Meghan Markle Gets Boost in Defamation Case With Sister

Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 8:35 am

Meghan Markle's Defamation Case Receives Boost as Sister's Appeal Falters

A three-year defamation lawsuit brought by Samantha Markle against her sister, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, faced a critical hearing this week. The case, centered on statements made by Meghan in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and in a Netflix show, was heard at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals after a previous ruling in Federal Court in Tampa, Florida, favored Meghan.

Samantha Markle's attorney, Peter Ticktin, argued that Meghan had waged a campaign to unfairly undermine her sister, leading to death threats from Meghan's fans. The lawsuit challenges Meghan's characterization of herself as an only child and the portrayal of Samantha as a member of an online hate group.

Meghan's legal team maintains that the statements in question were either opinions or substantially true, and therefore not defamatory. To succeed in the appeal, Ticktin needed to demonstrate that the original judge, Charlene Edwards Honeywell, had erred in her decision.

However, during the hearing, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge William Pryor appeared unconvinced by Ticktin's arguments. Judge Pryor criticized the attorney for failing to address all the grounds upon which the district court had based its ruling. The court's final decision will be delivered at a later date.

BNN's Perspective:

This case highlights the complexities of defamation law, particularly when it involves public figures and the media. While the court's ultimate decision remains pending, the initial skepticism from the appellate judges suggests a challenging path forward for Samantha Markle's legal claims. The case underscores the importance of carefully substantiating claims of defamation, especially when challenging statements that may be considered opinion or are based on factual truth.

Keywords: Meghan Markle, Samantha Markle, defamation, lawsuit, Oprah Winfrey, Netflix, appeal, court, legal, Duchess of Sussex, only child, characterization, Judge Pryor, Peter Ticktin, opinion, truth, Federal Court, Tampa, Florida, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

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