David Foster has firmly shut down claims that he snubbed the Duchess of Sussex in footage which recently went viral.
The award-winning music producer, 76, recently hosted Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, at the star-studded 40th anniversary of his David Foster Foundation, but was later accused of ignoring the duchess as she attempted to greet him on the red carpet.
In the clip, widely circulated online after the event, Foster appears to walk straight past Meghan despite her apparent attempt to greet him.
Moments later, the star and his wife, Katharine McPhee, returned to join the Sussexes for the photo op, with all four seen smiling and laughing.
Foster released a statement to People on Wednesday to set the record straight on the “snub” allegation, describing Harry and Meghan as “dear friends”.
“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.
“They both, graciously and selflessly, gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone. Harry and Meghan are dear friends of mine. Anyone watching can see there was no awkward moment and certainly no snub.”
Foster then described the allegation as a “hurtful lie”.
His association with the Sussexes reportedly first began through his wife, who went to the same Los Angeles high school and later reconnected as adults.
McPhee told Access Hollywood in 2020 that after being introduced through her and Meghan, Foster had formed a close bond with Harry.
“My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry,” she said.
“They’re like, they’re so cute. They’re like father and son … We just stay in touch with them. But mostly, Meghan and I knew each other from childhood, but really Harry and my husband are friends. It’s really nice.”
In fact, it was Foster who facilitated the mansion on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, where Harry and Meghan took their then-baby son, Archie, for a break from royal duties in 2019 as they pondered their futures ahead of the Megxit decision.
The producer later told the Daily Mail he was happy to have helped them to “go under the radar for so long” at the property, which was owned by one of his friends.
“I felt honoured that I was able to help Meghan there because I’m a Canadian, and we’re a Commonwealth country; we’re the Crown’s. It’s important to us, so I grew up with that kind of sentiment,” Foster told the Mail.
“I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off.”