Serena Williams' stirring words of support for Meghan Markle
Serena Williams has thrown her support behind Meghan Markle after her highly publicised interview with Oprah.
“Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life – and leads by example – with empathy and compassion,” Williams wrote.
“She teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble. Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced.
“I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of colour to minimise us, to break us down and demonise us.
“We must recognise our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimisation are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal.
“I want Meghan’s daughter, my daughter and your daughter to live in a society that is driven by respect.
“Keep in your memory the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
It's not the first time Williams has defended the Duchess.
In 2019, Meghan visited Wimbledon to watch Williams play courtside.
But the appearance attracted a flurry of negative press, with those sitting close by reportedly warned by security not to take photos of her.
Speaking at a Wimbledon press conference, Williams was asked by one reporter whether Meghan would watch her play in the finals given the “negative media” surround her last appearance.
“You know I didn’t know there was negative media out there,” Williams replied. “Every time I see her name attached to anything I don’t read it.”
The tennis superstar praised Meghan — who she has been close with since meeting at a celebrity volleyball event in 2014 — for being a good person.
“She couldn’t be a better friend to me — low moments, high moments she’s always there and that’s all I want to be to her,” she said.