Rio Canedo, 46, was left deeply embarrassed by the international attention after Markle, 82, spoke of finding happiness with her, a colleague at her hospital told Sky News.
The colleague said Canedo, who spoke limited English, had been caring for Markle and was unaware that she would be presented as his romantic partner.
The unwanted publicity reportedly left her so distressed that she resigned, according to Sky News Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch, who shared the colleague’s account on X on Oct. 29.
The Sun said attempts to contact Canedo for comment had been unsuccessful.
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Thomas Markle in an 2018 interview. Photo from Reuters |
The reports stemmed from a March interview with the Daily Mailin which Markle said he had found happiness again after years of loneliness.
He met Canedo at a rehabilitation center in Cebu, the Philippines, while recovering from an amputation of his left leg. “I felt neglected and sad for so many years, but now I am enjoying life again. I never expected to find joy and happiness again,” he said.
The interview featured a photograph of Markle in a wheelchair with Canedo smiling behind him, prompting news outlets worldwide to describe her as his new girlfriend.
The controversy comes as Markle faces allegations involving child sexual abuse material, which he denies, according to the AP.
Authorities in the Philippines and Mexico are investigating the matter, AFP reported.