The saga of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's spectacular stumble continues as the pair now face potential dismissal from Netflix.
Their latest productions have failed to secure Emmy nominations, starkly contrasting with the glittering success of David and Victoria Beckham. This new twist has deepened the rift between the Sussexes and the Beckhams. Last year's "Harry and Meghan" and this year's "Heart of Invictus" failed to receive any prime-time Emmy nods, while the Beckhams' documentary on the same platform garnered five nominations. Clearly, the Television Academy has made its opinion known on who possesses the actual talent.
The Emmy nominations, unveiled on Wednesday, July 17, had Team Sussex hoping for some recognition for "Heart of Invictus." The program, focusing on Harry's Invictus Games, failed to climb to the top of Netflix's rankings and struggled to maintain a spot in the top 10 after its release on August 30, 2023. This disappointment follows the self-titled blockbuster series from the previous year, which also received zero mentions from the Academy, reportedly leaving the Duchess of Sussex devastated. In stark contrast, the Beckham documentary, released on October 4 last year, became an instant hit for the streaming giant. David Beckham expressed his gratitude, saying, "Making this series was such a personal journey, a love letter to football and my family. It's been overwhelming for me and Victoria to receive such a warm and positive response to the series."
Meanwhile, Meghan and Harry might face Netflix's chopping block. Rumors suggest that Netflix executives are increasingly displeased with the duo's consistent lack of success and are considering pulling the plug on future projects. Adding to their woes, Meghan's much-hyped upcoming cooking show on Netflix seems to be the final chance to salvage their faltering relationship with the streamer. According to reports, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos is reportedly furious, considering this deal one of the worst in Netflix's history. The streaming giant plans to release a teaser to gauge public interest, with the anticipation that it'll be comedy gold for all the wrong reasons. Viewers are likely to focus more on Meghan herself rather than the cooking show, and certainly not enough to boost Netflix subscriptions. If the trailer flops, it will confirm the grim reality for Netflix. Whatever they do with the cooking show, it will likely go the way of other high-profile flops, like some of Disney's Star Wars spin-offs. The trend of viewers preferring to watch hours of YouTubers mocking the original material rather than watching the original episodes themselves spells trouble for streaming services.
The entertainment industry is at a crossroads, and the Sussexes picked the worst possible time to dabble in the producer game. Unlike Tyler Perry, who keeps his production budgets tight, Meghan and Harry's endeavors seem destined for failure. Their missteps extend beyond the entertainment realm. Their recent pseudo-royal trips, like the Nigeria trip, have been net negatives in terms of finances and brand image. The only remnants of their grand ambitions are the Archewell brand, which can't take off without the ill-fated cooking show, and Meghan's book, which Penguin Random House has reportedly put on ice until she can decide on the brand's future.
As the Sussexes' Netflix dreams crumble, it's clear they're struggling to find their footing. Once basking in royal glamour, they now seem to be floundering in their attempts to stay relevant. The world watches with a mix of amusement and schadenfreude as they navigate these turbulent waters. Perhaps it's time for Meghan and Harry to reconsider their strategy or face being relegated to the realm of forgotten royals.
