Tom Bower's book on Meghan Markle

[SmileyFaces12]

It's out next week, titled 'Revenge'. I've ordered it already!

Where has Serena actually said this as it isn't true?

If you’d read the extracts of the Tom Bowers book that this thread is discussing (!!) you’d know that this is what Serena Williams told Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Karshner when he contacted her after interviewing Meghan for her “Wild About Harry” VF cover story. Meghan had recommended Serena as one of her friends, but when he contacted her Serena denied this, as said she was just an acquaintance.

(Tom Bowers has clearly interviewed Sam Karshner as there is a lengthy account of the meetings leading up to the interview with several direct quotes from him. Meghan may not have known that in those days of high journalistic standards, the magazine fact-checked everything before publishing. This is why the article didn’t focus on Meghan’s “philanthropy” - they evidence they found of her activities to the date of the article was considered to be PR).

Serena of course might have realised that Meghan’s star was rising and there was much to be gained by fostering that acquaintanceship. The journalist is however clear that at that point in time, she denied a friendship.

What date was this?
Funny that she says the complete opposite in interview. Personally I would rather listen to what comes out of someone's mouth as opposed to a journalist's take on it.

I can see a VF article from 2017 with Serena talking about her friendship with Meghan. But can only see negativity and denial of a friendship in this book.

Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough

Unless, of course, they're the granddaughter in law of the Queen of the United Kingdom. I might make myself endure it for that. Didn't Gayle King get an invite to the small party too? And Amal Clooney. Hardly long term good friends.

I mean, I gave no idea what their relationships are and she can invite who she likes (it is her party after all) but i don't think you can draw the conclusion that an invite to the baby shower is conclusive evidence that someone is a close friend.

Both could be true- SW could have said that but could have become good friends with her after that.

Personally I would rather listen to what comes out of someone's mouth as opposed to a journalist's take on it.

But surely that depends whose mouth it comes out of? And what their previous record of honesty is.

Why do you care so much?

I'm talking about Serena Williams. Has she a problem with honesty? Not that I know of.

I just do. 🙂

Meghan’s Vanity Fair cover story came out in September 2017, so the interview probably happened two or three months before (If you’ve read Tina Brown’s Vanity Fair diaries, she talks about the lead times for cover stories).

You can believe whatever you like, Roussette. This is the direct account of the journalist who made the call to Serena, and what she told him, however - he is directly quoted throughout this section so there can be no suggestion it was speculation by the author.

Anyway, as I said, it was obvious to onlookers - myself included - that this interview and what she said about their relationship that it was obviously presaging an engagement announcement, so once the magazine came out Serena very well may have decided she’d take on that friendship label after all. And she immediately scored an invite to their wedding, so a good move, you’d say…

Is this another one where M&H have briefed the author and their friends with the stories but then distance themselves by saying that they had no input?

You can believe whatever you like, Roussette. This is the direct account of the journalist who made the call to Serena, and what she told him, however - he is directly quoted throughout this section so there can be no suggestion it was speculation by the author.

Yes I can. And I will.

As I say, I would rather listen to what comes out of Serena's mouth than a journalist. Obviously, if SW hadn't said anything about a friendship, there is no contrary evidence, but there is more than one interview with her talking about her friendship with MM.

The VF article I refer to was September 6, 2017.

When she says this...
“Her personality just shines,” Serena said about Markle, who asked her advice on how to handle some of the more extreme results of fame, such as paparazzi showing up at her house and chasing her. “I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide.’ ”

Personally I would rather listen to what comes out of someone's mouth as opposed to a journalist's take on it.

Helpfully for you, a lot of the extracts in Tom Bower’s book are directly sourced from people who were recounting their own experiences and are happy to be named and on the record. So you won’t have any conflict in listening to them. 😀

Hatred is a terrible thing.

I don't know anything about her or Bowker. I was just saying that for me I'd never dismiss something just because a journalist said it. As I remember loads of us dismissed what people were reporting about what was going on with Diana as sensationalist tripe. Then she published her book and it turned out it was all true. So journalists don't necessarily get it wrong. And I think there's a difference between print journalists and Internet rumour mongers because print journalists are easier to sue.
Bowker won't know what the relationship was between Williams and Markle. But he has reported what another journalist said. It doesn't add much so I can't see why the Vanity Fair journalist would lie.
Maybe Markle exaggerated their friendship so she'd look better? Maybe the friendship meant more to her than it did to Williams? Maybe Williams was protecting their friendship so saying they were just acquaintances meant she didn't have to give personal info?

“Her personality just shines,” Serena said about Markle, who asked her advice on how to handle some of the more extreme results of fame, such as paparazzi showing up at her house and chasing her. “I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide.’ ”

Right, so that’s from the very Vanity Fair article about Meghan we’re discussing!

Again, if you had actually read the extract of the book, you would see that the “‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide” is the quote she gave to Sam Karshner when she denied being Meghan’s friend. Karshner used it in his story.

Hatred is a terrible thing.

Is it? I wouldn’t know.😀

Haven't you ever heard of negative spin?

I have.

I agree. We don't know, do we?

It’s strange that Serena was one of the names given to the vanity fair journalist by Meghan Markle herself as a friend who could speak about her.

In that context it seems strange that Serena said that ‘she was an acquaintance rather than a friend’. This may be a joke but it’s the joke of ‘best long term friends eg Ben Affleck/Matt Damon than a new ‘friendship’

Unfortunately Friendships seem more transactional

@Roussette We don't, no. But Bowker is quoting people and really what does the Vanity Fair journalist gain from saying that? After all, it's he who wrote the positive things that Williams said about Markle. So there doesn't appear to be any animus towards either of the women.

But Bowker is quoting people and really what does the Vanity Fair journalist gain from saying that?

I have no idea given SW has said the opposite in interview more than once. It could be crossed wires, a misunderstanding, a misquote... no idea.

Is this the same Kashner who is being interviewed on Meghan here saying >> “She had a genuine warmth. Unstressed elegance about her. Which you pick up on right away and that she's just an interesting and welcoming person. She was incredibly welcoming . . “ - Vanity Fair Journalist, Sam Kashner

twitter.com/TvKhaleesi/status/1083742796245278720

Here's Serena saying in interview,
"She's the best person I know, she's the nicest, sweetest friend, Meghan is. She's just the greatest person."

twitter.com/Dharghan_/status/1548403765132136451

Yes, to both of you, bound to be. Funnily enough, you often find professionals being professional in a professional situation - particularly those who share PR agencies like Meghan and Serena apparently do, or a writer who wrote a puff piece about someone going up in the world in a big way when he wrote it. That of course is seldom the whole story.

That of course is seldom the whole story

That doesn't cover Serena in her own words being interviewed talking about her friendship does it...