Harry and Meghan’s partnership with Netflix has been ‘far from a fairy tale’, according to an explosive new report. But what does it all mean for the couple going forward?
Netflix is ‘done’ with Harry and Meghan, according to a brutal takedown of the couple in Hollywood entertainment bible Variety(Image: Netflix)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been plunged into chaos as fresh allegations have emerged about their ill-fated Netflix deal – and now an expert has issued a stern warning.
In a blistering new report, Hollywood bible Variety has claimed that the streaming giant is “done” with the Sussexes, and that the union between both parties has been “far from a fairy tale”.
The lucrative collaboration began in September 2020 – nine months after Harry and Meghan quit royal life. The couple signed a five-year deal with Netflix in September 2020 in a bid to achieve financial independence in their post-royal lives.
Their six-part docuseries Harry & Meghan became a major hit for the platform – but follow-up projects failed to resonate with viewers, including Heart of Invictus, and Polo.
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Then, in March 2025, came the first season of With Love, Meghan. It was widely panned and the second season and a holiday special failed to make the top 1,000 shows on Netflix in 2025. It has since been confirmed it will not be returning for a third series.
When their five-year deal came to an end last summer, it was announced that the Sussexes’ contract was being downgraded to a less lucrative “first look deal” that gave Netflix first refusal on any new projects. Then, just this month, it was announced that Netflix was parting ways with Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever, making it fully independent, having previously been supported financially by the streaming giant.
Could all this signal the end of Harry and Meghan’s Hollywood dream? There have long been questions about what the couple’s future looks like; critics have noted that their biggest success has been intrinsically linked to their public grievances about the royal family.
When the couple stepped down as working royals, their focus appeared to be on philanthropy and charity work. But Harry was dealt a devastating blow last year when he stepped down from his charity Sentebale, which he founded in Lesotho and Botswana in 2006, after years of turmoil and in-fighting with senior staffers.
And now it’s been suggested that the couple’s connection to the monarchy is their only selling power. Variety claims: “The Sussexes’ perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix.”
Now, with their complaints aired and family still estranged, what does the future really look like for the couple? We spoke to Mayah Riaz, a PR to the stars, about how the couple can manage the unfolding crisis and claw back some brand power.
According to Mayah, this might not necessarily be the end of the couple’s Hollywood dream – “but it’s definitely a reality check”. “Netflix was their biggest credibility marker in Hollywood and losing that kind of backing dents their ‘power couple’ status,” she warns.
“That said, in PR terms, relevance really is currency and they do still have plenty of it. The danger for them isn’t disappearing, it’s becoming overexposed without a clear hit project. Right now, they risk looking like celebrities without a defining success story.”
Harry, Mayah argues, does still have “strong individual brand equity, particularly around his military background and charitable work” – in contrast to his wife. “He comes across as more relatable and less polarising than Meghan in the public eye,” she says.
“From a PR standpoint, I would say that he is the safer asset. If managed correctly, he could pivot into a more respected, purpose-led figure. The challenge is that right now, he feels tied to a joint narrative that sadly isn’t always working in his favour.”
Mayah believes that in order to regain authenticity, the couple now need to “simplify and reconnect”. “What’s needed is less glossy deals, more grounded storytelling,” she suggests. “Audiences are tired of what feels like curated vulnerability.
“If they want authenticity back, they need to show consistency between what they say and what they do. A strong move for them would be focusing on one meaningful project and seeing it through properly rather than spreading themselves too thin. In short, less talking, more doing.”
Mayah also reflected on Meghan’s upcoming appearance at a £1,400 per person ‘girls’ weekend’ in Australia. The event, led by , Her Best Life podcast founder Gemma O’Neill, is being held in Sydney from April 17 to April 19. Meghan and Gemma will discuss, “life, parenting, relationships, building a global business and navigating a public persona”.
Invitees are promised time for discussions, wellness sessions, and social gatherings designed to bring women together for what the organisers describe as “powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter, and unforgettable experiences”.
It has led to questions as to whether this is a philanthropic tour – or commercial. Meghan has long been accused of cashing in on her royal status, something the late Queen expressly forbade when the Sussexes’ requested a half-in-half-out royal deal.
Tickets for the event start at an eye-watering £1,439, which covers accommodation at a beach-side Sydney hotel and access to three days of events, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.
But those wanting to get even closer to Meghan can purchase the VIP experience tickets, which are being sold for £1,705 per person. This ticket also includes guaranteed seating at a table in front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, as well as a group table photo with the Duchess.
“Well, this is where perception becomes a problem,” Mayah warns. “At a time when they’re facing criticism around relatability and authenticity, attaching her name to a high-ticket, exclusive event feels totally tone deaf. It plays into the narrative that they are out of touch. It risks undermining any message about wanting to connect with everyday people.
“The optics really matter, and this one is tricky. It sends the message that access to Meghan is a luxury product, which really doesn’t sit comfortably with the brand they’ve been trying to build.
“Overall, I’d say this isn’t a collapse, but it is a turning point. They either reset and become more focused and credible, or they risk drifting into celebrity noise without substance.”
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