The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who passed away at the age of 101 on Tuesday.
Tyler Perry, the media mogul and godfather of Meghan Markle‘s daughter Lilibet, has publicly criticized the Duchess of Sussex for her failure to honor Lear.
Perry accused Markle of being unappreciative and disrespectful towards Lear, citing an incident from 2019 when Lear rejected her audition for a role in his reboot of All in the Family and the Jeffersons.
Sources close to Perry revealed that he was deeply saddened by Lear’s death, considering him a mentor and a friend.
Perry had previously collaborated with Lear on a live remake of his classic sitcoms, which aired on ABC in May 2019.
The remake featured a star-studded cast including Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Kerry Washington, and Will Ferrell.
Perry disclosed that Markle, then a senior member of the British royal family, had secretly auditioned for a role in the remake in hopes of reigniting her acting career.
Markle submitted an audition tape for the role of Gloria Stivic, Archie Bunker’s daughter-in-law in All in the Family.
However, Lear was unimpressed with her performance and ultimately cast Ellie Kemper instead.
Perry recounted that Markle was outraged by the rejection and accused Lear of bias, sexism, and racism.
She alleged that Lear had cast her husband, Prince Harry, as Lionel Jefferson in The Jeffersons remake, a claim Perry refuted, clarifying that it was Giovanna Deppo who portrayed the character.
Despite Perry’s attempts to reason with Markle, she harbored resentment towards Lear even after relocating to California with Harry in 2020.
Perry extended his support to the couple by offering them his Beverly Hills mansion and security team following their loss of royal protection and funding.
He emphasized that his gesture stemmed from friendship and goodwill, hoping that Markle would reconsider her stance.
In the wake of Lear’s passing, tributes poured in from various industry figures.
George Clooney expressed his sorrow, stating, “It’s hard to reconcile that at 101 years old, Norman Lear is gone too soon.”
Clooney hailed Lear as a champion of reason, lamenting the loss of a dear friend.
Jane Fonda reflected on Lear’s profound impact on American comedy, describing his passing as a sad day.
Tyler Perry shared a personal anecdote about Lear, highlighting the showrunner as one of his heroes.
The legacy of Norman Lear continues to resonate across the entertainment landscape, with actors, producers, and industry leaders paying homage to his contributions.
Lear’s influence on television and his commitment to social justice and diversity remain enduring aspects of his remarkable career.
As the world remembers and celebrates his life, the mark left by Norman Lear on the industry will forever be cherished and honored.
