Netflix Insiders Declare Streaming Giant 'Done' with Harry and Meghan
According to a scathing new report in Hollywood's entertainment bible Variety, Netflix is said to be 'done' with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. A lengthy feature, citing half a dozen well-placed insiders, describes the partnership between the streaming behemoth and the former royals as 'far from a fairy tale'.
Exhaustion Over Repackaged Royal Narratives
The magazine asserts that Netflix has grown weary of what it perceives as the Sussexes' pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their departure from royal life. 'The Sussexes' perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix,' the publication states. This sentiment is reportedly widespread within the company, with one source bluntly stating: 'The mood in the building is "We're done."'
Allegations of Poor Communication and Underwhelming Performance
The article makes a series of damaging claims about the couple's professional conduct and the performance of their projects. Archewell Productions, the couple's company, is accused of 'poor communication' in its dealings with Netflix. Furthermore, the 'lacklustre' ratings for shows such as With Love, Meghan have reportedly led to serious doubts at the streamer. The magazine suggests that after the second series of With Love, Meghan 'cratered', sources indicated Netflix was 'losing faith in the former royals'.
High-Level Frustration and Denials
In some of the most explosive allegations, the report claims Netflix chief Ted Sarandos is 'fed up with the pair'. It is alleged he remarked he would not sit for a call with Meghan 'unless a lawyer was present on the line'. Both Netflix and a lawyer for the Sussexes have strongly denied this claim. Netflix states it is 'absolutely inaccurate', while lawyer Michael J. Kump, acting for the couple, described it as 'blatantly false'. Kump countered that Meghan speaks and texts regularly with Mr Sarandos and has 'been to his home, sans lawyers'.
Strategic Missteps and Blindsided Executives
The report details how Netflix was allegedly 'annoyed' by the couple's decision to give a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey following their acrimonious royal exit. The company was said to have been 'blindsided again' by Prince Harry's decision to publish his memoir Spare, details of which were reportedly 'downplayed' by Meghan. Executives are said to have felt both projects negatively impacted their own documentary with the pair, Harry & Meghan, although a spokesman for the Sussexes insists they cooperated with Netflix throughout.
Hollywood Hesitation and Project Cancellations
Despite the success of the Harry & Meghan documentary, the magazine reports that 'A-list talent and directors' are now 'hesitant to work with the pair' given their track record. It claims several projects have been cancelled. Even with Netflix's public insistence on a continued 'first look' deal, 'sales agents and filmmakers on the ground' are said to be uninterested in Archewell Productions' involvement, according to four different sources cited by Variety.
Allegations About Meghan's Business Style
Variety also makes pointed claims about Meghan's approach in business meetings. The publication states: 'In virtual and in person meetings with partners, she tends to talk over or recast Prince Harry's thoughts, sometimes while he is in mid-sentence, sources say (usually preceded by a touch to the arm or thigh).' In response, Mr Kump's letter argues this assertion 'seems calculated to play into the misogynistic characterisation of her bossing her husband around', and Prince Harry attests it is 'categorically false'. The article further claims three sources said the Duchess has 'odd methods of providing feedback', including 'disappearing' during Zoom calls to signal offence—a behaviour Kump attributes to her working from home as a mother of young children.
Partnerships Unravel and New Ventures Emerge
These insider revelations follow news less than a fortnight ago that Netflix was parting ways with Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever. The range, which produced items like wine and jams, was launched in partnership with Netflix’s Consumer Products division in April 2025 to coincide with With Love, Meghan. Both the brand and the show appear to have been dropped, though a Sussex spokesperson told Variety there would continue to be 'seasonal specials'. A 'Holiday Celebration' episode released last December was critically panned.
As one door closes, another appears to open. Meghan has since signed up to headline an Australian 'ultimate girls' weekend' in Sydney from April 17 to 19, during a trip with Prince Harry. Up to 300 guests will attend the three-day luxury retreat, where VIP ticket holders paying £1,700 will get front-row seats and a group photo with the Duchess. However, the event has encountered early difficulties, with reports that the PR agency of organiser Gemma O'Neill went bust with a substantial tax debt. A spokesman for the Duchess confirmed she will still be appearing at the event.
The Variety article concludes by questioning the Sussexes' Hollywood standing: 'After half a decade of inconsistent shows, strategic shifts, false starts and a diminished hold on the popular imagination, are the Sussexes really living the Hollywood dream they imagined?'
