Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney is FIRED from her Canadian TV gig for 'threatening' remarks after she was accused of 'white privilege' during race row with black influencer
Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has had her reality TV show cancelled and been fired as a bridal marketing specialist after 'threatening' a black social media influencer in a row over white privilege.
Mulroney admitted last night that 'I was wrong' after clashing with lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter in the wake of the George Floyd protests.
Exeter accused Mulroney of 'sending a threat' to her in an example of 'textbook white privilege' after she 'took offense' at being asked to speak up about racism.
Exeter said she was upset that Mulroney 'never' wanted to use her platform to support Black Lives Matter - when she is 'very vocal' about other causes and her friend Meghan is 'arguably one of the most famous black women in the world'.
Mulroney allegedly retorted by saying: 'I have also spoken to companies and people about the way you have treated me unfairly. You think your voice matters. Well, it only matters if you express it with kindness and without shaming people who are simply trying to learn. Good luck.'
Exeter took this as a threat to damage her career and said the message had left her 'paralyzed with fear'.
Last night CTV announced that Mulroney's reality show I Do, Redo had been removed from all its channels 'effective immediately'.
'Recent conduct by one of our shows' hosts, Jessica Mulroney, conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality,' a statement said.
Mulroney last night apologized to Exeter - a 'former acquaintance' - in a post to her 400,000 Instagram followers. She said: 'I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood. We had a disagreement and it got out of hand. For that I am sorry'.
Meghan Markle 's best friend Jessica Mulroney has had her Netflix reality series cancelled and has been fired from her job as a bridal marketing specialist, following 'racist' remarks she made in a 'white privilege' row with a black social media influencer
Mulroney said last night: 'The events that have transpired over the last few days have made it clear that I have work to do.
'I realize more than ever how being a white, privileged woman has put me far ahead of so many, and in particular those in the Black community. And while I can't change the past, I can do my part to do better in the future.
'I respect the decision of CTV and have decided to step away from my professional engagements at this time. I'm going to take this time to reflect, learn and focus on my family.
'I also want to take a moment to clarify that I have no intention of pursuing any legal action. I was wrong, and for that I am truly sorry.
'I remain more committed than ever to support anti-racism efforts and will do everything in my power to right this wrong.'
Mulroney's friend and fellow TV presenter Tracy Moore, who is black, said Jessica had 'used her extreme privilege to potentially bury a Black sister'.
'I am a friend. I am also a Black woman. The emotional labour often falls on our backs to speak up, push through and fight hard,' Moore said.
'Let’s unlearn lashing out at Black women as a legitimate response to feeling called out.'
The cancellation of Mulroney's show was confirmed in a tweet by CTV on Thursday evening, who said the recent actions of the I Do, Redo host had conflicted with their 'commitment to diversity and equality'.
'Bell Media and CTV encourages our entire team including on-air talent to practice respect, inclusivity and allyship as we pledge to work better and more openly to listen to and amplify black voices, and not minimize them,' the statement began.
'Because recent conduct by one of our shows hosts, Jessica Mulroney, conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality, CTV has removed ‘I DO REDO’ from all Bell Media channels and platforms effective immediately.'
Hours later, Canadian department store Hudson's Bay announced on Instagram that 'in light of recent events' they too would be distancing themselves from Mulroney, firing her as their fashion and bridal specialist.
'Over the past week Hudson's Bay has committed to doing better,' the statement read. 'As we move forward, our leadership associates and ambassadors must reflect our brand inclusivity, equality and respect for all. We will not tolerate anything less.'
Toronto-based influencer Exeter had posted the emotional video on Wednesday, who claimed Mulroney had threatened her during an argument about 'speaking up' against racism that had left her 'paralyzed in fear'.
Exeter said Mulroney had 'taken offence to a very generic call to action' posted online, causing the two women to argue about the topics of white privilege and racism.
The influencer claims the exchange resulted in Mulroney saying: 'I have also spoken to companies and people about the way you have treated me unfairly. You think your voice matters. Well it only matters if you express it with kindness and without shaming people who are simply trying to learn. Good luck.'
Exeter said the exchanges left her feeling 'paralyzed in fear,' wondering what Mulroney was saying to her brand partners or potential brands she might want to work with.
Jessica shared a behind-the-scene photo of herself wearing a stylish off-the-shoulder navy dress at the wrap party for I Do, Redo
Canada's longest running women's daytime TV show, Cityline, for which Mulroney regularly featured on as a panelist (above), also severed ties with her Thursday, confirming to DailyMail.com she would no longer be appearing on the program as a guest expert.
Toronto-based Influencer Sasha Exeter said she was left 'paralysed with fear' and 'stayed up days and nights' worrying about what Jessica (right) 'could be saying to my existing brand partners, potential work, potential livelihood'
CTV has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment as to whether the show may continue without Mulroney's involvement (pictured: Mulroney's instagram post, remarking that she loves her crew)
Sasha shared the lengthy video online in which she detailed her disagreement with Jessica, accusing the stylist of 'threatening her livelihood'
Sharing the video with her 58,000 followers, she explained: 'Very early on in this, I was very vocal about wanting my peers with an online presence to speak up, stand up and use their voice for good to help combat what's going on with this race war.'
She said she had made an effort 'not to call out anyone directly', but said Mulroney, who 'used to be an acquaintance', took issue with Exeter's 'very generic call to action' on social media.
Exeter said Mulroney went on to 'lash out' at her and said the 'very problematic antics' escalated until the stylist sent over what Exeter felt was 'a threat in writing.'
Exeter said: 'I'm by no means calling Jess a racist, but she is very well aware of her wealth, her perceived power and privilege because of the colour of her skin.
'And that my friends, gave her the momentary confidence to come for my livelihood in writing. Textbook white privilege really.'
The influencer accused Mulroney of 'never wanting to stand up and use her voice in the first place' and 'not understanding why she needed to'.
Exeter suggested that Mulroney felt 'sharing that this really wasn't a problem that she wanted to share on her social channels', used 'excuses that she would be bullied by the public and media', and 'claimed her show was more important to promote.'
Revealing the 'threatening' message, Exeter said: 'I'm still shaking my head at this attempt and the audacity she had.
'Not only is Mulroney very well aware of her white privilege but just like her fellow Canadian Amy Cooper, she spewed out that threat so effortlessly,' she said. Cooper was the woman who called police on a black birdwatcher in Central Park in a video which was widely shared last month.
Exeter continued: 'But I think what makes this situation really horrendous is the threat or claim she was going ahead to speak to brands or companies that I potentially haven't worked with or could possibly work with. That is a threat. That's a threat to my livelihood.'
'For her to threaten me? A single mother, a single black mother, during a racial pandemic? Blows my mind, it is absolutely unbelievable.'
Exeter continued to say that she felt Mulroney 'realised she had screwed up big time' and 'that resulted in a lot of back pedalling'.
Meanwhile the influencer said: 'Amidst all this craziness, I remained paralysed with fear.
'I stayed up days and nights wondering what could she be saying to my existing brand partners, potential work, potential livelihood. What could this mean for my career?
'I spoke to my parents, who were legitimately stressed and worried about how this would affect me if I stood up for myself.'
Exeter said that the 'only take away is this sh** needs to stop right now....You cannot be posting that you stand in solidarity, while attempting to silence somebody via text.'
In a comment on the post, Jessica said she was 'unequivocally sorry' for what had happened and wrote that she had 'lived a very public experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre'
Mulroney posted another apology to Exeter Thursday, this time on her own Instagram page, insisting the former athlete had 'rightfully called me out for not doing enough when it came to engaging in the important and difficult conversation around race and injustice in our society
Details of the argument have emerged just a week after Jessica announced she would be taking a break from social media
In a comment posted on the video clip, Mulroney said she was 'unequivocally sorry', adding that being Meghan's 'closest friend' has 'deeply educated' her about race.
'As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre. It was deeply educational,' Mulroney responded.
She posted another apology to Exeter Thursday, this time on her own Instagram page, insisting the former athlete had 'rightfully called me out for not doing enough when it came to engaging in the important and difficult conversation around race and injustice in our society.
'I took it personally and that was wrong. I know I need to do better,' she continued. 'I want to say from my heart that every more of my apologies to Sasha over the course of the last two weeks privately, and again both publicly and privately today is true.
'I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood ... for that I am sorry,' she said.
But hours later, Exeter revealed Mulroney had messaged her privately online.
Sharing a video on her Instagram stories, she commented: 'Here is what happens when you call out somebody with privilege. They publicly make an apology or statement and privately, behind closed doors, they send you a threat of filing a lawsuit against you.
'I'm not sure what is going on, because I thought I was very clear yesterday in my video yesterday that I'm not going to be silenced and I'm not going to shut up.
'I am going to move forward and do what I need to do, to protect myself at this point. But I'm feeling confident in doing so, knowing I have the truth. The unequivocal truth.
'I don't know what's worth here, her using her perceived power to try to threaten my livelihood or using her resources to try to shut me up, but whatever the case is, it needs to stop.'
She went on to share a snap of her Instagram messages, one of which appeared to be from Mulroney and read: 'Liable suit [apparently meaning libel]. Good luck.'
The influencer went on to claim she had been sent a private message from Jessica suggesting she would file a lawsuit against her
Hours after posting her initial video about her argument with Jessica, Sasha claimed to have been sent further messages 'threatening a law suit to try and shut you up'
Last week Mulroney said she was taking a break from social media, after revealing that 'someone dear to her told her to stand up to racism'.
Mulroney, who lives in Toronto with husband Ben Mulroney, 44, twins John and Brian, 9, and 7-year-old Ivy, took to Instagram to reveal she was 'taking a week off to educate herself'.
The Canadian stylist has previously slammed 'racist bullies' when she appeared to reference the trolling Meghan was suffering.
Mulroney's reality show, I Do, Redo, premiered on CTV at the end of March and was also released internationally on Netflix.
The series followed Jessica as she helped couples move on from their disastrous weddings by giving them the nuptials they've 'always dreamed of.'
CTV told DailyMail.com that no decision has been made as to whether show will continue without Mulroney. The series had recently completed its first series on the network.
Canada's longest running women's daytime TV show, Cityline, for which Mulroney regularly featured on as a panelist, also severed ties with her Thursday, confirming to DailyMail.com she would no longer be appearing on the program as a guest expert.
Mulroney also presents a fashion segment for ABC's Good Morning America. The network has not yet confirmed if it will be taking any disciplinary action against the 40-year-old.
The Canadian stylist has previously slammed 'racist bullies' when she appeared to reference the trolling Meghan (seen in 2016)
Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney is FIRED from her Canadian TV gig for 'threatening' remarks after she was accused of 'white privilege' during race row with black influencer
![Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney is FIRED from her Canadian TV gig for 'threatening' remarks after she was accused of 'white privilege' during race row with black influencer]()
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