Serena Williams is sending support to her friend Meghan Markle in the wake of her and Prince Harry‘s primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey.

On Instagram, Williams called Markle “selfless” and someone who “leads by example — with empathy and compassion.” She also noted that her good friend “teaches [her] every day what it means to be truly noble” and “her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced.”

In the two-hour interview with Winfrey, Markle and Prince Harry shared that an unnamed member of the royal family raised concern over “how dark” their unborn son Archie would be. Meghan also revealed that she reached out for help regarding her mental health after reaching a breaking point.

Williams wrote that she understands firsthand “the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us.”

“We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimization are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal,” she continued. “I want Meghan’s daughter, my daughter and your daughter to live in a society that is driven by respect.”

Meghan and Williams have been friends since meeting at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami. The tennis champ and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, attended Meghan’s and Harry’s wedding in May 2018.

Over the years, the two have supported each other. Williams helped to organize Meghan’s star-studded baby shower for Archie in NYC and Meghan supported Williams at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2019.

“She couldn’t be a better friend to me,” Williams said of Meghan in a press conference at the time. “Low moments, high moments, she’s always there and that’s all I want to be to her.”

By Carson Blackwelder, Katie Kindelan & Candice Williams
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