Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have suffered a significant setback after Bela Bajaria, described as their "biggest champion" at Netflix, left her role as chief content officer. Bajaria, 56, held the position from January 2023 until now, and was known for supporting the couple during the latter part of their initial deal with the streaming service and into their newer "first look" deal.
According to The Times, a Netflix consultant who worked closely with Bajaria said she was the couple's "biggest champion" and was determined to prove they were a "successful signing." The consultant said: "Effectively, their biggest champion has gone, and they are uncertain about who will be shouting for their cause in the future. Teams at the company were well aware of how she was fiercely loyal to the couple and determined to prove they were a successful signing, even when the response from viewers was different."
Bajaria's defence of the Sussexes
Bajaria had fiercely defended Harry and Meghan after claims surfaced earlier this year about reported tensions with Netflix. At the "Next on Netflix" event in March, she pushed back on the speculation, saying: "Don't believe whatever you read. Maybe we should all do a little fact-checking."
She added that Netflix had "movies in development with them" and, referring to their six-part series, an "amazing documentary with them." Bajaria also noted that the couple "have things in development on the TV and film side," while acknowledging that "deals come and go all the time."
She explained: "There are deals that are deals we don't renew," adding that the company has "so many deals" in motion, but those do not receive the same attention as its partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She attributed the lack of press for other deals to "obvious reasons," saying, "I guess there's no juicy story there."
Return to the UK
Harry and Meghan returned to the UK in August after six years living in the US. The couple are now thought to be residing in the Cotswolds with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
On Thursday, October 15, they made their first joint appearance since their return, stepping out for a series of engagements in Nottingham, the city where they made their first post-engagement appearance in late 2017. Between 150 and 200 people gathered to welcome them at their first visit, the Community Recording Studio (CRS), a local charity offering youth development programmes.
The couple then visited the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham, before finishing the day at Epic Partners. Meghan was seen holding a large bunch of autumnal-coloured flowers, and the crowd cheered as they arrived in a dark-coloured Range Rover. One woman shouted: "We love you, Duchess Meghan, we love you." Meghan told one fan how happy she was to be back in the UK.
