After exactly two months of social media silence, Jessica Mulroney is back on Instagram.
The stylist, TV personality, and close friend of Meghan Markle went on hiatus after Canadian lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter posted a lengthy video calling her out for “textbook white privilege” on Instagram in June. But Mulroney made her big return to the platform on Tuesday to celebrate her twin sons’ 10th birthday.
Mulroney shared a short video of the boys blowing out their birthday candles, writing, “Happy 10th to my twin babies. My incredible family have had to witness their mom in the worst state. These two boys have not left my side and gave me the will to live and work hard when everything fell apart. They deserve the best birthday. 🎂 Only up from here.”
According to Exeter, the controversy that led Mulroney to log off for the summer began when Mulroney took personal offense to the influencer encouraging her followers to be vocal about the Black Lives Matter movement. Mulroney assumed the statement was directed specifically at her, leading her to allegedly reach out to brands claiming that Exeter had “treated [her] unfairly.” Exeter said in the video, “Listen, I am by no means calling Jess a racist but what I will say is this: She is very well aware of her wealth, her perceived power and privilege because of the color of her skin.”
That video, combined with both ABC and CTV cutting ties with Mulroney, prompted the stylist to issue an apology. On June 11, she wrote, “I want to say from my heart that every word of my apologies to Sasha over the course of the last two weeks privately, and again both publicly and privately today is true. I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood. We had a disagreement and it got out of hand. For that I am sorry. I also know this is not about me, nor should it be about me. It is about the Black community that has been subject to racism, discrimination and violence for far too long.” She concluded by adding that she would be stepping away from social media and “giving my microphone to Black voices by having them take over my account and share their experience.”
Mulroney has also reportedly used this time away from the spotlight to rehab her public persona, “talking to lawyers, image experts, and crisis P.R. teams. She has been having a lot of them over to her house to brainstorm and find a way to put this behind her.”
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— Did Billionaire Tobacco Heiress Doris Duke Get Away With Murder?
— The Porn Industry’s Biggest Scandal—And Mystery
— After a Year in Hiding, Ghislaine Maxwell Finally Faces Justice
— Inside the Other Harry and Meghan Book by Longtime Royal Irritant Lady Colin Campbell
— From Tyga to Charli D’Amelio, TikTok Stars Are Having a Blast (at Home)
— The 21 Best Books for Tolerating 2020 (So Far)
— From the Archive: The Mystery of Doris Duke’s Final Years
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story.