Only hours ago, Kerry Kennedy, the President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, announced that she has withdrawn Meghan Markle from the foundation’s annual Ripple of Hope Award. The award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to social change, was to be presented to Markle at a gala in New York City next week.
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw Markle from the award was reportedly made in light of recent allegations of bullying made against the Duchess of Sussex. In a statement, Kennedy said that she was “deeply concerned” by the allegations and that she wanted to give Markle an opportunity to respond to them.
“I have always admired Meghan Markle’s work on social justice and her commitment to making a difference in the world,” Kennedy said in her statement. “However, in light of recent allegations of bullying, I have decided to withdraw her from the Ripple of Hope Award. I believe that it is important to give Meghan an opportunity to respond to these allegations, and I do not want to do anything that could jeopardize the reputation of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation.”
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw Markle from the award has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised Kennedy for her decision, saying that it was the right thing to do in light of the allegations. Others have criticized Kennedy, saying that she is caving in to public pressure and that she should have stood by Markle.
It is unclear whether Markle will respond to the allegations of bullying. However, she has previously denied them. In a statement released through her lawyers, Markle said that she was “saddened by this latest attack on her character.”
“The Duchess has always been a strong advocate for workplace wellbeing and has been the subject of numerous false and misleading reports. She believes that these latest allegations are part of a concerted campaign to discredit her and undermine her reputation.”
Markle’s lawyers have also sent a letter to Kennedy, urging her to reconsider her decision to withdraw her from the Ripple of Hope Award. In the letter, Markle’s lawyers argue that the allegations against her are “baseless” and that she has been “denied the opportunity to properly respond to them.”
Kennedy has not yet responded to Markle’s lawyers’ letter. However, it is likely that the matter will be resolved in the coming days.
