In particular, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been villainized and blamed for the decision with many saying that she has forced Prince Harry away from his family. This line of attack has opened up an opportunity for former friends of Meghan’s to come forward and join in the fray. Recently, Meghan’s former friend Nema Vand had some more fuel to add to the fire.
While there are plenty of people blaming Meghan for the split from the royal family, she and Prince Harry have their fair share of fans who think the pair made the right move. From the very beginning, Meghan was criticized in cruel and unfair ways that many connect to her race.
The British tabloids, in particular, made her life extremely difficult, and as time went on the pressure and racist remarks did not let up. When Meghan and Prince Harry grew their family with the addition of Baby Archie, it seems they stepped back and re-evaluated just what kind of life they wanted to live.
Prince Harry, traumatized by his own mother’s untimely death at the hands of vicious paparazzi, wanted to protect his family at any cost. The ultimate decision to step away from their duties could not have been an easy one. For many people, it highlighted just how horrible the attacks must have been.
Shahs of Sunset is a Bravo reality TV series that follows the lives of six Persian-American friends as they navigate the social scene of LA. Among the cast members is Nema Vand, a former friend of Meghan.
Vand explains that he and Meghan were childhood friends: “I went to an all-boys high school, and one of our sister schools was Meghan Markle’s. I grew up with her. We were friends for a long time. She was a year older than me. Meghan was amazing, a woman among girls. Everyone was in love with her. She was sweet, and very kind.”
Most of what Vand had to say about his former friend was kind and fits with the image that Meghan’s fans have of her. She comes across as nice, thoughtful, and considerate. Vand expressed that she was a “good friend” and that she was mostly adored by their peer group.
While most of Vand’s commentary on Meghan was a glowing review, it seems that he couldn’t resist stirring up the drama as well. He claimed that she played with boys’ hearts.
“She toyed with our hearts masterfully,” Vand said. “We were at a party one time and she sat on my lap. She got nose to nose with me. For a 16-year-old guy, that is an emotional moment. She said to me in Farsi, ‘You are so beautiful.’ I asked her, ‘How do you know Farsi?’ She said, ‘I learned it for you.’ Then she walked away.”
He also got in a mysterious jab about one of their fellow friends from the bygone era. “And by the way, if Meghan Markle is listening, I am going to say this one time. Meghan, you really upset our friend Gabe,” Vand added.
Many fans find Vand’s comments to be genuine since he doesn’t sound like he’s out to get Meghan. He spoke highly of the duchess and gave her credit for being kind, while also narrating his experiences.