Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have befriended Scientologist and film star John Travolta amid claims of a bitter feud with the Beckhams, it was reported last night, as experts claimed celebrities are keen to distance themselves from the ‘melodramatic’ Sussexes.
The Duke and Duchess reportedly spent time with the Grease and Pulp Fiction star at a bash at The Beverley Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, where they socialized in the exclusive Polo Lounge.
That’s what an insider told me the sun that while there is no suggestion that Harry and Meghan are interested in Scientology, the three “got along extremely well” at the event for the Archewell foundation.
It’s not the first time Travolta has come face to face with royalty, having danced with Harry’s mother Princess Diana at the White House in 1985.
It follows that the Sussexes have been feuding with David and Victoria Beckham, who attended their glamorous wedding in 2018, over fears the celebrity couple allegedly leaked stories about them.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have befriended Scientologist and movie star John Travolta
John Travolta, who starred in Grease and Pulp Fiction, is a well-known Scientologist
Harry and Meghan could be looking to expand their intimate circle in Hollywood as they move even further from their British past.
They are known to be good friends with Oprah Winfrey and Victoria Jackson, as well as Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi.
The Duchess even reportedly celebrated her birthday on Friday to see Barbie with Portia and a few other friends. But Posh was not among these friends, as their friendship was reported to have waned, with the Sussexes not being invited to Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding in April 2022, despite inviting the footballing couple to their own wedding in 2018.
There was reportedly suspicion that the Beckhams may have leaked stories about the Sussexes, an accusation The Mail on Sunday was told left David ‘absolutely bloody furious’.
A source close to the Beckhams said: “David and Victoria attended Meghan and Harry’s wedding and were very helpful when Meghan arrived in the UK.”
The couples bonded because Izzy May, David Beckham’s director of communications, was friends with Markus Anderson, principal member of the private social club Soho House, who helped arrange Meghan’s secret dates with Harry.
But the allegations, which The Mail on Sunday was told came in a tense phone call, broke the Beckham friendship. The source added, “Making things right now is so unlikely.”
Reports appeared in the Sun that Harry, 38, had confronted the ex-captain of England and suggested he or his wife, Victoria, was responsible for leaks about himself and Meghan.
The pair have reportedly kept their distance ever since.
Travolta previously danced with Harry’s wife Princess Diana at the White House in 1985
David and Victoria Beckham attended Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor in 2018 (pictured)
Meghan’s 42nd birthday on Friday was met with deafening silence from the rest of the royal family
The loss of the Beckhams could spell trouble for Harry and Meghan, as pundits in the US explain that celebrities are eager to distance themselves from the “melodramatic” and “unreliable” couple.
Celebrity publicist Mitchell Jackson told the Time“The problem with Harry and Meghan is that after the New York car chase, people just feel like they’re untrustworthy and melodramatic and it’s all about them.”
American producer and journalist Paula Froelich added that celebrities do not want to jeopardize their chances of international success by “taking sides” in the royal feud.
Citing the number of celebrities who aspire to take both the UK and US box office with films or plays, she said: “No one wants to be seen as taking sides and no one wants to be seen as Harry and Meghan’s friends.
“Because people think Kate and William probably won’t show up.”
Ms Froelich explained that the Prince and Princess of Wales’s ability to get international coverage means most Hollywood stars hope they will attend a premiere in London.
Having previously signed large multi-million pound deals with giants Netflix and Spotify, as well as Harry’s book deal, the pair have since faced hurdles, including the loss of the Spotify partnership.
Meghan hosted a series of her Archetype podcast on the platform, where she interviewed friends like Serena Williams, but it has not been renewed by the streaming service and the couple announced in June that they had ‘mutually’ agreed to part ways.
It’s not just friends who seem to be avoiding the couple more often, as Meghan’s birthday was met with a deafening silence from the rest of the royal family.
Royal watchers will no doubt see it as evidence of the even more strained relations between the Sussexes and Harry’s brother William, sister-in-law Kate, father Charles and stepmother Camilla in recent months.
But royal aides claimed they only mark the birthdays of working members of the royal family on their official social media accounts.
But on August 4 last year, William and Kate messaged Meghan on Twitter from their official account, saying, “Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Sussex!”
Their message, posted at 9:01am UK time, also included a photo of Meghan in a white outfit and hat, taken during her visit to the UK a few months earlier to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum anniversary.
Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, also sent a message to mark Meghan’s 41st birthday on Twitter last year, saying “Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Sussex!” with a red balloon emoji.
MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Travolta and the Duke and Duchess for comment.