David Foster Breaks Silence on Meghan Markle 'Snub' Rumors — Sets the Record Straight
Foster criticized the vulture-like culture of the media and highlighted that a simple moment was turned into a 'hurtful lie'.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the David Foster Foundation's 40th anniversary celebration in Canada, honoring their close bond with the composer. But an unintentional moment on the red carpet got blown out of proportion — Markle appeared to extend her arm to welcome Foster into a pose, and he seemed to overlook it, leading fans and outlets to accuse her of trying to 'lead' the shot. The backlash reportedly dented Foster's reputation. Insiders have since denied any rift between the two, and Foster himself issued a firm statement shutting down the rumors.
PEOPLE! reported Foster's strong-worded statement, which read: "As the host of the David Foster and Friends foundation event, I had already greeted our friends, the Duke and Duchess, at the entrance 10 minutes before the red carpet encounter," Foster stated. "They both, graciously and selflessly, gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone. Harry and Meghan are dear friends of mine. Anyone watching can see there was no awkward moment and certainly no snub." He further criticized the vulture-like culture of the media and highlighted, "It’s sad that certain media chose to deceive a red carpet encounter for clickbait. They turned simple ‘positioning’ to get the best photo into a hurtful lie." During the event, the Sussexes were seen on the red carpet as Foster walked past them. However, he later joins his wife, Katharine McPhee, and the four display admirable camaraderie for the paparazzi.
This event marked a weekend-long celebration of the foundation, which supports Canadian families with children requiring life-saving organ transplants. It is well known that Markle and McPhee are high school friends who reconnected later in life, also introducing their husbands to the circle. McPhee had described their relationship in an adorable way back in 2020 during an interview with Access Hollywood. "My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry. They’re like, they’re so cute. They’re like father and son. We just stay in touch with them. But mostly, Meghan and I knew each other from childhood, but really Harry and my husband are friends. It’s really nice."
In 2019, Foster had facilitated a stay for the Sussexes at a friend's mansion on Vancouver Island, expressing pride in helping them remain low-profile during their time as royals. He emphasized his connection as a Canadian and a Commonwealth citizen, stating that it was important for him to help them find a peaceful retreat. Foster shared his happiness about providing them a chance to take a break.
