Meghan Markle‘s As Ever brand deal with Netflix reportedly left the company with millions of dollars in the hole.
Industry insiders and sources revealed that the streaming giant “cut a loss” after deciding to end their partnership with the duchess’s lifestyle brand, with many claiming there was no point in continuing the deal since Meghan’s cooking show will not be returning for a third season.
The latest report comes after Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, were called out in a bombshell exposé about their alleged struggles to find footing in Hollywood.
Meghan Markle’s Netflix Partnership Reportedly Ends In Loss: As Ever Brand Fails To Deliver Returns
Meghan has come under severe scrutiny after it was revealed that her lifestyle brand As Ever’s partnership with Netflix had ended after less than a year.
The lifestyle brand launched alongside her series “With Love, Meghan,” which is not expected to continue into a third season.
Behind the scenes, insiders shared with Page Six that the streaming giant invested millions but saw limited returns, leading to a quiet exit from the deal.
“Netflix put millions behind this deal, and I don’t think they saw a return whatsoever. They just cut a loss,” a source said.
Others noted that there was no need for the streaming giant to maintain the lifestyle brand deal, as Meghan’s “With Love, Meghan” has also reportedly been canned.
Insiders Claim Some Netflix Staff Disliked Working With The Duchess on Her Show
There are also murmurs of internal friction, with a Netflix staffer telling the news outlet that some individuals “did not enjoy working with Meghan on her lifestyle show.
However, the source also noted that “there is no love lost” between Meghan and many at Netflix since the end of “With Love, Meghan.”
The duchess herself once acknowledged the intense demands of building both a show and a brand, describing the process as “incredibly liberating” and “incredibly lonely.”
A Netflix source added they were surprised by the split, asking: “Why ever in the world would Netflix put all this money into the deal and then say the plan was to let it go after 11 months?”
They added, “You can try to spin it whatever way you want, but it’s just not true.”
Meghan Markle’s Relationship With Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos
Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who originally backed the Sussexes with a reported $100 million deal in 2020, has consistently expressed confidence in Meghan’s cultural influence.
Though rumors of tension have circulated, representatives on both sides insist there’s been no major fallout.
Sarandos had previously praised the As Ever brand, telling Variety that Meghan is “underestimated in terms of her influence on culture” and calling the venture “a big discovery model” for Netflix.
While some within Hollywood suggested the working relationship had grown strained, with communication reportedly difficult at times, the Sussex reps firmly deny these claims.
The Duchess And The Netflix CEO Don’t Have A ‘Relationship Like They Used To’
Insiders note that although certain Netflix staff may have grown frustrated working with the couple, Sarandos has generally remained open to giving them another chance.
Their connection extends beyond business: the Sussexes and Sarandos, along with his wife Nicole Avant, are Montecito neighbors and are reportedly still on friendly terms.
However, sources indicate “Meghan and Ted don’t have a relationship like they used to.”
This claim has been further fueled by reports that Sarandos unfollowed Meghan’s personal Instagram page and that of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, leaving many speculating about the true state of their relationship.
Meghan Markle’s Zoom Absences Explained As Parenting, Not Disengagement, Amid Netflix Rumors
Adding to the speculation, Variety reported that Meghan allegedly “disappeared” during Zoom meetings when she felt offended.
Some teams, including marketing, were told Markle’s long absences were because she was upset by something said during meetings.
Meghan’s lawyer, Michael J. Kump, countered this claim in a statement, explaining that the royal “works from home, is the mother of young children aged 4 and 6, and often encounters children who enter the space unexpectedly during a meeting.”
He added, “Independent of being a parent who works from home, Meghan is also conscious of shielding her team from the distraction of children. Nearly all professionals can attest to needing to turn off the audio or camera during a virtual meeting at some point during many hours of virtual business calls.”
