Meghan Markle’s billionaire friend Tyler Perry gives frosty answer when asked about lending Duchess of Sussex his LA home

Tyler Perry gave a frosty answer when asked about lending his LA mansion to Meghan Markle in an interview with the Sunday Times.

Described by the paper as one of the ‘most powerful people in the film and television industry – and one of the richest’, the 55-year-old famously lent his $18m California home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they quit the royal family in 2020.

At the time, the two had never met, however, they now appear to be very close, with Tyler reportedly the godfather to the couple’s daughter Lilibet.

Speaking during Netflix’s 2022 documentary Harry & Meghan (in which Tyler appeared) the duchess, 43, described how Tyler had offered the couple the use of his private jet, security team, and Los Angeles home.

According to Meghan, while speaking to the media mogul, she was ‘just crying and crying’, adding that sometimes it’s easier to ‘open up to someone who knows nothing at all’.

During Tyler’s interview with the Times, after being asked how he helped prepare Harry and Meghan move to America, the ‘conversational intimacy evaporat[ed]’.

He noted that as Meghan is from California, there was no need to prepare them for anything.

Tyler then said: ‘But I will say this: what I learnt about mentioning them — because there’s this insatiable appetite to know all about them — is that any question that is asked becomes the headline of anything I say.’

When asked why the appetite for news about the couple is so insatiable, Tyler said he doesn’t pay attention to news about the couple. 

The warm friendship between Tyler and Meghan was on full show last week as the former royal attended The Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills, where the 55-year-old visionary director, actor and philanthropist was honoured with a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of his career. He was also the recipient of the Paley Honors Award at the soirée.

Meghan donned a strapless black Oscar de la Renta gown with a front slit and strappy Celine heels at the event, held at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Sparkling around her neck was a diamond Logan Hollowell necklace, which she paired with rings by Lorraine Schwartz and Engender, according to Marie Claire. 

Meghan and husband Prince Harry, 40 — who recently said the pair have no plans to return to the United Kingdom — were part of the Tribute Host Committee Chairs for the event, though he was not present on the red carpet. 

Harry was in New York at the annual DealBook Summit, also attended by Jeff Bezos and Bill Clinton, where he revealed that he and wife Meghan Markle have no plans to return to the UK with Archie and Lilibet. 

He said said his focus was on ‘being the best husband and the best dad that I can be’ – and claimed that due to security concerns in Britain there are things his two children ‘undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK’. 

Meghan’s hair was styled in a relaxed updo, and delicate makeup accentuated her features. She further accessorised her look with a gold Cartier Love bracelet. 

In September, Meghan and Harry — who have reportedly taken a ‘twin track’ approach to public appearances, that will see them doing more things on their own rather than together — attended Perry’s star-studded birthday bash with Oprah. 

Perry — who previously said Meghan treated him ‘like a therapist’ after quitting the royal family — also famously let the pair stay in his Santa Barbara home when they first moved to America. 

The Six Triple Eight filmmaker looked dapper for the night, wearing a black tuxedo with a black button-up underneath.

While on the red carpet he and Meghan shared a tender hug and chatted together. 

He also posed with actress Tika Sumpter, 44, who thrilled in a silver gown.

Actress Kerry Washington, 47, was also present to celebrate Perry, and looked stunning in a vibrant blue gown.

Beyonce’s mom, Tina Knowles, 70, made the event as well, rocking a black blazer dress.

Meanwhile Yvette Nicole Brown, 53, looked chic in a black velvet suit and matching heels. 

‘Throughout my career, I have strived to bring people together and to give a voice to those often underrepresented in media,’ Perry said in a statement after it was revealed he would be receiving the award. 

‘Media has served as a vital platform for this mission, and I’m honoured to receive this award from The Paley Center for Media, an organisation that has dedicated itself to spotlighting the power and importance of media.’

Maureen J. Reidy, the President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media, shared: ‘Through his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Tyler Perry has solidified his place as one of media’s greatest and most impactful figures.’

‘With each new project, he continues to move our industry, and our culture, forward, and it is our great privilege to present Tyler with our highest honor, The Paley Honors Award.’

Other Tribute Host Committee Chairs at the event were Ariel Emanuel, Jon Feltheimer, Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Matt Johnson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Gayle King, Debra L. Lee, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas, Scott Mills, The Honorable Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos, and Kerry Washington. 

The Paley Center for Media called Perry ‘one of the most inspiring, versatile, prolific, and innovative creatives working in media today’ adding that ‘Over the course of his storied career, he has produced over 2,000 episodes of television, and directed, written, and produced 28 feature films.’ 

The Paley Center for Media is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to preserving television and radio history and exploring the cultural and social impact of media. 

Back in 2020, after Harry and Meghan announced that they were saying goodbye to their royal duties and relocating to California, the couple, along with their then-one-year-old son, Archie, spent a few months living in Tyler’s Beverly Hills mansion.

During an interview with The Cut in 2022, Meghan, spoke out about her bond with Tyler, explaining that he got in touch with her after she first wed Harry in 2018.

She added that he sent her a ‘note’ in which he said he ‘understood’ the intense pressure she was under, and encouraged her to reach out if she ever needed help.

She soon began to open up to him about her struggles and the two grew close, despite them never even meeting in person.

‘Sometimes, you can tell your life story to a stranger on a plane as opposed to some of the people that are closest to you,’ she told The Cut.

According to the outlet, Tyler offering his home to the pair ‘became, in many ways, the reason that Meghan and Harry started their new life in Southern California.’

Meanwhile Perry previously shared about his friendship with the royal couple: ‘They hid out at my house for a long time. It was so great.’

The Hollywood titan revealed that the duo had previously shared the same publicist whom he used to deliver a message of support.

‘I sent them a note… and just said, “If you ever need anything, I’m here,” and she called months later and just talked to me like I was a therapist and we just had a great conversation.’

It comes after Prince Harry revealed that he and Meghan have no plans to return to the United Kingdom with Archie and Lilibet.

The Duke of Sussex opened up about his desire to stay in the United States at the annual DealBook Summit live in New York on Wednesday.

It was there that the prince said security was a factor for his and Meghan’s decision to stay put for the time being – as well as their children’s future.

The Sussexes have called Montecito, California home since the summer of 2020 – after they fled the UK and the Royal Family.

The Times reported Prince Harry told the summit on Wednesday: ‘I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here.’

The Duke added that there are also activities he can do with young Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet that he ‘undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK’.

Harry said he was focused on ‘being the best husband and the best dad that I can be’, too. 

During last night’s summit, Harry spoke at length about children. He revealed he did not support the move to ban social media for children, stating that doing so ‘creates all sort of problems’.

Harry said a social media ban for kids didn’t make sense because taking it away could lead to family rows and playground bullying.

He did, however, state that social media companies should be subject to greater transparency and accountability.

Earlier today, it was revealed that Harry has secured the services of his neighbor Katy Perry to sing at the opening night of his Invictus Games, which will take place on February 8, 2025.

The Grammy nominated star will headline the opening of the event for disabled military veterans in Vancouver, Canada.

Katy is by far the biggest star to appear at the bi-annual event attended by Harry and his wife Meghan.

She and her partner actor, British actor Orlando Bloom, are close neighbors of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California.

The Invictus Games will be the first major event Harry and Meghan have attended together after reports emerged they were going their separate ways in engagements.

Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US in June that year.

Since Harry and Meghan resigned from the Royal Family, the couple have spoken about how the Firm could have done more to support Meghan during her time in the UK.

In their Netflix series, Meghan detailed her first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales – and how she was ‘surprised’ to learn the Royal Family’s formality continued behind closed doors.

She said: ‘Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot.

‘Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger I didn’t realize that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

‘I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being and then you close the door and think ‘OK we can relax now.’

‘But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.’

In Prince Harry’s biography Spare, the Duke claimed the Princess of Wales was ‘put on edge’ by Meghan’s arrival and how she would be ‘forced to compete’ with the actress.

In their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed she began experiencing suicidal thoughts while she was pregnant with Archie in 2019 and was not given the support she needed.