Meghan Markle‘s former Suits co-star Wendell Pierce has made a light-hearted joke about the Duchess in his new show.
Pierce, 60, who played Meghan’s father in the Netflix drama about lawyers, now has a standout role in Chicago-based CBS police drama Elsbeth as Captain Charles Wallace Wagner.
In the upcoming episode due to air on January 30, titled Unalive and Well, Wagner instructs Elsbeth to look into a homicide.
In a humorous nod to his former co-star, he explains: ‘In the meantime, I need you on a case. A young man, Cole Campbell, was found deceased on the highway. His car ran off the road.
‘The last place he was seeing was some fancy spa where celebrities and the royals go to.’
Wagner then jokes: ‘The global press was already trying to frame Meghan Markle, and she wasn’t even there!’
It comes after the Duchess made the difficult decision to postpone her own upcoming TV show, With Love, Meghan, until March.
Pierce revealed in the 2024 Tony Awards in New York that he is still in contact with the Duchess.
Meghan Markle’s former Suits co-star Wendell Pierce has made a light-hearted joke about the Duchess in his new show (pictured)
Pierce, 60, played Meghan’s father in the Netflix drama Suits (pictured on the show together)
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, the star – who has been nominated for several Tonys and won one in 2012 – explained how he met up with the royal couple last year.
He told the publication: ‘When [Meghan] came into town, she got an award last year, had a chance to say hello and wish she and Prince Harry well and wish the children well.
‘They look very much in love and were very happy, so that’s the most important thing.’
Although Wendell didn’t specify when he caught up with Meghan and Harry, the couple were in New York in May 2023 to accept the Duchess’ ‘Women of Vision’ award.
Speaking to E! News in April, Wendell revealed said of his most recent meeting with the couple: ‘It was great to see them because there’s this public persona, and then it’s the two that I know.’
Wendell’s comments come after some of Meghan’s other co-stars claimed that ‘don’t have her number’ anymore.
In January 2023, Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, Patrick J. Adams and Gina Torres reunited on the Golden Globes red carpet – sparking rumours of a show reboot.
When asked if any of them had reached out to Meghan, Gina – who played Jessica Pearson – said they no longer had a direct way of contacting the Duchess.
Pictured: Suits stars Sarah Rafferty, Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht and Gina Torres attending the Golden Globes in January 2023
Meghan has pushed the release of her new Netflix show to March 4 due to the LA wildfires
An interviewer asked: ‘Who texted Meghan and said “you’ve gotta come to the Golden Globes, Meghan Markle”.’
Gina replied: ‘We don’t have her number. We just don’t so. She’ll see. She’ll watch. She’ll be happy that we’re here.’
At the time, it was reported Meghan was unable to make the awards ceremony due to a ‘previous commitment’.
In May 2018, Meghan Markle’s co-stars were all invited to her fairytale wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor, with the likes of Patrick J. Adams, Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty mixing with A-listers and royalty. Although Wendell Pierce was invited, the star previously said he was ‘unable’ to attend.
Speaking to E! News in April, Wendell revealed the advice he gave to Meghan after she quit the series to move to the UK.
Recalling their last day on set together, Wendell explained: ‘I said, “Meghan, your life is going to be a whirlwind. You’re going to be in this bubble.”
‘I just want you to remember that no matter what happens, you always have friends. And I hope you count me in that number.’
In March 2021, Wendell criticised Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for giving a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey when the world was in the ‘throes of death’.
The Duchess, 43, bills the series as creating ‘wonder in every moment’ as she shares her tips and tricks on living well
Meghan Markle was spotted comforting victims and first responders at an evacuation centre on Friday amid the ongoing fires in LA
He told radio station LBC: ‘Today 3,000 people are going to die in America from COVID. A couple of hundred people are going to die, even this hour, in the UK.’
Wendell added: ‘It was quite insensitive and offensive that we are all complicit in this sort of palace… gossip in the midst of so much death. I think it is insignificant.’
Asked who he included in this criticism, he said ‘everyone’ including Oprah, US network CBS, ITV, Prince Harry and Meghan, and the Palace.
It comes after Meghan made the decision to delay her Netflix cookery series With Love, Meghan until March due to the ongoing wildfires in LA.
A statement issued by the Duchess of Sussex on Sunday, three days before the series was scheduled to debut, read: ‘I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.’
With Love, Meghan reportedly includes tributes to the California-based royal’s home state and her personal ties to it.
Last week, Meghan and Prince Harry were seen participating in volunteering efforts in the wake of the deadly fires.
On January 10, the Sussexes visited an evacuation site in Pasadena, California, where charity organisation World Central Kitchen was distributing food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire.
Meghan Markle speaks with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, center, and Doug Goodwin, who’s home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena
Meghan and Harry pictured with other volunteers after helping LA wildfire victims
According to People magazine, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, also donated money to the relief efforts through their charity, the Archewell Foundation.
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo claimed that the royal couple, who volunteered anonymously, ‘really buoyed the spirits of the first responders’, during their visit.
‘It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected,’ the politician told Fox News.
He added that the couple visited some of the burnt out houses in Pasadena and Altadena and spoke to those who had lost their homes.
‘They took the time to meet the people who were affected and spend time. They are just very caring people who are very concerned for their friends and neighbours,’ the Mayor said.
It comes after PR experts questioned the timing of the release of Meghan’s Netflix cookery show and said it should be postponed amid the wildfires.
They suggested to air it now could come across as ‘insensitive’ and ‘tone deaf’ and cause a fierce backlash against the royal couple.
UK brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: ‘I think Netflix bosses will be having to make some big decisions as whether to air With Love, Meghan in the next week.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stood alongside the embattled California governor’s wife as they served meals to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires
‘With the show being so centred on California life, Los Angeles and Montecito, providing a glimpse into aspirational and inspirational living, I suspect it will be pulled from its current schedule and delayed for at least a few months.’
A description of the series on Tudum’s website said: ‘Produced by Meghan, With Love, Meghan blends practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old.
‘Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection, and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected.
‘She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.’
Meghan and Harry also opened the doors to their $29million mansion in Montecito, which is around 90 miles from LA, to their friends and loved ones who were forced to evacuate the ongoing wildfires.
They have now urged other Los Angeles residents to open up their homes for victims in a statement on their website, Sussex.com, as the wildfires continued to level celebrities’ homes, leaving nothing but ash and rubble.
The couple wrote: ‘If a friend, loved one or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do.
‘And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.’
‘Please consider donating clothing, children’s toys and clothing, and other essentials,’ they said, noting the American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need.