A surprise guest, a missed kiss, and a viral video — now the man at the center of Meghan Markle’s Fashion Week moment breaks his silence.
It’s been over a week since Meghan Markle shared an awkward greeting with a designer at Paris Fashion Week. What might have looked like nothing in the moment has since created a buzz online.
Now, the man who found himself in the middle of it all — Balenciaga’s newly appointed creative director — is speaking out for the first time about Meghan’s surprise appearance at his debut show and how it all unfolded.
In an interview published on October 11, 2025, by The Cut, Pierpaolo Piccioli revealed that it was Meghan herself who reached out to attend the show. “Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since,” he said.
“She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show. There was no strategy or big orchestration,” he continued. “I didn’t tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise. In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”
The Duchess of Sussex and Balenciaga’s creative director shared a startlingly intimate moment at the close of one of Paris Fashion Week’s most anticipated shows.
Making her first-ever appearance at Paris Fashion Week, Meghan attended the October 4, 2025, debut of Piccioli for Balenciaga. And while the Duchess may have arrived to support a friend, their encounter became a main talking point of the event.
Stunning at Her First Paris Fashion Week
Wearing a crisp Balenciaga all-white outfit — a dramatic cape layered over a silk button-down shirt and matching pants, paired with black pointed high heels — Meghan stood out from the crowd.
She was all elegance as she supported her designer friend, Pierpaolo, who was officially named Creative Director back in May and assumed the role in July.
He was described on the Instagram announcement as a “master of Haute Couture.” The fashion house also praised him as someone who would build on the brand’s monumental success while honoring the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga.
A Hug, A Photo… and a Mishap That Nearly Went Too Far
After the show, Meghan approached Pierpaolo for a photo-op and a few warm words, but what happened next sparked a buzz among netizens.
In a 15-second TikTok clip posted by Saint Leon, Meghan and Pierpaolo are seen placing their hands on each other in a surprisingly warm gesture.
They greet each other with a kiss on one cheek, then, following Parisian custom, turn to the other. However, a slight miscalculation in timing sends their faces startlingly close, teetering on the edge of an accidental kiss on the lips.
The two quickly laugh it off, sharing a smile before turning to pose for photographers. Once the cameras are done snapping, they hug again, seemingly unbothered. But that wasn’t all to it.
A Whisper in His Ear and Touches That Sparked a Firestorm
A seeming follow-up video posted by Women’s Wear Daily showed Meghan leaning in again, but this time, she whispered something into Pierpaolo’s ear.
The two remain close, continuing their conversation while touching each other’s wrists, a gesture that didn’t sit well with many viewers. Social media exploded, with fans and critics alike dissecting the body language and interpreting its meaning.
“That was awkward,” one viewer commented plainly. “Omg sooo awkward,” echoed another on Instagram. Others posted, “Strange.”
But the criticism didn’t stop there. Some commenters turned their focus on Pierpaolo, accusing him of crossing a line. “He got way to [sic] close. Have some respect for women. I can’t, I get so uncomfortable when people get that close to me,” wrote one Instagrammer.
“He was trying g to get too close. The long embrace was very inappropriate [sic],” another added . Over on Facebook, someone bluntly stated, “Doesn’t look appropriate to me.”
As many debated the encounter, others questioned, “Where is Harry?”
The Duchess of Sussex seemed alone this weekend, but many netizens thought about Prince Harry after noticing something that Meghan Markle posted. As previously reported, a clip she shared on Instagram stirred backlash, with critics accusing her of having “no respect” and being “incredibly insensitive.”
Footage Shows Meghan Relaxing as Car Nears Tragic Tunnel
Meghan’s visit has taken a controversial turn after many royal watchers were offended by a short Instagram clip .
The Duchess of Sussex was seen lounging in the back of a limousine, her feet casually propped up on the seat as the car glided through the streets of Paris, near one of the most tragic sites in modern royal history.
Filmed from her own point of view, the footage showed Meghan’s relaxed feet as the vehicle passed several iconic bridges, including Pont Alexandre III and Pont des Invalides.
But viewers quickly noticed what came next — the route appeared to continue toward the Pont de l’Alma, the tunnel where Princess Diana lost her life in 1997 alongside Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.
A fan pays tribute to the late Princess Diana of Wales with a note left near the crash site on the fifth anniversary of her death on August 30, 2002 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
The proximity of the clip’s setting to the site of the late princess’s fatal crash has struck a nerve, particularly given Prince Harry’s well-documented pain surrounding his mother’s death. Many netizens feel Meghan should have known the emotional weight that location carries.
Emotional Reactions Pour In
One netizen was convinced of Meghan’s intentions, writing, “She knew exactly what she was doing.” Another fan didn’t hold back their frustration, exclaiming, “That’s incredibly insensitive and inappropriate on every level. Shameful 🙄.“
Some believed Meghan was being inconsiderate, stating, “She really doesn’t care about her husband’s feelings or anxiety. Why post this on your social media if you know it triggers him?” Others summed up their disappointment in just two words, “No respect.”
Meghan Markle is seen during the Womenswear Spring Summer 2026 as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 5, 2025 France | Source: Getty Images
A more emotional comment read, “How cruel if her to do this 😢 poor harry😢 she had absolutely no respect for him or his family 😢 [sic].” Another person declared, “This is so wrong,” while one comment referred to the moment as “Pathetic.”
Meghan Markle is seen during the Womenswear Spring Summer 2026 on October 5, 2025 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
Not everyone agreed with the outrage, though. One fan pushed back, saying, “Omg seriously this is a super stretch.”
