We all know some sections of the British tabloid press treat Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, noticeably different from other members of the Royal Family. The criticism she receives has often been in contrast to the more fawning press meted out to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Now, an award-winning actor has spoken up about how the tabloids offered him a large sum of money in an effort to dig up some dirt about Meghan.
Simon Rex, 47, has recently been winning plaudits for his role in the indie movie, Red Rocket. Made by director Sean Baker (of queer cult classic Tangerine), Rex plays a washed-up adult film actor who relocates from LA to Texas, where he grooms a teenage girl as his protegé.
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For his incredible performance, Rex won ‘Best Male Lead’ at the Independent Spirit Awards earlier this month.
Such critical acclaim has taken a while to come his way. Way back in 1993, a 19-year-old Rex shot a couple of solo videos for the gay, twinky adult entertainment studio, Club 1821. He told Vulture last year, he did the job simply to pay for rent and food for his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.
Initial mainstream success arrived for Rex a couple of years later as a model and an MTV VJ. He had a short-lived stab at a rap career under the moniker Dirt Nasty before concentrating on acting.
He enjoyed a lead role in the sitcom What I Like About You and Scary Movie 3, 4, and 5. Thanks to Red Rocket, he’s finally making waves as a serious and respected screen presence.
He also had role in the sitcom Cuts in 2005, alongside a then little-known Meghan Markle. Whilst working together, the two went for a platonic lunch one day.
Several British tabloids subsequently offered Rex $70,000 if he would talk about dating or sleeping with Meghan: something that never happened. It’s lijely Rex’s brief porn past played a major factor in the tabloids’ interest in him and the offers of big money for a potential story from him about Meghan.
Rex declined, despite having very little money to his name at the time.
Related: Queen quits Buckingham Palace and many folk are thinking the same thing
News of the tabloid offer recently surfaced via a profile in The Guardian.
“I was broke as fuck! I really needed the money. But I’ll be on food stamps before I do that,” Rex told the paper.
Markle later wrote him a thank you letter after hearing he’d turned down the money.
“She said: ‘It’s nice to know there are still good people’,” Rex said. He framed the note and has it up in his home in Joshua Tree, California.
Someone shared the story on Twitter and Rex again confirmed it was true.
“This is true. And I framed the thank you letter she wrote me. She has very nice penmanship btw.”
This is true. And I framed the thank you letter she wrote me. She has very nice penmanship btw. https://t.co/oBF1SDbhqo
— Simon Rex (@SimonRex) March 18, 2022
Many thanked him for doing the right thing.
In this day and age, it must be commended when someone does the right thing. Your integrity and humanity are in stark contrast to the people who sought to abuse and dehumanize her. You are in increasingly rare company. Thank you!
— ℍℝ ℕ ℙℝℙ (@freepeeper) March 18, 2022
Well done for having values, it didn’t stop the Sun and dailyfail implying you dated in stories they wrote in 2018, but thanks to you choosing self respect. You were not the only one they tried to bribe, I wonder how many said yes https://t.co/ObpNw0N4qs
— Busty (@busty01) March 18, 2022
Others said that some sections of the press had gone ahead and tried to use Rex’s name in an attempt to smear Markle anyway.
Although you declined their money, Richard Kay from the daily mail wrote an article lying on you. Thanks for having integrity. pic.twitter.com/2Af5sIIE6K
— Resilient (@KaindeB) March 18, 2022
Others said Markle’s thank you note highlighted her own character.
I love this! She really seems like such a sweetheart. Not the first time I’ve heard a first-hand story about her generosity. Harry waited for THE princess!
— Anim8rGirl_BlackLivesMatter_SheHer (@ElainaCScott) March 18, 2022
And lastly, we fully support this tweet if you’re seeking something to stream.
Everyone Congratulating him needs to watch Red Rocket. Stream it on Amazon. Shout out to the Big Homie… Realer than your Repressed Memories, Kids pic.twitter.com/qRLc0idgZJ
— Mr. Steal Your Waifu (@Mr_Amescua) March 19, 2022
Donston
Kinda tacky and click-bait-y title. Simon hasn’t done any “adult flicks” in like 20 years (and even then it was only a few wank-off clips). He’s been doing “legit” acting for far longer. And yes, the British tabloids are ruthless.
Donston
Actually, it’s been well over 20 years since he’s done any filmed “adult” work. While he’s had a lot of Hollywood gigs since then. And damn near everyone knows about Simon’s few wank off clips. So, referring to him as “former adult performer” in the headline is kinda condescending. Though it’s obvious why y’all did it.
SamB
He seems like a stand up guy but sending one thank you note does not make her a nice person. She is known to be selfish and straight up mean. I have no idea why people like her, she and her prince need to go away.
Cam
It’s interesting how all of the right wing Republicans in America are now fawning little fangurls of Putin and the British Royal family.
America broke away from Britain to get away from royals so why would Republicans be so supportive of them when…….ohhhhh, right, Meghan’s Black and they’re rac-ists.
bma83
I, for one, adore the Duchess. And may I add, someone who is “selfish and straight up mean” doesn’t take the time to thank people for doing things for them. They may, on the other hand, find themselves on internet sites calling people they don’t know selfish and mean.
THAT Steve
Getting a Piers Morgan vibe here.
The Accidental Polemicist
@Cam
Since Republicans are so “rac-ist”, please give me your top 3 most racist Republican statements and/or actions against the “Black” Duchess.
1.
2.
3.
Bonerboy
@The Accidental Polemicist You’re not even self aware enough to realize you just did it yourself…
Cam
@The Accidental Polemicist
I love it when raci-sts say or do something rac-ist and then cry and say “Tell me when I did something rac-ist” LOL!!
Your trolling is sad and weak.
Kangol2
He’s a decent guy for not joining in on the mass smearing/bullying of this woman out of rage that she married an heir to the British throne. People may not recall the brouhaha that occurred when he was discovered to have made a few porn films, but it was silly and unnecessary. People do all kinds of legal things to pay their bills and survive, and he’s gone on to do other things, including becoming a pretty good actor. I’m also glad she thanked him for being decent; that probably happens all too seldom these days.
Cam
The sheer sputtering rage from American Republicans anytime a Black woman does anything is truly shocking.
They are so rac-ist that they’ll attack an American woman and defend an inbred inherited royal family over her as long as they’re white and she isn’t.
The Republican party is so off the rails there is no saving it. Time for it to disappear and for the Democrats to split into a centrist and a left of center party, and those can be the new two party system.
All Republicans have left is worship of Putin, and stealing tax dollars.
bachy
I’d been a major Anglophile for years, adoring British art, music, literature and films. But the unrelenting vitriol directed at Meghan Markle by the British press, and a huge swath of the British public, has really spun me around. It is boggling to see how racism is expressed in a different country with a different history and culture. Ugly AF.
The Accidental Polemicist
How has the British press and public shown their disdain for the mixed race heritage of the Duchess of Sussex?
Fahd
If the English didn’t invent the tabloid rag, they’ve perfected it over the years. I’ve always been a fan of Simon Rex; he’s a genuine guy. And he’s always been in struggling actor mode. I would like to think that in addition to a thank you note suitable for framing that just maybe the Duchess and Duke found a way to get some cash to him.
Just.my.opinion
Haven’t we all heard and read enough about Meghan Markle? Why can’t everyone just forget about her?
jcool
some of us have no desire to forget about her. better idea, how about you stop clicking on/commenting on stories about her?
Cam
Hi right wing troll accounts very old screename.
How about we make a deal, when we stop hearing about the rest of the royal family we can stop hearing about Markle.
Lilopt
“We all know some sections of the British tabloid press treat Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, noticeably different from other members of the Royal Family. The criticism she receives has often been in contrast to the more fawning press meted out to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.”
Sorry but why don’t you stop for a minute and wonder why? Probably because she is utterly unfit for the role she very much wanted to play! Pince Harry should never have been allowed to marry her – the Queen has the power to prevent unsuitable marriages to members of the Royal Family in direct line to the throne – and poor and henpecked Harry has seen his life completely destroyed by this thoroughly unprepared and social climbing American. It’s as simple as that. And her being black has absolutely nothing to do with it!
Mike Jone
She’s unfit yet people stay radio silent about Prince Andrew. Right.
jcool
your strong dislike for someone you’ve never met does not speak to tabloids willing to pay someone to lie about her. but nice try.
SamB
MikeJones: Radio silent about Andrew? LOL LOL That is ALL anyone talks about these days. Are you living under a rock?
Cam
Look how desperate and rac-ist the right wing trolls are.
1. Saying anybody is “Unfit” for a lazy life of living off the British people and occasionally going to an event and accepting some handshakes.
2. Saying that anybody should have been forced to not marry somebody they were in love with as if that is a reasonable thing to say.
They are so enraged by a Black woman existing that they are pretending these suggestions are somehow reasonable.
Your trolling is sad and weak.
nm4047
simple answer for both people concerned: PUBLICITY
missvamp
red rocket was filmed in my home town. they used extras from here, one of which was my friend’s mom.
Mike Jone
The British tabloid press has been very vile in the way that they have treated Megan.
Criticizing her for some of the same things that they would praise Kate for. Everyone who’s ever worked with Megan has had nothing but good things to say about her. It’s no wonder that Harry left England. He probably got flashbacks to the way his mother was treated by the tabloids. I hope they have a very long and happy marriage together, and the haters can stay steam pressed about it.
Polaro
I don’t like slut shammers. I find they are very often the most twisted people who lie.
johncp56
And he is damn hot would send him notes also,,, adult entertainment is just that another job!! get the mind out of theirs