Well, this was quite the surprise!
On Wednesday (September 23), Meghan Markle made a sweet cameo on the season finale of America's Got Talentâvirtually, of course. The Duchess of Sussex recorded a good luck message for contestant Archie Williams, one of the showâs finalists.
"Just wanted to let you know that we've been so moved by your story and we've been cheering you on every week and it's not just because we're partial to the name," Meghan said in the video. "So, a very special message to you that I'll probably be saying all of my life, but on this night it's specifically for you: Archie, we are proud of you and are rooting for you, we can't wait to see what you do. We're in your corner, have a good night."
Williams has been a standout contestant since the beginning of the season. While Meghan made a nod to Williams sharing a name with her 1-year-old son, Williams' story closely aligns with a cause close to the Duchess' heartâsocial justice reform. Williams, who is now 59, was wrongly convicted of attempted murder at 22-years-old. After spending 12 years in prison, the Innocence Project helped Williams overturn his case as fingerprints found at the scene matched a serial rapists, not Williams'. He was released from prison in March 2019.
âI knew I was innocent, I didnât commit a crime. But being a poor Black kid, I didnât have the economic ability to fight the state of Louisiana,â Williams explained during his audition. âDays turned into weeks, into months, into years and into decades. Itâs like a nightmare,â he continued. When host Terry Crews asked him how he persevered all those years, he said, âFreedom is of the mind. I went to prison, but I never let my mind go to prison. When youâre faced with dark times, what I would do was pray and sing. This is how I got peace.â
The Duchess of Sussex also made appearance on the Time100 TV special earlier this week urging people to vote. "We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day," Meghan said. "Every four years, we're told, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard."
Photo: Getty