The Royal Exit: Is Netflix Done With Harry and Meghan?
Hollywood’s venerable entertainment trade publication, Variety, has delivered a stark assessment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lucrative deal with streaming giant Netflix, suggesting the streamer may be “done” with the royal couple. A comprehensive report, drawing on insights from numerous well-placed insiders, paints a picture of a partnership that has been “far from a fairy tale.”
The core of the issue, according to the report, is a perceived fatigue at Netflix regarding the Sussexes’ narrative. Insiders claim that the couple’s consistent rehashing of their exit from royal life, presented in various forms, has worn thin. “The Sussexes’ perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix,” Variety states. The publication further speculates that this partnership could gradually diminish, potentially impacting the couple’s remaining career prospects in showbusiness. One source bluntly summarised the internal sentiment at Netflix: “The mood in the building is ‘We’re done.'”
A $10 Million Surplus and Ruffled Feathers
The Variety exposé details several “devastating claims” regarding the couple’s professional interactions. Their “bedside manner has ruffled feathers in meetings,” the report alleges, while lukewarm ratings for projects like Meghan’s “With Love, Meghan” have fuelled significant doubts within Netflix. Archewell Productions, the couple’s production company, has also faced accusations of “poor communication” in its dealings with the streamer.
Adding to the controversy, there are claims – vehemently denied by both Netflix and a legal representative for the Sussexes – that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has grown “fed up with the pair.” It’s even suggested that Sarandos remarked he would only take a call with Meghan if a lawyer was present. Netflix has categorically refuted these claims, labelling them “absolutely inaccurate.” Michael J. Kump, the lawyer representing the Duke and Duchess, described the assertion in a letter to Variety as “blatantly false,” asserting that Meghan communicates regularly with Sarandos via calls and texts, and has even visited his home without legal counsel present.
A-List Avoidance and Strategic Missteps
The Variety article also delves into Netflix’s alleged displeasure with certain strategic decisions made by the Sussexes. Insiders suggest that Netflix, which reportedly paid approximately £45 million for a five-year deal, was “annoyed” by the couple’s decision to grant a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey shortly after their departure from the Royal Family. Furthermore, the streamer was purportedly “blindsided again” by Prince Harry’s decision to publish his memoir, “Spare,” a project whose details were allegedly “downplayed” by Meghan.
Executives at Netflix reportedly felt that these independent ventures negatively impacted their own documentary project with the couple. While a spokesperson for the Sussexes maintains that they cooperated fully with Netflix throughout their projects, the magazine reports that, despite the success of the “Harry & Meghan” documentary, “A-list talent and directors” are increasingly “hesitant to work with the pair” due to their track record, leading to the cancellation of several proposed projects.
Feathers Ruffled and Business Acumen Questioned
Despite Netflix’s public affirmations of commitment to the couple through a “first look” deal, Variety reports that “sales agents and filmmakers on the ground” are showing a distinct lack of interest in any Archewell Productions involvement in their projects, according to four separate sources.
The publication also presents several pointed observations about Meghan’s professional style and her approach to business negotiations. “In virtual and in person meetings with partners, she tends to talk over or recast Prince Harry’s thoughts, sometimes while he is in mid-sentence, sources say (usually preceded by a touch to the arm or thigh),” the article states. Mr. Kump, in his letter to Variety, countered that this assertion “seems calculated to play into the misogynistic characterisation of her bossing her husband around.” Prince Harry himself reportedly attests that this claim is “categorically false.”
The article further alleges that three distinct sources have informed its writer that the Duchess employs “odd methods of providing feedback,” including reportedly “disappearing” during Zoom calls to signify her “offence.” Mr. Kump contests this, explaining that this behaviour is a result of her working from home and being a mother to young children who occasionally require her attention. The report concludes by noting that after the second series of “With Love, Meghan” “cratered,” sources indicated that “Netflix was losing faith in the former royals.”
A Diminished Hold on the Public Imagination
The Variety exposé ends with a pointed question: “After half a decade of inconsistent shows, strategic shifts, false starts and a diminished hold on the popular imagination, are the Sussexes really living the Hollywood dream they imagined?”
These revelations emerge less than two weeks after news broke that Netflix was parting ways with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, “American Riviera Orchard” (formerly “As Ever”). The brand, which was intended to produce a range of products including wine, tea, and jams, was launched in April 2024 in conjunction with Netflix’s Consumer Products division, coinciding with the release of “With Love, Meghan.” Both the brand and the show now appear to have been shelved, although a spokesperson for the Sussexes told Variety that “seasonal specials” would continue. However, a “Holiday Celebration” episode released last December was met with critical disappointment, with one reviewer awarding it a zero-star rating and describing it as “unlikeable” due to its perceived “syrupy hypocrisy and our hostess’s deep lack of self-awareness.”
A Gala Appearance Amidst Business Turbulence
In a contrasting development, and perhaps a sign of doors opening elsewhere, Meghan is set to headline an Australian “ultimate girls’ weekend,” where she will deliver a gala dinner speech and participate in photo opportunities with VIP guests. The three-day luxury retreat, scheduled for April 17-19 in Sydney, will coincide with the Duke and Duchess’s visit to the country. Meghan reportedly proposed the idea to the organiser, Gemma O’Neill of the “Her Best Life” podcast, after being introduced by a mutual friend. VIP ticket holders, at a cost of £1,700, will secure front-row seats and a group table photo with the Duchess. The itinerary also includes morning yoga, a “sound healing” experience, and a meditation and manifestation session at the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach hotel.
Voluntary Liquidation Shadows the Event
However, this high-profile event has already encountered difficulties. Reports emerged on Monday that O’Neill’s PR agency had gone into liquidation, facing a substantial tax bill of $500,000. Administrators were reportedly appointed after O’Neill’s talent management business, Gemmie Agency, entered voluntary liquidation in November. O’Neill cited a lack of savings and “limited income” as reasons for her inability to meet her financial obligations. The firm reportedly owes AU$543,548 to the Australian Taxation Office, along with AU$3,300 to Jack Lawrence Accountants and Advisors, according to news.com.au.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex confirmed on Tuesday that she will still be attending the “Her Best Life Event” at the InterContinental Hotel overlooking Coogee Beach. “Besties Australia,” the organisers of the weekend event, are also mentioned in the insolvency report.
