Composer David Foster, 76, said Wednesday that he had already greeted Meghan Markle, 45, and Prince Harry, 41, at the entrance to his foundation's 40th anniversary gala before a widely shared video appeared to show him walking past Markle on the red carpet without acknowledgment, according to People magazine.
David Foster says he had already greeted Meghan Markle before viral red-carpet footage
Composer David Foster, 76, said Wednesday that he had already greeted Meghan Markle, 45, and Prince Harry, 41, at the entrance to his foundation's 40th anniversary gala before a widely shared video appeared to show him walking past Markle on the red carpet without acknowledgment, according to People magazine.
In the footage that circulated on social media, Foster smiled at Harry as the retired royal patted his back, then stepped past Markle. When Foster rejoined the couple alongside his wife, Katharine McPhee, 42, he leaned back to speak with Harry over the two women. Markle and McPhee appeared to laugh at their husbands' exchange.
Foster said in his statement that Harry and Markle both 'graciously and selflessly gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone' at the weekend event, and described the couple as 'dear friends.' He attributed the moment to 'simple positioning' and called the characterization of a snub a 'hurtful lie.'
A source told Page Six on Wednesday that the greeting between Markle, Harry, and Foster had taken place before the red-carpet clip was filmed, corroborating Foster's account.
Foster and McPhee have maintained a friendship with Harry and Markle for several years. McPhee described Foster and Harry's relationship as a 'father and son' dynamic in a 2020 interview on 'Access Hollywood.' McPhee has also known Markle since they attended the same school, though at different times — McPhee said she was in middle school when Markle was in high school and that they appeared in some shows together.
- Reps for Harry and Markle had not responded to Page Six's requests for comment at the time of publication.
- The source does not state the specific date of the gala or the city in which it was held.
- The source does not identify the person or account that originally posted the viral footage.
- The source does not state whether Foster issued his clarification on his own initiative or in response to a media inquiry.
- The source does not provide independent verification of Foster's claim that the greeting occurred ten minutes before the red-carpet moment.
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