An awkward moment involving Meghan Markle and David Foster has sparked all kinds of theories about their relationship. At a gala for the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary, David appeared to walk straight past Meghan when she tried to greet him on the red carpet.
Some people, including David himself, insist that the awkward interaction doesn’t say anything about the quality of their relationship. But others think that David and Meghan’s relationship has been more strained lately, and their differing political beliefs might have something to do with it.
David has denied the allegations that he snubbed Meghan.
TENSIONS on the red carpet! Meghan Markle publicly snubbed by host David Foster. Watch as he refuses to greet her and ignores her reaching hand. Ouch pic.twitter.com/Um02lbAYNG
— Paula Matanovich © (@paulamatanovich) August 8, 2026
The clip might make it look like he totally ignored and avoided her, but he told People that it doesn’t tell the full story. In reality, Prince Harry and Meghan had already interacted with David prior to that viral moment.
“As the host of the David Foster and Friends foundation event, I had already greeted our friends, the Duke and Duchess, at the entrance 10 minutes before the red carpet encounter,” he told the publication.
He referred to Meghan as one of his “dear friends,” and called the rumors that came from that moment “sad.”
“It’s sad that certain media chose to deceive a red carpet encounter for clickbait,” he added.
Others suspect that the relationship has gotten more awkward.
Meghan Markle suffers awkward exchange with David Foster in viral video https://t.co/JxzwFtzdQA 🎥: The Zone at 91-3 pic.twitter.com/PkO7oyydwR
— New York Post (@nypost) August 13, 2026
Meghan went to high school with David’s wife, Katharine McPhee, so they’ve known each other for years. Now, though, Katharine and Meghan don’t seem to have as strong a bond as their husbands do. In 2020, she told Access Hollywood that “mostly, Meghan and I knew each other from childhood,” but now, “Harry and my husband are friends.”
It’s not hard to imagine why Meghan might not be super close with the couple. As commentator Rob Shuter pointed out, David’s rumored conservative politics might’ve caused some tension. When Spencer Pratt was running for mayor of Los Angeles, David and Katharine hosted a fundraiser for him.
According to Rob’s report, it sounds like Meghan still maintains a cordial relationship with the couple, but they’re not exactly best friends.
Harry allegedly seems more willing to overlook their differences.
One insider told Rob that Meghan is “much more politically engaged” than her husband is, and it’s possible that has impacted her relationship with David and Katharine.
“Harry doesn’t seem particularly interested in politics,” the source claimed. “Meghan is much more politically engaged, while David has moved in a very different direction.”
The insider also clarified that they’re definitely “not enemies” or anything, but “the warmth isn’t what it used to be.”
Another source mentioned that Meghan and David used to be “close,” which is why the recent awkward moment has gotten a lot of attention online. While David acted like there’s no tension between them, the insider suggested that their relationship has shifted in recent years. “There is definitely an icy feeling there now, and politics is part of it,” the source claimed.
Perhaps it really was just a brief, awkward exchange taken out of context, but in today’s political climate, it’s not hard to understand why some people suspect there could be more to it than that.
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