Meghan Markle, ever the connoisseur of spectacle and self-importance, has once again managed to project herself onto one of the most famous intersections in the world—Times Square.
But rather than being propelled there by an overwhelming wave of adoring fans or Netflix’s generous marketing budget, it appears this grand display may have been orchestrated by none other than Meghan herself, perhaps with the simple swipe of a credit card. The colossal digital ad promoting her Netflix project With Love, Meghan loomed large, glowing as a testament to her relentless PR machine. And just like that, the illusion of success flickered like a faulty LED screen.
The advertisement was impossible to miss—larger than life, carefully curated, and strategically placed for maximum impact. One could almost hear the dramatic crescendo of background music as it flashed her polished image. Social media instantly erupted with speculation. Was this a major marketing push from Netflix, or yet another attempt by Meghan to convince the world she remains relevant? A quick Google search offers a sobering reality: securing an ad in Times Square is hardly a groundbreaking feat. For approximately $150, anyone can purchase a 15-second slot running every hour for an entire day. In fact, K-pop fans have been doing this for years to celebrate their favorite idols, turning it into a common promotional tactic. So, forgive the public for not gasping in awe at Meghan’s latest PR maneuver. After all, if Netflix truly believed in With Love, Meghan, we would see her making the rounds on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and CBS Mornings—perhaps even sitting down for an Oprah 2.0 interview. Instead, all she has is a single Times Square billboard and a “hope for the best” strategy.
This isn’t the first time Netflix has been in this position with Meghan. Remember Archetypes, the much-hyped podcast that was promoted with glowing billboards in New York and even Australia? It flopped harder than a fish out of water. Spotify severed ties with Meghan faster than she could utter “feminist icon,” leaving her with nothing but a “grifter” label from top executives. So, are we really expected to believe that Netflix suddenly decided With Love, Meghan was worth a second shot? Or is it more likely they had leftover ad space and figured they might as well throw her a bone before the contract expired?
If Meghan anticipated setting the internet ablaze with admiration, she may find herself sorely disappointed. The internet certainly reacted—but not in the way she likely hoped. Comments under the trailer for With Love, Meghan have been less than flattering. YouTube dislikes tell a brutal story, while social media platform X has been flooded with skeptical takes. As for New Yorkers? They’ve seen far stranger things in Times Square than a former royal-turned-influencer scrambling to maintain relevance. The overwhelming consensus seems to be: no one cares.
Some questioned why the image chosen for the billboard made Meghan appear unpolished and disheveled. Others saw the ad as yet another desperate attempt to cling to relevance. And of course, there were those who recalled Meghan and Harry’s infamous “near-catastrophic” car chase in New York—a dramatic tale that unraveled into yet another exaggerated publicity stunt.
So, what’s the takeaway from all of this? Will With Love, Meghan become a smash hit? Will Netflix pour more money into its promotion? Or will this project fade into obscurity much like Archetypes did—barely making a ripple before sinking into irrelevance? Meghan may be able to buy herself a billboard, but she can’t buy public interest. And as the bright lights of Times Square continue to flash and flicker, so too does the illusion that Meghan Markle is Hollywood’s next big thing.
