The British monarchy, as an institution, faced a lot of scrutiny after a widely publicized television interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021. Prince Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, opened up about their experiences within the British monarchy. This interview seemingly opened a can of worms in public and sparked debates about issues such as racism, mental health, sexism, and oppression. The interview became a topic of discussion and drew responses from commoners and elites alike.

Among those who offered their support to Meghan Markle was her close friend, tennis superstar Serena Williams. She penned a heartfelt note for Markle. Over two years later, the online world has remembered the note again. The note has resurfaced, and netizens are reacting to it and discussing it again.

The ‘devastating and lethal’ outlook of Serena Williams re-emerges

Serena and Markle have been friends for over a decade. The American actress has attended several Grand Slam matches of Momma Smash and cheered for her through social media when she couldn’t attend one. The 6-time US Open queen even had the honor of attending a highly scrutinized Royal wedding. When Markle was a working Royal, she was spotted wearing a blazer from Serena’s clothing collection, and the two even shared pregnancy and parenting advice. Serena even hosted a baby shower for Markle when she was pregnant with her first baby, Archie.

When Markle opened up about her mental health concerns and the alleged snubbing from ‘The Firm,’ among other accusations, the tennis legend poured her heart for her friend. Serena wrote, “I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us.”

The note started with Serena describing the nobility of Markle. The American champion wrote, “Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life- and leads by example- with empathy and compassion. She teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble.” The Olympic Gold medallist analyzed that the actress’s words and, relating to her experiences as a black woman, illustrated a shared experience of pain and cruelty.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion described the mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimization as “devastating, isolating, and all too often lethal.” When the Duchess of Sussex made startling revelations, most of the world sided with her. Above all, she had strength in her support system – a friend who had had her back for the longest time. But in due course, citizens’ perspectives have drastically changed, and so has the public’s reaction to the duo.

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The camaraderie of a Royal and a World champion

When the tennis legend’s post supporting Markle resurfaced, users on X displayed mixed emotions. While some netizens praised the pair for addressing significant concerns, a few ridiculed them for misusing their fame.

An ardent supporter of the Sussexes appreciated the duo for refusing to fall prey to the system. She wrote, “Well spoken with absolute truth. Thank you May the lord give you all and all of us strength to overcome the abuse and bully.”

When Markle spoke out against the royal family, people believed that she had gone on a vilifying spree. Netizens labeled her ‘delusional.’

So, a user targeted Serena and wrote, “your as deluded as she is.”

The friendship between Serena and Markle raised eyebrows when the two maintained distance for a while. In April 2020, supermodel and actress Naomi Campbell invited Serena to her YouTube series, ‘No Filter with Naomi.’ Since the ‘Megxit’ bombshell was in its initial brewing stage, Campbell asked Serena how she felt about her best friend moving to Los Angeles. Momma Smash dodged the question by saying, “Never seen her, never heard of her, don’t know her.”

But in August 2022, Serena was Markle’s first guest to grace her Spotify podcast, ‘Archetypes.’  The duo frequently displayed public affection till people started suspecting the truth behind Markle’s insinuations. Their friendship remains low key, and Serena never lets a word slip about the actress. Earlier this year, the actress made a million-dollar deal with WME, an elite talent agency representing prominent figures. The American G.O.A.T. is also represented by the same, but Serena never commented on her best friend joining her.

However, netizens continue to pour scorn on the Duchess of Sussex and frequently speculate about the Sussexes Royal future while pitying Prince Harry. So, Serena’s decision to maintain a low profile regarding her equation with Meghan Markle does not come as a surprise.

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