Yesterday, we reported that Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry had gotten some devastating news from Netflix. Insiders were claiming that their first look deal with Netflix was in jeopardy as all of their future projects with the streaming service were stuck in limbo.
Now, Netflix has officially cut ties with Meghan once and for all. In the wake of this crushing blow, Meghan is desperate to “go global.” Indeed, she believes her As Ever brand can “stand on its own.”
Netflix Drops Meghan
“As Ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year,” a spokesperson for As Ever told Daily Mail. “We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.”
This comes two months after Netflix canceled Meghan’s lifestyle show With Love, Meghan.
“Her show did not go on so it did not make sense to continue the partnership,” an industry source exclusively told Page Six.
“Meghan is still on good terms with the Netflix team and close personal friends with Ted (Sarandos) so hasn’t wanted to upset him, but is very happy to have full control of the company,” an insider told The Sun.
“It’s a good time for Meghan to have complete control, given recent successes,” the source continued. “Netflix have been a good partner. But she’s wanted to go global with the brand for some time, but has been held back by the more cautious Netflix team.”
Netflix has also issued a statement addressing this situation.
“Meghan’s passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand. And we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life,” a Netflix spokesperson said.
“As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently,” the spokesperson added. “We look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.”
Meghan’s History With Netflix
Meghan had teamed up with Netflix to sell products for her lifestyle brand. The products were meant to coincide with her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. However, it was revealed in January that the show would not be returning for a third season amidst abysmal ratings. Indeed, Netflix seemingly pulled the plug on the series after it was panned by critics and fans alike.
After season two of With Love, Meghan flopped in August, Netflix took action. The streaming service downgraded Meghan and Harry’s deal from their $100 million contract. Instead, Netflix gave them their far more modest first look deal.
Meghan and Harry had signed their $100 million Netflix contract back in 2020 after they stepped down as senior royals. While they initially found success with their docuseries Harry & Meghan, which they used to shamelessly bash the royals, years of flops followed when it came to their Netflix projects.
Meghan’s Netflix Downgrade
On August 11, Netflix announced that it will not be renewing Meghan and Harry’s $100 million contract. Instead, Netflix has given them a “multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects.” This “downgrade” is the same one that Netflix gave to Barack and Michelle Obama.
“In practice, it is a downgrade from the 2020 overall deal that birthed Harry & Meghan, Polo and With Love, Meghan, among other projects,” The Hollywood Reporter reported.
“The overall-to-first-look extension mirrors the move Netflix made recently with the Obamas — as well as others — for their Higher Ground banner,” the publication continued. “In both cases, the exclusivity carried by their respective, splashy original deals has been removed.”
While Meghan has tried to spin this in a positive light, experts have emphatically stated that it’s a major downgrade.
“They have shot the golden goose of 2020. More of a ‘we’ll call you’ than ‘here’s the checkbook,'” leading publicist Mark Borkowski told Daily Mail. “It’s a first-look deal, which means Netflix gets first dibs but no obligation to bankroll every semi-royal whim.”
“I reckon Netflix is trimming fat industry-wide, so this is less carte blanche, more curated cameo,” he added. “They’re still in business together. Meghan’s As ever brand and seasonal specials keep them in the Netflix shop window. But make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original. So Harry and Meghan’s new Netflix chapter is less champagne budget, more Prosecco by the glass.”
Clearly, Netflix has realized that they made a huge mistake when they partnered up with Meghan and Harry in the first place. Only time will tell if Meghan is able to make her brand “go global” like she wants to, but it’s certainly not looking good for her.