Meghan Markle’s Netflix show With Love, Meghan has been widely criticized as dull and uninspired, with many calling it a complete disaster. Critics have torn it apart, describing it as lifeless and lacking substance.
However, as the fallout from the show continues, a more troubling issue has emerged—one that raises serious questions about how Meghan and Netflix are handling the backlash. Reports have surfaced suggesting that they are actively trying to control the narrative by silencing negative reviews. Several YouTube channels that reviewed the show have reported being blocked entirely, not just demonetized. One royal commentator revealed that their livestream review was removed, despite having no copyright violations. The attempt to suppress criticism has sparked serious concerns, as it appears to be a deliberate effort to limit public discourse on the show's failure.
Meanwhile, professional critics who cannot be silenced have been merciless. The Sun described the show as a weak attempt at television that collapsed under its own weight. The Daily Express called it boring, insulting to the intelligence, and a complete waste of time. Even Variety, a Hollywood trade publication typically sympathetic to celebrities, dismissed it as a monotonous ego trip that was not worth watching. When a show loses Variety, it has effectively lost the industry’s support. Reports indicate that Netflix executives had been worried about the show for months after focus groups found it unbearably dull. Despite this, they had already invested millions and decided to push forward, hoping Meghan’s star power would carry it. Unfortunately for them, it did not. While Netflix claims the show is among the top ten in the United States, independent tracking services tell a different story, showing no evidence of it ranking among the most-watched content. This mirrors past incidents, such as when Meghan and Harry’s documentary and Meghan’s Archetypes podcast were promoted with inflated streaming numbers, despite underwhelming actual performance.
In the midst of the show's poor reception, Meghan has embarked on a media tour seemingly aimed at damage control. During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, she made a puzzling statement that quickly caught the internet’s attention. When asked about moments that had surprised or delighted her, Meghan responded with an oddly disjointed anecdote. She claimed that Harry had not been home for three days, but when she returned to her hotel room, she found a card from her children and husband congratulating her on the show. The audience reaction was muted, with visible confusion as Meghan held up a card that read, "Congratulations, Mama. We love your show and we love you. —Lili, Archie, Papa." Many found it difficult to believe that a three-year-old and a five-year-old had written such a perfectly worded message, leading to speculation that this was a staged PR stunt rather than a genuine family moment.
This bizarre moment has reignited long-standing questions about the Sussex children. Public appearances of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have been regular and transparent, while Archie and Lilibet remain shrouded in mystery. The lack of verified images of them has fueled speculation about the couple’s approach to privacy. Their christening photos obscured Archie’s face, Christmas cards only showed Lilibet from behind, and the few available images are often in black and white, making it difficult to discern details. For a couple that left the UK claiming to seek privacy, it is ironic how much they continue to court media attention—except when it comes to their children. Despite this, they have used their children’s names for commercial ventures, mentioned them in interviews, and included them in their grievances with the royal family, all while keeping them almost entirely out of public view.
The contrast between how Prince William and Princess Catherine present their children versus how the Sussexes handle theirs is stark. The Wales family shares carefully chosen but natural glimpses of their children while maintaining firm boundaries around their privacy. In contrast, Meghan and Harry's children seem more like abstract concepts than real people. The saddest part is that King Charles has reportedly never met Lilibet in person and has only seen Archie a handful of times. Because of their parents’ ongoing disputes, the Sussex children are being denied relationships with their grandfather, cousins, and paternal family.
As With Love, Meghan continues to flounder and these inconsistencies in their public narrative become more apparent, questions are mounting about the future of the Sussex brand. Their Spotify deal collapsed after just one podcast series. Their Netflix content has been widely criticized, and while Harry’s memoir was initially successful, it was a one-time revenue stream. The couple’s continued pursuit of media ventures seems increasingly precarious. For the sake of their children, one can only hope that Meghan and Harry find a way to reconcile with their family—not for publicity or Netflix deals, but for genuine, private healing. Archie and Lilibet deserve to know their family, their heritage, and the people who love them. Until then, the world will keep watching this unfolding saga, questioning the contradictions, and appreciating the royals who remain committed to duty over self-promotion.
