people who care about you.
‘And that you know, protocol, we’re probably not going to be in touch with each other as much as you think but just know you have a friend in me and that there will be a lot of people who care about you.’
His words came following the Duchess of Sussex’s remarks during the documentary following the royal couple’s first official engagement in Africa this year.
Their interviews, which have since been viewed tens of millions of times on Twitter alone, triggered huge public debate about their roles in the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle and Wendell Piece as father and daughter duo Rachel and Robert Zane
Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, arriving at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust’s Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry
The couple opened up about the struggling to cope with intense scrutiny and Harry admitted that he and his brother, who were once inseparable, now have their ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’.
In response to Ms Markle’s comments, where she said she was surprised by the level of press attention, Pierce said: ‘In those darkest hours, I hope she knows how much she is loved. I hope she knows how many people, millions of people care for her.
‘I’m sure that her mother raised her well, so prepared her for the ugly side of human nature like any women of colour would teach their child, just like my parents taught me.
‘There are going to be people out there who do not have your best interest at heart but those are not the people you focus on, you focus away from them.’
He then said he was happy to offer his support, adding: ‘I’m her TV dad!’
The actor also spoke about travelling the world for his spy drama Jack Ryan and starring in the West End run of Death of a Salesman.