Meghan Markle's aspirations of becoming Hollywood's next lifestyle icon, akin to Martha Stewart, appear to be unraveling more quickly than a stale cookie.
Netflix, the streaming powerhouse that once welcomed Meghan and Prince Harry with open arms, seems to have lost interest in their ongoing efforts to remain in the public eye. Reports suggest that Netflix is no longer keen on airing Meghan’s highly anticipated cooking show—a project designed to portray her as the ultimate domestic diva. But really, who ever imagined that audiences would flock to watch Meghan Markle don an apron and pretend to be a down-to-earth homemaker?
When Meghan and Harry inked their deal with Netflix in 2020, it was celebrated as a perfect partnership. The couple, freshly detached from their royal duties, appeared ready to conquer Hollywood with an array of documentaries, children's programming, and scripted series. However, as time has passed, it seems Netflix is beginning to realize that the Sussexes might not be the lucrative stars they once envisioned. Meghan's cooking show seems to be the latest in a series of disappointments, with insiders revealing that it didn't even make Netflix's internal list of upcoming releases for the next five months. And honestly, who could blame them? It’s hard to imagine a public eager to see Meghan, who once criticized Princess Catherine as a "Stepford Wife," now attempting to reinvent herself as a relatable homemaker. The irony is almost too much to bear.
Despite these setbacks, Meghan isn’t giving up easily. Word on the street is that she has been frantically trying to get the show picked up by other platforms, even pitching it to Paramount. This relentless pursuit underscores just how determined she is to see the show succeed. However, it seems that Hollywood’s major players are shutting the door on her efforts. Rumors suggest that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, who was initially enthusiastic about the Sussexes' potential, is now steering clear of Meghan's attempts to regain his attention. Industry buzz indicates that Sarandos has become the subject of ridicule for ever considering a cooking show starring Meghan in the first place. Critics have begun labeling the couple as "grifters," arguing that the content they've delivered so far fails to justify the enormous sums they've been paid. It's hard to argue with that assessment when you consider their track record: a handful of underwhelming projects and one overhyped docuseries that only garnered attention due to its royal gossip.
So, what’s next for Meghan and Harry at Netflix? Insiders suggest that the streaming giant won’t entirely sever ties with the couple. Instead, Netflix might quietly allow the relationship to fade out, sidestepping the embarrassment of a public breakup. When the original contract expires, it's likely Netflix won’t renew it on the same extravagant terms. The Sussexes might be offered smaller, one-off deals—if they’re lucky—and those would be evaluated strictly on their own merit. This strategy allows both sides to save face: Netflix can avoid admitting that the deal was a colossal mistake, while Meghan and Harry can continue to pursue their Hollywood ambitions without the burden of a massive contract.
However, it’s clear that the days of the Sussexes commanding mega-deals and securing high-stakes investments are over. Perhaps Meghan should have stuck to grilling burgers—at least that wouldn’t require a major streaming deal. As things stand, it seems her cooking show dreams are destined to share the same fate as her royal aspirations: up in smoke.
