Netflix has reportedly chosen not to renew Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s $100-million deal, though there remains a possibility for one-off projects. According to journalist Marina Hyde, streaming platforms may be holding back to see if the couple divorces, as such an event could generate massive ratings.
Hyde noted that their most successful project so far was the 2022 documentary Meghan & Harry, while Meghan’s latest show, With Love, Meghan, struggled with poor reviews and low viewership on Netflix.
The show has faced criticism beyond just journalists. Netflix comedians Whitney Cummings, Christina Pazsitzky, and Katherine Ryan have taken aim at Meghan, with Cummings suggesting it was a thinly veiled jab at the Royal Family. She claimed that elements like tea-making segments and guest appearances seemed designed more to send a message to King Charles and the British royals rather than engage audiences.
Hyde and her podcast co-host, Richard Osman, were similarly critical of the show’s concept, calling it “fatally flawed.” Osman argued that if Meghan wants to rebuild her image or secure lucrative deals, acting is her best bet, saying she could “name her price.”
“The reality is that a lot of people are hanging around in case there’s a divorce. That might be why Netflix, or whoever it might be, who’s got to deal with them, might keep a vague hand in,” Hyde told the Daily Mail.
A ‘Plan’ for a Hollywood Comeback
Hyde humorously suggested how Meghan could have strategically planned her return to Hollywood.
“I would have married him [Harry], got the two kids, got divorced, then ran back to Hollywood to be Julia Roberts for my 40s, but she’s not followed that plan,” she quipped.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has dismissed speculation about marital troubles, joking about the media’s relentless rumors. Speaking at the DealBook Summit in New York, he brushed off the claims as baseless, attributing them to online trolls eager for their split.