José Andrés Defends Friends Meghan Markle & Prince Harry For Visiting LA Fire Victims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have at least one person in their corner!

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been absolutely raked over the coals over the last week — particularly by Jason Bateman’s sister Justine Bateman — for being “disaster tourists” amid the devastating LA fires. If you aren’t up to date, the pair visited displaced victims at the Pasadena Convention Center recently to lend their support. But the Family Ties actress quickly called out the move as nothing more than a “photo op” of them “touring the damage” as they live about 80 miles away from the fires in Montecito.

Whether Harry and Meghan actually are the “disaster tourists” Justine claims they are remains to be seen as online critics continue to debate… But they officially have someone in their corner now.

 

Over the weekend, professional chef and restaurateur José Andrés spoke to People about the married couple visiting LA fire victims — and had nothing but positive things to say! Despite how critics complain, he’s just “just glad that they show up like so many others.” He told the outlet:

“I mean, listen, I consider them friends. I know they are in the spotlight — not just in America, but in Britain — and what I can tell you from what I know is that they don’t have to, but they decide to do it.”

He went as far as to call their work “amazing” considering they do it despite all the criticism:

“Probably, you feel like it’s better that nobody does anything, because nobody criticizes you for showing up — but the amazing thing is that they show up. The hugs I saw [them] give to the people that recognize them and even the people that don’t recognize them, it’s people that just want somebody to listen to them, and give them a hug.”

What high praise! He added:

“The joy they bring to the people, the joy they bring to the first responders, or the people that lost everything … and to see those celebrities giving hugs and crying with the people when some of those celebrities lost their homes — they could be home, but they are there. And I think anybody that does anything, celebrity or not, only they will always forever get my applause and my recognition.”

We can get behind that!

José, who’s been spearheading relief efforts with his World Central Kitchen nonprofit, noted some of the people helping “may be celebrities, but in those moments they are one more person willing to do absolutely anything for anybody.” The 55-year-old told the outlet:

“So, for everybody that was able to show up even for an hour, for me, they’re amazing people, because they don’t have to because some of them, they are suffering the consequences, maybe, of the fire. But there they are and they don’t do it where there are cameras, they’re doing it where there is nobody. And that makes it very special.”

So after hearing that take, what do YOU think about Harry and Meghan’s recent efforts, Perezcious readers?? Let us know in the comments down below!