Over the past few days, reports have been coming in stating that Meghan Markle found the “white privilege” scandal that her alleged best friend Jessica Mulroney was embroiled in to be “painful.” Now, sources are coming forward to say that the pair’s friendship had actually been “on the rocks” for quite some time.

Page Six reported that Meghan, 38, became friends with Mulroney long before her marriage to Prince Harry, back when she was filming the television show “Suits” in Toronto, Canada. Mulroney, 40, introduced Meghan to an exclusive Toronto social scene, and they eventually became so close that her three young children later had starring roles in Meghan’s wedding to Harry.

However, one source said that things have gone downhill since then, as Meghan has long felt that Mulroney has been “benefiting” from her role as a royal’s best friend. The insider added that the white privilege “row has really given Meghan the excuse she was waiting for to cut Jess off for good.”

Since her family took part in the royal wedding, Mulroney has scored TV gigs on “Good Morning America” and her own reality show, “I Do, Redo.” However, she was fired from each of these shows this past week, when she was caught sending threatening messages to black lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter. Sources have since said that Mulroney broke down in a “flood of tears” upon learning that her jobs were gone.

The insider went on to say that while Mulroney would initially pick out Meghan’s clothes for her, the royal has since created relationships with top design houses such as Givenchy and Stella McCartney, meaning she doesn’t need her friend’s help anymore.

“I don’t know what the tipping point was, but Jess has been on the outs for some time,” explained another source. “Their friendship is definitely not what it was. And really, how can you have such a close friendship when one person is basically making a career out of the friendship?”

Meghan is said to have been “mortified” that Mulroney dragged her into this scandal by referencing her in her apology to Exeter, when she said, “I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and center.”

“Meghan is absolutely mortified that she’s been dragged into this complete mess. She said Jessica is in no way a racist, but the way she handled the situation (with the fashion influencer) was tone-deaf and heartbreaking,” a close friend of Meghan’s told Daily Mail at the time.

“Meghan said friends reflect friends and because of what’s at stake she can no longer be associated with Jessica, at least not in public,” the source added. “She has to do what she has to do in order to preserve her dignity and her own reputation.”

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

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