‘Jessica Mulroney says now she REGRETS becoming friends with Meghan’: As her former best friend splits from husband, friends tell ALISON BOSHOFF why she thinks trouble started at Royal wedding

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When a once joyful marriage ends, it’s particularly crucial to have a trusted confidant to lean on during difficult times.

This week, Canadian socialite and fashion influencer Jessica Mulroney experienced a significant event as reports emerged that she had separated from her husband, Ben. While the news of their split has been whispered in certain circles for some time, it was officially confirmed this week. Toronto gossip suggests that Ben chose to leave his wife, leaving Jessica feeling distressed about the situation.

Jessica, on the other hand, seems to have announced her separation from her spouse at a wedding in Toronto last month, where she was present with renowned sports figure LeBron James and singer Drake; however, she went by herself.

Lawyers are apparently already involved.

Here, Jessica is most famously recognized as the maid of honor at Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s wedding to Prince Harry.

Undeniably, the bond between these two ladies was so profound that Jessica’s family found themselves playing pivotal roles at the grand Royal wedding. My twin boys, Brian and John, were the charming pageboys with their mischievous grins and miniature replicas of Harry’s Blues and Royals frock coat, while our dear Ivy was a sweet bridesmaid, sharing the limelight with Princess Charlotte herself. It was an experience we will cherish forever!

Currently, however, Jessica finds herself without the support of her former best friend, Meghan, following a high-profile online racial controversy she was embroiled in with a blogger in 2020. More details on that incident will be discussed further on. As for Montecito, it appears unlikely to offer any solace to Jessica during these challenging times.

Instead, during the heated dispute, Jessica’s spouse, son of the former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, seemingly stood firmly behind her. He went so far as to relinquish his position as a TV host at the peak of the conflict, demonstrating his unwavering support for her.

Despite those efforts, now the marriage is over.

A source said this week: ‘That whole incident later caused tensions, even in her marriage.’

Intriguingly, it’s reported by a reliable source that Jessica attributes her present sadness not primarily to her recent public controversy – but rather to the memorable occasion in 2018 when she witnessed her closest friend marry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

To be completely honest, I can’t help but feel a pang of regret when I reflect on the time I became friends with Meghan. As an ardent fan, I’ve come to realize that our friendship may not have been as ideal as I once thought it was.

‘Although she initially appreciated the attention it provided, ultimately, the very publicity turned into a significant social media conflict that escalated, ultimately contributing to the breakdown of her friendship with Meghan and her marriage.’

The source adds: ‘If she could go back, a part of her wishes she was never part of that wedding.

‘She really did consider Meghan family. But now she sees that whole time as a “dark cloud”’.

For the past 16 years, Jessica and Ben had solidified themselves as a highly influential duo in Toronto. Their influence stemmed from Jessica frequently sharing polished depictions of family life on social media, featuring her handsome spouse, their 14-year-old sons, and 12-year-old daughter.

She presented an image of a luxurious family lifestyle, admirable in all aspects – ranging from her continuous display of high-end fashion and impeccable hairstyles to the spacious home they inhabited, boasting a vast walk-in wardrobe and a stunning azure pool.

Over the last few months, her Instagram account has offered insights into her current situation. She’s been absent of her wedding ring in her social media posts – this started in March. Prior to that, it was evident that she and Ben were still together. She playfully mentioned forgetting their anniversary once more, and also posted a picture of him enjoying cake at home as a birthday wish for him.

By the time May rolled around, I found myself in a challenging situation. On Mother’s Day, I extended my warmest wishes to my mom, but unfortunately, I neglected to acknowledge my wife on this special day.

It’s been observed that the latest post about Jessica on his Instagram dates back to 2023, where they both appeared at a charity event.

Regarding Jessica’s latest post from June, it features a powerful black-and-white self-portrait. The image conveys a sense of solemnity, and it appears that she has significantly reduced her weight – something notable given her petite stature previously.

Was this image her way of marking her new beginnings as a single woman?

Neither she nor Ben responded to requests for comment this week.

It’s a sad ending for a couple who first met when he was 17 and she just 14.

Six years into their marriage, Jessica encountered Meghan in 2014. Jessica, a renowned stylist often referred to as ‘Canada’s fairy godmother of fashion’ by Harper’s Bazaar, was already quite influential, with a high-profile clientele that included the then First Lady Sophie Trudeau and others.

Simultaneously, Meghan had parted ways with her initial spouse, producer Trevor Engelson, found herself with celebrity chef Cory Vitiello, and resided in Toronto, where she was engaged in the filming of Suits.

The friendship between them appeared to be a bond shared by two women who had very similar perspectives and aspirations.

Shinan Govani, a widely-connected gossip columnist, shared with me that Jessica Mulroney played a significant role in Meghan’s social circle. It was through her that Meghan met influential figures such as Justin Trudeau and Sophie, the former Canadian premier, as well as Markus Anderson, Soho House’s global membership director.

Accompanied by fashionable Jessica, Meghan transformed from a struggling actress in LA into a more refined persona. They embarked on an excursion with their group of friends, dubbed a ‘fake honeymoon’, to Europe in 2015. Jessica humorously captioned photos from the trip as ‘#fakehoneymoon’ and wrote ‘Happy wife happy life’.

Towards the closing stages of her holiday, Meghan went on her initial date with Prince Harry. When the public learned about their royal relationship in 2016, Jessica aided Meghan in covertly traveling to London to be by his side.

According to Omid Scobie’s book Finding Freedom, it was arranged by Jessica that Meghan could utilize the private jet belonging to close friends of hers, Krystal Koo and Michael Cooper, who willingly agreed to assist.

Over time, Jessica grew more and more integrated in Meghan’s relationship with Harry, as depicted in the popular Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. It was during this period that Meghan was conversing with Jessica over FaceTime when Prince Harry was preparing to propose. The documentary captured a thrilled Meghan exclaiming: ‘Oh my God, Jess, it’s happening.’

Jessica assisted in fashioning Meghan for her engagement photo opportunity, and subsequently accompanied her during her inaugural Royal visit to Australia, serving both as a stylist and a confidante.

In June 2020, a surprising scandal involving Jessica arose unexpectedly, as Sasha Exeter, a black lifestyle blogger from Toronto, posted a lengthy video on Instagram. In the video, she accused Jessica of privately threatening her and criticized her for exhibiting ‘white privilege’.

After Exeter called for everyone to voice their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, these two women began exchanging private messages. It appeared that Jessica responded negatively when Exeter criticized a post of Jessica’s promoting her TV program.

Exeter reportedly sent Jessica a series of inappropriate communications, which contained a warning that he had contacted businesses associated with her. He described his actions as a “threat to my income” and an “attempt to mute the voice of a black woman during this social uprising, covertly.

Jessica swiftly shared a heartfelt public apology stating: ‘I should’ve listened and empathized more with your situation [in Exeter]. I sincerely regret not doing so earlier with you, and for any pain I may have inflicted. As I mentioned privately, I myself have gone through a very public and personal ordeal with my dearest friend where race was a significant factor.’

Note the reference to Meghan.

However, as stated by Exeter, it seems that Jessica subsequently posted: ‘Liable suit. Good luck.’ This message appears to be a warning of potential legal action for libel against the person she addressed.

After that, the fire burned brightly, and Exeter penned down: ‘This is what transpires when you challenge someone with power and affluence. They issue a public apology on your post to maintain their reputation, yet secretly prepare to sue in an attempt to silence you.’

In every business partnership she had, Jessica was let go. She was no longer a recurring guest on Good Morning America, and the CTV network decided to cancel her reality series, I Do, Redo.

In the midst of her struggles, Elaine Lui, her husband’s work partner, seemed unkind by suggesting that Jessica was leveraging Meghan and her experiences with racism as a form of advantage or power in her defense.

As a passionate advocate for diversity, I chose to vacate my position at etalk, a popular entertainment news platform. In a heartfelt declaration, I expressed: “Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we amplify Black voices, Indigenous voices, and the voices of people of color in media, as well as all professions. This is why I am stepping down from my role at etalk, to make room for a fresh viewpoint and a new voice.

Approximately three months following the controversy, Jessica granted an interview expressing, “I want to make it clear that I am not a racist.” Additionally, she voiced her aspirations for a fresh start, yet confessed, “I continue to harbor a great deal of embarrassment. It seems as though people assume the worst about me.

She stated: ‘It was difficult for me to accept that a network such as CTV, along with the businesses I’ve worked with extensively over the years and journalists, some of whom were my friends, would express their strong opinions about what they presumed had occurred without reaching out to me first. This felt particularly painful.’

She also denied ever exploiting her connection to Meghan.

In 2020, it was reported that although their friendship wasn’t as strong as before, it wasn’t due to the scandal. One source explained, “Meghan has indeed been concerned about Jess. Her feelings for her have always remained.” Jessica herself confirmed that Meghan frequently calls and checks up on her.

In essence, their friendship effectively concluded immediately without much fanfare. Nowadays, Meghan – the one who entrusted baby Archie with Jessica when she went on a trip to the UK – no longer maintains contact or communication with her. Any public accolades, such as the glowing testimonial she once wrote about Jessica on her blog The Tig describing her as ‘smart, stylish, and incredibly cool, and also stunningly attractive’, have noticeably diminished.

For her part, Jessica no longer follows Meghan or her brands on Instagram.

In light of recent events, I’ve found myself sharing the news that Jessica, a fellow wellness enthusiast, has been open about her struggle with mental health. It appears that the anxiety she’s battled since adolescence escalated into debilitating depression and suicidal thoughts. Her emotional state became so dire that even her mother felt compelled to provide care for her. This serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of mental wellness and seeking help when needed.

According to the source, Jess found it difficult to speak without tears. On her medication, she didn’t recognize herself and preferred not to converse with others. She managed only scant responses to text messages.

At that point, Ben shared with a friend, ‘Every morning I’d find that Jess wasn’t in bed, and my thoughts would immediately drift to the most concerning possibilities.’

Later on, she confessed that she hadn’t anticipated needing such rigorous treatment as she experienced this year. She further expressed that she discovered solace and joy in her sobriety and therapy sessions.

She continued, expressing, ‘It’s isolating when the globe is yours, friends withdraw, and they don’t inquire about your well-being. Yet, fortunately, one discovers what genuinely matters…’

One of these things was her union (or relationship). Ben penned a heartfelt, admiring piece in October 2021, two months later, stating: ‘There is nothing and no one that brings me greater joy, fills me with more pride, ignites more passion within me, or envelops me with more love than this woman.’

Dear Jessie, you mean the world to me… Now that you’re here with me, I plan to hold onto you forever. My deep affection for you is beyond words.

However, Ben – previously cherished by the progressive Left and now transformed into a conservative talk show host – appears to be ready to part ways with all his commitments.

As for Jessica’s one time best friend, Meghan?

To put it simply, she seemingly dealt the final blow to their relationship earlier this year when Meghan, who used to represent Mindy Kaling (her most renowned client before Meghan), had a guest appearance on her lifestyle TV show, “With Love Meghan.” Some might interpret this as a subtle message towards her old friend. As one source cautiously stated, “That seemed very hurtful.

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2025-08-01 18:36