Simon Rex is such a throwback to the glory days of mid-’00s gossip. He dated Lindsay Lohan, he was a MTV VJ, he worked in the Scary Movie franchise, he has a white-boy rap persona named Dirt Nasty. He’s also… not a bad guy? I don’t know, I actually don’t remember most of the gossip about him from that time, but it doesn’t feel like there was ever a ton of bad gossip about him or how he treated people. Simon’s name came up a few years back in relation to Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex. Simon and Meghan met and worked together years ago, and I remember the British tabloids poring through Meghan’s life in Hollywood and trying to make it sound like she banged tons of C-listers including Rex. Simon Rex is now confirming that the British tabloids offered him a five-figure payday if he told them that he hooked up with Meghan:
Simon Rex says that several British tabloids contacted him and offered him large sums of money to lie about his relationship with Meghan Markle. The 45-year-old actor says that he never actually dated Meghan, but they “hung out” and went on one lunch date.
“Nothing happened. We never even kissed. We hung out once in a very non-datey way,” Simon said on the Hollywood Raw podcast. “She was just someone I had met on a TV show and we got lunch. That was the extent of it.”
“When that story broke, a couple British tabloids offered to pay me a lot of money to say a lie that we actually hooked up. I said no to a lot of money because I didn’t feel right lying and f–king up the royal f–king family,” he said.
Simon is best known for his role in the Scary Movie franchise and parts on shows like Jack & Jill and What I Like About You. He and Meghan both appeared on a TV show called Cuts in 2005.
That’s nice that even though he could have just looked out for himself and taken the money, he didn’t want to lie about someone he barely knew but wished well. Simon Rex is officially a better person than Thomas Markle and the entire White Markle clan. All of this reminds me of all the times the Daily Mail and the Sun have done those “exclusives” with Thomas Markle and then they’ll claim that they didn’t pay him for the interview. He’s getting paid. They’re paying him for the interviews and to license those old photos they use. And if they offered Simon Rex $70,000 to lie about Meghan, how much do you think Toxic Tom has been getting paid? And Samantha the Scammer? Gross.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
simon Rex – what a throwback.
It’s obviously commendable that he didn’t take the money, but how disgusting that he was offered it in the first place. I’m glad that he’s open about it at this point – that he was offered the money to lie.
I’m baffled that they offered money or even tried to involve him in the process at all- seems like the tabloids’ MO would have been to just say they hooked up anyway and then shrug off the denials. Good on Rex for exposing this.
I’m surprised u are surprised they paid money for lies. Making up stories to smear pple , ruin pple reputation is the mission statement of the British tabloids.
I’m not surprised they offer money in general, I am surprised they offered money to Simon Rex.
Maybe legal reasons? If they have a legitimate source they can´t be sued for spreading lies.
I saying I’m surprised they *pay* for lies when they can just do it themselves for free.
@10kturtle, they paid so they can put a face on the story. Making it up themselves wouldn’t have been juicy like Rex saying so
“I’m baffled that they offered money or even tried to involve him in the process at all”
The above is SOP for the English Tabloid Media in general.
FYI: Also, Simon Rex fit the bill to a “T” because he is exactly the type of C-List Hollywood celebrity the The Fail, The Slow and The Dim tried to paint Meghan out to be. The tabloids wanted Meghan to be involved with a Simon Rex type not a George Clooney type or a Brad Pit type.
I thought the same thing. But they were probably banking on the fact that people typically believe any sexual rumor coming out any man’s mouth about a woman, especially if she’s a woman they don’t like or trust anyway.
The UK tabloids were desperate because they really didn’t want the wedding to happen. The Daily Mail sat on the video of Thomas Markle staging those pap photos in Mexico for two months before they dropped that bomb the week of the wedding.
Ah. Thank y’all for the explanations. I still don’t quite understand it, seems like having a financial trail makes it even less legitimate (as legitimate as a lie can be?), but 🤷♀️.
They were paying him *not to deny it*.
Good on him for being honest, and for shining a light on how those monkeys operate.
Always consider the source!
OSTY, British tabloids or just tabloids in general? (That’s rhetorical).
Ugh, honour seems to be a rare thing these days. It’s nice to hear that Simon Rex has some decency.
Megan looks so pretty in that included picture. She just glows doesn’t she?
The desperate tabloids would have offered money to anyone Meghan even took a pic with before harry
The rage and hatred the British tabloids keep venting at MM…I so admire her composure through all of this. She’s class.
Meghan is a better and stronger woman than I am.
To deal with that for years while doing a wonderful job is incredible.
I hope Meghan adds this RECEIPT to her lawsuit! What a lovely gift from Simon.
There’s no way I could deal with all of this with nearly as much composure and class as she has. No way.
He was in What I like About you, which is the only thing I know him from. Glad he was decent about Meghan.
Nice to see he’s got integrity. Hopefully the lawsuits will reveal all those who have leaked/lied including the ones paid.
Has to be disclosed in discovery/pre-trial evidence exchange.
Nice to see he’s still hot, my god.
70K for a lie, wow – I can’t imagine the sums they’ve been throwing at the White Markles…so disgusting. Also, who cares if she was banging c-listers? it’s none of our business,
The tabs are truly disgusting. I hope they get millions from their lawsuit.
I hope they get millions AND the truth comes out about who was paid, who lied and who the sources are. I would be disappointed to see the Sussexes take millions in exchange for signing an NDA with the tabloids just walking away.
Does anyone know when this case will go to court?
It was expected to possibly go to court this April, but I imagine — like everything else —- the judicial system has slowed way down and court calendar will be rescheduled.
Yeah – now we know why Evil Papa Smurf is so keen to keep running to them with stories and evidence to sell. You can bet he is sitting on a nice little fortune.
Wonder how much they paid Tom Jr for his story last week.
I had a brief crush on this guy back in the day and I always felt it was a guilt crush. Turns out, he’s an okay person. Good job, guy.
ETA: I love that he’s posing like Michael Bluth in the in flight magazine.
I thought he was cute, too.
Whenever I see him, I remember how, when I was in high school, some national teen mag published a blurb saying that girls at my school called cute boys “Rexes and Bales” for Simon Rex and Christian Bale. We did not. For so many reasons. Number one probably being my school was primarily comprised of POC students. Nobody was ever even talking or thinking about Simon or Christian.
I bet they called up everyone she’d ever been pictured with or even rumored to know to offer up money in exchange for lies about her. It says a lot about Meghan that so few people took the bait. Says even more about her trash ass family.
And how sad/pathetic is that? They were desperate for any kind of gossip about her.
Even if she had slept with Simon Rex 15 years ago – would the average person have cared?
@S808: I’m sure they did try it with everyone she’s ever been pictured with, but I’m sure that they were especially eager to make a deal with Rex because of his past in porn and the potential for headlines like: Queen ENRAGED by Meghan’s Secret ROMANCE with GAY PORN Star!
There was a also some weird rumor going around third rate gossip sites that Meghan had married some dude then had the marriage annulled. The tabloids were throwing really weird smelly crap around to see what would stick
Multiple tabloids offered and not everyone will have turned it down. Time to look back on a lot of stories with a new eye. I want to know who accepted the money to lie, other than the Markles.
Nenaki Priddy, Meghan former best friend since childhood sold her off to the tabloid
She sure did!
I always remember him as the guy who de-flowered Felicity. Haha.
Me too!
Yes! Lol he was so sexy in that role.
Omg he was that guy! Talk about throwback! I bet a lot of so- called friends and random sources are making bank off lying about Meghan. This is so despicable and glad one person is airing this out. Why now is another thing. He’s not squeaky clean but better late than never. Hope more people speak up about tabloid tactics. No wonder the reporters over there are still holding their grudge.
I’m so glad he declined
Is it a surprise for anyone ?
I wish more people, the average joe who just swallows whatever they read from the rags, knew how truly the rags have gone after her. It’s one thing to pay for an exclusive, it’s entirely another to pay for someone to make a false story. That’s so unethical and an absolutely galling reflection of the standards of our papers.
Does anyone have an update as to what is happening in the case of Meghan VS the DM and Co?
For the record, average joes who just swallow whatever they read terrify me. They are a danger to everyone.
I remember his name but nothing else about him. Glad he turned all that down though, clearly the decent thing to do.
I imagine the Markles& the ex BFF were paid to say things that fit with tabloid narratives eg her father calling the royal family a cult in 2018 to now saying that Harry& Meghan have disrespected the institution by leaving royal duties.
There were also those stories when Meghan was pregnant about various British artists that the tabloids said Meghan had dated pre Harry. Wouldn’t be surprised if any interaction was exaggerated for promotion for them.
I side eye this dude though. There were quotes attributed to him before the wedding about a date and a kiss which he now says didn’t happen. Why didn’t he speak out then?
I remember that, too! I remember there was an unflattering picture of him, he looked super sleazy and Meghan’s haters were acting “Oh of course she would sleep with him, who doesn’t she sleep with?” I don’t remember him saying he slept with her, though. I don’t really remember what was said but the tabs definitely used his pictures.
Even if she had slept with him, who cares. We’ve seen Harry partying naked in Las Vegas. As long as they are both accepting of each other’s sequel histories, what business is it of anybody else? Are we really trying to pretend the Royal family was ever, at any time in history, sexually conservative? Maybe a few queens were here and there, but we all know there was no reign in which someone in the royal family wasn’t boinking aristos or servants with mad abandon.
As for this fellow, it would have been nice if he could have come forward with this before the Duchess had been driven out of Britain.
Let’s not forget evil Tom saying how the royals OWE him.. interesting choice of words there, too. Owe him… for his part in trying to scuttle the wedding? For trying to break the marriage and get Harry to leave Meg and Archie? For keeping the “pressure” up by selling out to the tabs?
Exactly, OG. He said the queen owes him…..are granny’s hands clean or is this just the ravings of a lunatic? I hope more comes out about what was done to H&M.
I want to know more about the RF’s connection to Daddy Markle. Something stinks.
Good on Rex for not lying on Meghan for cash. I wonder if her lawyers know and they have emails? If more come forward and have receipts the Fail is in trouble.
I’m not surprised at all about this. I don’t get the British tabloids at all. They lie, malign and virtually ruin lives but when the object of their obsession leaves or fights back, they play stupid. They attack Harry and Meghan at every turn and then get angry when they leave after treating them like garbage for years. What did they want from them? They clearly didn’t want them to leave because they were the only interesting royals . Did they want access that badly that it literally drove them over the edge? Harry and Meghan were so smart to leave. It’s truly not worth it. I don’t care how rich the Windsors are. It’s all a facade of nonsense.
I know we are all hear on a gossip site, but just goes to show we can’t believe all that the media gives us.
This.
#fakenews
…
I used to have a mad crush on Simon Rex back in the day LOL.
I have always loved Simon Rex. FYI he has also done porn. All in all, a good guy 😀 🙂
Random, but I had such a huge crush on him when he was a vj. Thought he was so sexy haha
I used to think he was sooo cute. And you are right — I think after the porn thing came out, his career sorta flatlined.
I bet you that the porn career, which was brief IIRC, was why the papers wanted him to lie. They wanted that juicy headline about Meghan having sex with a porn star before she met Harry so she would seem “tainted.”
Seems to me it was Andrew that had sex with the porn star wasn’t it? Brought her to the palace several times, too.
Nice burn, Lady D!
He seems like a stand-up guy. Good for him, turning down a not-insubstantial sum to lie about Meghan. He could have easily walked away with $70k. Shame on the tabloids for doing this. I mean, I don’t expect any less from them but still.
It’s closer to $85K if the press offered the money in British pounds.
Still a huge sum of money to lie about someone he sort of knows.
Not surprised. Many have been offered but we know who took the bait.
We’re praising a guy for not lying about sleeping with a woman he barely knew. That’s how low the bar is.
Thank you! My thought exactly.
Actually I think we are condemning the media for stooping so low to smear a woman and praising someone who, allegedly, refused to take part in the smearing. Not a low bar at all. See: the Markles, etc.
Anyone who can bust the tabloids with the truth is OK by me.
It is basic human decency, but unfortunately, that’s not super common yet when it comes to women and people using sexuality to try to harm them. At best men and women think nothing of it, and at worst the more cruel, actively misogynistic people enjoy the damage it can do. It’s good that he not only did the right thing, but called it out publicly. We’re seeing another example of how hard people try to use sexuality as a weapon against women. Of course, it shouldn’t even have mattered if it were true.
Not saying we shouldn’t take note of this, but it’s still a pretty sad state that it’s outside the norm to be like “wow, that’s unethical, cruel, and GTFO.” Of course, there are all kinds of scenarios where men are praised for just being normal humans (awww he’s “babysitting” his own kids!) but it’s especially galling that Meghan has taken so much crap from the tabs that it’s news worthy when someone who isn’t even part of her life didn’t sell her out.
Yes, that was I was thinkin but didn’t say it because I didn’t want to sound bitter…lol.
To me it’s like when people praise men for respecting consent. I also think it’s a problem when we praise people for being decent since it perpetuates the idea doing the decent thing is abnormal.
Imagine a guy she barely knew having more integrity than her father and sister. They must be getting paid millions for those interviews. It’s crazy how her only enemies are the people so close to her. I wish her and Harry the best. They don’t deserve this.
They are hardly being paid millions, no way in hell.
I doubt they’re being paid millions but they’re being paid enough. It’s disgusting.
The narratives have run the gamut. Since nothing stuck, they settled on ‘tue exotic vagina-having, overbearing witch’ who has Harry by the balls ….. despicable
Who are these RF stans that think so little of Harry that he can be easily manipulated? He’s not exactly a child.
This reminds me of journalists and commentators that have said British news stations want them to comment negatively on Meghan. It’s so vile. They only want a negative spin on her. I’m so glad they are out of that country.
This reminds me of journalists and commentators that have said British news stations want them to comment negatively on Meghan. It’s so vile. They only want a negative spin on her. I’m so glad they are out of that country.
Sorry, I guess I’m out of touch because I never heard of this guy. But if this is true, it kind of makes me think even more that someone is behind the scenes directing the tabloids. Tabs pay for gossip but I’ve never heard of them paying to make up gossip, it’s risky, what if they get sued? It’s creepy the lengths that people will go to and for what? I hope it comes out in the trial, if they go through with it.
Someone from the RF
Simon Rex was responsible for one of the best episodes of “Cribs.” He was absolutely hilarious. He kept an “autographed” photo of Estelle Getty by the guest bathroom toilet; the inscription was “Dear Simon, thanks for boning me, Estelle Getty.”
😂🤣
That’s hilarious. I never watched Cribs but now I feel like I have to see this episode.
Oh my that is so horrible. This poor woman, I officially hate the the british press and the british monarchy, get rid of them, look what they can do to their subjects. They own shares in big companies all over the commonwealth countries AND annual british tax payer funds and this is how they behave absolutely disgusting.
I’ve actually never heard of this guy, so I just Googled him and he is know officially “Meghan Markle’s ex.” Like, they had lunch together once as coworkers? I know he isn’t the one calling himself that but man. I cringe so hard at being publicly associated with some guy from work I once grabbed a quick bite with – and I’m older than her, so theoretically have had more lunch breaks than she has and can hardly remember them all, or what coworker I haven’t seen in decades might have been there too. I can’t say I personally identify with Meghan’s experiences but I do feel bad for her.
Simon was also in a gay porn. I used frequent a gay club that loved putting his porn on repeat. Well good for him that he didnt sell Meghan out.
IDK. Can’t get over how much he looks like Rob Lowe, which to me is the anti-hot douchebag look, but he does seem like a decent guy. Just not sure he’s what I’d look for in pr0n.
I had to laugh. I guess it’s a good thing we’re not into gay porn, then.
Truth, but what I read in my brief Google search on this guy was he did “single person” porn, so I guess that’s gay by default cuz no women were in it but not involving two men either. Assuming I guess there’s no market for women into watching one guy do his thing . . . which I’m not contradicting. I literally have no interest in looking up this guy’s old videos. 🙂
I had the biggest crush on him in the 90s! It’s so nice to hear some good news about someone’s integrity.
Why does the british media hates, Meghan so much. It is very sad. I am beginning to think, The Press have been asked to taint Meghan from day one, but it backfired, because they did not bank on the strong love between H&M. One day some people will sing like the canary.
I’m thinking this as well. Harry has been painted as weak and fragile so nobody counted on him being strong enough to make his own way. They’re pissed off that they no longer have access so they’re ramping up the attacks that they were told to start from day one.
Wonder how much they paid her half sister especially with all the work she had done
I’m hoping all of this comes out when their lawsuit finally heads to court.