Actor Wendell Pierce has come to the defense of his former Suits co-star Meghan Markle, sharply rebuking claims that she was difficult to work with on the set of the popular legal drama. In a fiery social media post on Friday, November 7, Pierce, 61, dismissed accusations from journalist Angela Levin, who suggested that Markle, 44, was 'difficult, demanding and rude' during her time on the show. The exchange highlights ongoing scrutiny of Markle's professional reputation amid reports of her potential return to acting after an eight-year hiatus.
Pierce, who portrayed Robert Zane, the father of Markle's character Rachel Zane, on Suits, did not hold back in his response on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'You have no idea what you are talking about. @angelalevin1,' Pierce wrote. 'You are a gossip monger looking to profit off of smearing a woman you know nothing about. Meghan was a kind, giving, and talented artist who I enjoyed working with for years. You Angela are a shameless hack. I’m more mad at myself for allowing you to get under my skin.'
He continued in a follow-up post, emphasizing his positive experiences: 'I’ll focus this anger on the friendship that Meghan and I have and the fond memories I have from working on SUITS. Her grace is something you know nothing about.' The posts quickly gained attention, drawing support from fans and reigniting discussions about Markle's time on the series, which ran for nine seasons from 2011 to 2020.
Levin, an 80-year-old royal biographer and commentator, had posted her claims in reference to rumors of Markle's acting comeback. 'Meghan won’t love being told what to do by any producer. Suits actors found her ‘difficult, demanding and rude’ and she was only a starter then,' Levin wrote via X. Her statement alluded to unverified reports about tensions on the Suits set, though no other cast members have publicly corroborated such allegations in recent years.
Markle's reported return to the screen comes after she stepped away from acting in 2017 following her engagement to Prince Harry. According to a report by People magazine on Wednesday, November 5, she is set to star in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends alongside actors Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. The project marks her first major acting role since leaving Suits, where she played the ambitious paralegal Rachel Zane for seven seasons.
In a joint interview with Prince Harry on the BBC in November 2017, Markle addressed her departure from the show and her acting career. 'I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change. It’s a new chapter, right?' she said. 'I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team.'
Pierce has been vocal about his support for Markle in the past. In an appearance on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? in March 2024, he recalled their final scene together on Suits. 'It was the last night of working and I said, ‘Meghan, your life is going to change, and you’re going to be in a bubble, but just always remember, no matter what, I’m your friend, you have lots of friends,’' Pierce recounted. '‘We’re always thinking about you, we’ll always be there for you. And you know, no matter where you are, always know you have a friend in me.’'
This isn't the first time Pierce has spoken fondly of his time working with Markle. Their onscreen father-daughter dynamic mirrored a real-life camaraderie, according to various accounts from the cast. Suits, which also starred Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter, Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty, and Rick Hoffman, became a breakout hit, blending legal intrigue with personal drama.
Markle herself highlighted the close-knit nature of the cast in a 2013 interview with Esquire. 'I think that’s part of why the show has become so successful. You can feel that we all get along on- and off-camera,' she told the magazine. This sentiment contrasts with Levin's claims, which appear to stem from anonymous sources or rumors that have circulated since Markle's rise to global fame as the Duchess of Sussex.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of persistent media scrutiny surrounding Markle since her marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018 and their subsequent decision to step back from royal duties in January 2020. The couple relocated to California, where they have pursued various media and philanthropic ventures, including a high-profile Netflix deal and the launch of their Archewell foundation.
While some reports have painted Markle as challenging in professional settings—echoing Levin's assertions—others, like Pierce's, offer a counter-narrative of warmth and professionalism. For instance, in the years since Suits ended, co-stars such as Adams and Rafferty have shared positive anecdotes about working with her, though none have directly addressed the 'difficult' label in recent public statements.
According to sources close to the production, Markle's role on Suits evolved from a supporting character to a central one, culminating in her character's marriage to Adams' Mike Ross in the show's seventh season. The series, created by Aaron Korsh, aired on the USA Network and gained renewed popularity through streaming platforms like Netflix, where it broke viewing records in 2023.
As Markle prepares for her acting comeback, the defense from Pierce underscores the loyalty among some of her former colleagues. It also raises questions about the reliability of anonymous claims in celebrity reporting, particularly when they target high-profile figures like Markle, who has faced intense public and media attention.
Looking ahead, the film Close Personal Friends could signal a new phase in Markle's career, blending her acting roots with her experiences in the public eye. While details about the project's plot and release date remain scarce, it represents an opportunity for Markle to reclaim her narrative in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Pierce's outspoken support serves as a reminder of the enduring bonds formed on the Suits set, even as debates about her working style persist in the media.
In the broader context of celebrity culture, such defenses highlight the challenges public figures face in combating misinformation. As Markle navigates this next chapter, her advocates like Pierce continue to push back against narratives that, in their view, unfairly tarnish her reputation.