The usually calm and composed Meg Ryan shocked the audience at the Sarajevo Film Festival recently when she launched into a savage verbal attack against Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The incident took place during Ryan's acceptance speech for the festival's honorary Heart of Sarajevo award.
The 62-year-old actress, known for her iconic romantic comedy roles in the '90s, was being honored for her contributions to cinema. However, instead of using her platform to graciously accept the award, Ryan took the opportunity to deliver a blistering diatribe against Meghan Markle.
"I'm truly honored to receive this award tonight," Ryan began, "but I have to take a moment to address something that's been weighing heavily on my mind—the utter disgrace that is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex."
The audience immediately fell silent, taken aback by Ryan's sudden change in tone. She continued, her voice dripping with contempt: "Meghan Markle is a disgrace to Hollywood and to the British royal family. She is nothing more than a vapid, attention-seeking narcissist who has made a mockery of both the entertainment industry and the monarchy."
Ryan went on to criticize Meghan's acting career, calling her performances wooden and devoid of any real talent. She also attacked Meghan's transition into the Royal Family, accusing her of using her marriage to Prince Harry as a means to further her own fame and agenda.
"Meghan Markle is the laughing stock of Hollywood," Ryan declared. "No one takes her seriously as an actress, and her attempts to position herself as some kind of global humanitarian and fashion icon are utterly laughable."
The usually poised and gracious Ryan showed no signs of holding back, her disdain for Meghan Markle becoming increasingly palpable with every word.
"She's a fame-hungry, social-climbing wannabe who has managed to dupe the entire world into believing she's this great, inspirational woman," Ryan spat. "But the truth is, she's nothing more than a two-bit actress who married into royalty in a desperate attempt to achieve the kind of fame and adulation that has eluded her for her entire career."
The audience sat in stunned silence, unsure of how to react to Ryan's scathing tirade. Some attendees even appeared visibly uncomfortable, shifting in their seats as the actress continued her onslaught.
"Meghan Markle is a disgrace, and I will not remain silent while she continues to make a mockery of the entertainment industry and the British royal family," Ryan declared. "She is a laughing stock, a punchline, and she deserves to be treated as such."
The speech quickly went viral, with social media users around the world weighing in on Ryan's controversial comments. Some praised the actress for speaking the truth and calling out Meghan's behavior, while others condemned her for the vicious and personal nature of the attack.
Representatives for Meghan Markle declined to comment on the incident, but sources close to the Duchess of Sussex suggested that she was deeply hurt and saddened by Ryan's words.
"Megan is no stranger to criticism, but this felt particularly vicious and personal," the source said. "She's been trying to rise above the negativity and focus on her humanitarian work, but attacks like this from a fellow actress really sting."
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the treatment of public figures, particularly women in the entertainment industry and beyond. Many have criticized the toxic culture that often leads to such personal and vicious attacks, while others have defended Ryan's right to express her opinion.
Regardless of one's stance on the matter, it's clear that Meg Ryan's speech has left a lasting impact, and the tension between the two actresses is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
As for Meg Ryan, the actress has stood by her comments, even doubling down on her criticism of Meghan Markle in a subsequent interview.
"I said what I said, and I meant every word of it," Ryan declared. "Meghan Markle is a disgrace, and I won't apologize for calling her out on her BS. She's a shameless self-promoter who has managed to con the entire world into believing she's this great, inspirational woman when in reality, she's nothing more than a vapid, attention-seeking narcissist."
Ryan went on to criticize Meghan's humanitarian work, accusing her of using it as a PR stunt to further her own agenda.
"Meghan Markle is not interested in actually helping people," Ryan said. "She's interested in the attention and accolades that come with it. She's a fraud, and I'm not afraid to say it."
The actress also addressed the backlash she's received since her speech, dismissing it as the desperate attempts of Meghan's defenders to silence the truth.
"I'm not going to back down just because people are upset that I called out their precious Meghan Markle," Ryan said. "The truth hurts, and sometimes the truth needs to be spoken, even if it's not popular."
As the fallout from Ryan's speech continues, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately play out. But one thing is clear: Meg Ryan has made it abundantly clear that she has no love lost for Meghan Markle, and she's not afraid to let the world know it.
