Meghan Markle's new Netflix venture, With Love, Meghan, has sparked a flurry of reactions, and who better to dissect the controversy than Ricky Gervais, the undisputed king of biting comedy? Gervais has never shied away from calling out absurdities, and this time, Meghan’s latest project has landed squarely in his comedic crosshairs.
According to YouTuber Mike Zeroh—known primarily for his commentary on Disney and Marvel but apparently unable to resist this particular spectacle—Gervais didn’t hold back in criticizing the trailer for Meghan’s show. Reportedly, Gervais dismissed the trailer as "nonsense," questioning why anyone would choose to watch Meghan Markle stumble through cooking and gardening. And let’s face it, watching someone awkwardly narrate their way through burning toast isn’t exactly revolutionary television.
Gervais also took aim at the show’s lack of authenticity, noting the irony of a so-called relatable series being filmed in a lavish house that doesn’t even belong to Meghan. The genre itself has also baffled critics—a peculiar blend of cooking show and mockumentary. Is it The Great British Bake Off meets The Office? No one, not even Netflix, seems to have an answer.
The reception to the trailer was nothing short of a disaster. Social media users collectively cringed, with one commenter succinctly labeling it the "worst show ever." Another criticized Meghan as "as fake as they come," while a third expressed outrage at the artificiality of the production, pointing out that the show wasn’t even filmed in Meghan’s real home or garden. A particularly scathing remark highlighted the broader issue: “There are countless content creators on Instagram who genuinely deserve this opportunity more than she does.” Ouch.
Even Meghan McCain, who once supported Meghan Markle, didn’t hold back her criticism. Now firmly in the "what are you even doing?" camp, McCain lambasted the project as tone-deaf, especially in light of the current global crises, from wars and terror attacks to economic struggles in America. McCain questioned how Markle could justify pretending to garden on-screen instead of tackling meaningful issues, such as promoting fresh food access in low-income neighborhoods. "This is why the world doesn’t like you," McCain concluded, delivering a brutally harsh, yet resonant, critique.
Netflix itself hasn’t escaped criticism, with Gervais calling out the platform for its apparent disconnect from its audience. The streaming giant, already facing declining subscriber numbers, seems to be banking on projects that lack substance. Gervais predicted that With Love, Meghan would be a spectacular failure, further tarnishing Netflix’s reputation. Despite this, the platform reportedly has more projects in the works with Meghan Markle, a decision that many are questioning given her prior ventures' less-than-stellar receptions.
Netflix attempted to generate buzz for the show by promoting the trailer on X (formerly Twitter) with the tagline, “Love is in the details.” Unfortunately for them, viewers seemed more focused on the less-than-flattering details—ranging from the artificial settings to Meghan’s robotic delivery. One user summarized the sentiment: “She owes everything to the royal family for this tone-deaf, arrogant, out-of-touch, fake, desperate excuse of a series. Without them, she’d be kicking cans.”
Ricky Gervais, as always, didn’t mince words. His critique of With Love, Meghan extended to the broader entertainment industry, which he argued needs a serious shift in values. Gervais suggested that projects like this insult audiences by prioritizing image over substance. And he might be on to something. If Netflix wants to regain its footing, perhaps it should focus on creators who bring genuine value to their content—rather than investing in a former duchess who appears to waver between desiring privacy and craving the spotlight.
