There’s something oddly predictable about celebrity friendships becoming public property. You’d think by now people would stop treating other people’s loyalties like a tournament bracket. Still — here we are. Chrissy Teigen recently spoke kindly about Meghan Markle in an interview, and of course the reaction online was immediate and acidic. Not surprised, but a little tired, too.
Why Chrissy stood up for Meghan
Teigen’s comments were simple: she said she admires Meghan, called her strong, and said she doesn’t understand why so many people are so polarized about her. That last part is worth pausing on. Think about it — someone who has seen public attention firsthand, someone who’s been through scrutiny and social media storms, saying they can’t square why another human being draws either love or outrage in such extremes. It reads as genuine confusion, not a PR line. I find that oddly reassuring.
She also noted how Meghan handles criticism — the “say whatever you want, I’m happy and healthy” line. There’s something quietly defiant in that stance. It’s not loud, it’s not performative; it’s a calm refusal to be dragged into the mud continually. Chrissy seems to admire that resilience, and, frankly, I do, too. When you’ve been on stage — all of you, really, not just celebrities — the simplest, most human reaction is to protect what matters: your family, your mental space. Maybe that’s why Teigen mentioned they don’t have playdates — not because there’s coldness, but because she rarely leaves the house. That’s relatable. Sometimes life is logistics and schedules, and not every friendship needs to look like the highlight reel people expect.
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Friendship as defense — sincere or strategic?
Now, this is where things get messy. Public defenses of a friend often get read in two opposite ways: either as sincere loyalty or as a cynical attempt at reputation management. People online were quick to claim Chrissy’s praise was timed — that she only circled close to Meghan when it suited her image. Others suggested being friendly with Meghan is, somehow, a tactic for Teigen to rehabilitate herself. Do I think that’s impossible? No. Do I think it’s also a lazy way to dismiss genuine kindness? Yes.
It’s tempting to over-interpret celebrity closeness because it’s convenient. But real friends defend one another for countless small reasons — shared experiences, empathy, or a simple belief that people deserve kindness. Sometimes it’s messy, sometimes it’s contradictory. Chrissy has had public missteps before; everyone does. Defending someone else doesn’t erase that, nor does it necessarily prove a calculated PR play. It might be nothing more than what it appears: a person appreciating another person.
The internet’s reflex: turning a compliment into ammunition
Of course, the reaction on social media was brutal and immediate. People on X and Reddit didn’t hold back. I read comments saying both women should leave the country, others accusing them of shared delusion, and some digging for timelines — who was friends with whom, when, and why. People look for patterns, I get that. They want narratives that make sense: betrayal, redemption, opportunism. Those narratives can be satisfying. They’re tidy. But life — and friendships — rarely map neatly onto those storylines.
There’s a performative cruelty to that reflex. When a celebrity speaks kindly about another, it becomes a duel: supporters vs. haters, with every nuance flattened into a meme-able soundbite. The interesting part — and this is small but worth noting — is how quick everyone is to weaponize small human acts. A compliment becomes a “two-for-one shady deal.” That’s dramatic. Maybe click-worthy, sure, but dramatic.
People forget that relationships aren’t public relations
This whole exchange reminds me how often we forget the private, ordinary parts of people’s lives. Friendships aren’t always photo-ops; they’re late-night texts, shared history, listening to someone talk about something silly or painful. Chrissy saying Meghan is kind and strong could be the kind of thing someone says to buoy a friend. It could be performative, too. Or both — because people are complicated. Hard to admit that sometimes, but true.
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I find myself leaning toward believing small kindnesses at face value more than not, mostly because what’s the point of assuming everyone’s calculus is strategic? That’s a bleak default view. Still, the skepticism is understandable. Meghan’s been in the spotlight and has made decisions that polarize audiences; Chrissy has been publicly criticized for her own moments. So yes, viewers connect dots and speculate. It’s human to do that. It’s also human to be wrong sometimes, or to miss nuance.
What this says about us
Watching the fallout reveals something about public discourse: we love stories that confirm our existing opinions. A friend praising another? Great, if it validates your view. If not, it’s fodder for ridicule. The speed and cruelty of the reaction also point to a larger problem — where online commentary replaces deeper engagement. Quick takes dominate, and complexity gets lost.
I don’t have a high-stakes verdict here. I also don’t think a short interview reshapes anyone’s legacy. People can both appreciate Meghan and question aspects of her public life. People can support her and still critique her choices. Similarly, Chrissy can be a flawed person who is nonetheless capable of genuine friendship.
To wrap this up: the immediate, loud online backlash was predictable and, frankly, exhausting. But Chrissy’s comments read as a friend’s honest appreciation. Whether you accept that or not probably depends on what you’re used to believing about public figures. I’m inclined to give small acts of kindness the benefit of the doubt, at least until I see a clear reason not to. That feels fair — and, maybe, a little kinder than the alternative.
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