David Foster is speaking out after a red carpet video at a charity event went viral and sparked speculation from some that he had snubbed Meghan Markle.
On Aug. 7, the legendary music producer hosted the David Foster and Friends foundation event with Markle and Prince Harry in attendance.
The video on social media showed Foster walking past Markle as she appeared to greet him and Prince Harry before returning a moment later with his wife, Katharine McPhee, and posing for a photo with the royal couple.
“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,” Foster said in a statement to People.
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“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.
“It’s sad that certain media chose to deceive a red carpet encounter for clickbait. They turned simple ‘positioning’ to get the best photo into a hurtful lie.”
A representative for Foster and Markle did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Foster and Markle have developed a warm friendship over the years, largely through Foster’s wife. McPhee and Markle knew each other when they were younger and participated in musical theater together. Their connection was renewed years later, and Foster and McPhee became close with Markle and Prince Harry.
Foster also played a supportive role during an important transition in Markle and Harry’s lives. In late 2019, he helped arrange a private home for the couple on Vancouver Island, giving them a quiet place to stay as they prepared to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020.
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At the time, Foster told the Daily Mail he was happy the couple could “go under the radar for so long” while staying at his home.
“I felt honored 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. I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off,” he previously told the outlet.