Meghan Markle's Netflix Cooking Show Faces Backlash as She Walks Out of Meeting!
Meghan Markle’s latest post-royal venture has turned into another PR disaster. The Duchess of Sussex’s highly anticipated Netflix cooking show has faced overwhelming backlash months before its scheduled premiere, and insiders claim that Meghan recently stormed out of a crucial Netflix meeting after executives presented her with over 20,000 email complaints from subscribers.
The cooking show, tentatively titled At Home with Meghan, was intended to mark her return to Netflix after the mixed reception of Harry & Meghan. However, her attempt to reinvent herself as a culinary expert has been met with skepticism, and the show seems to have left a bad taste in viewers' mouths.
Meghan’s cooking show aimed to feature her preparing elevated comfort food in her $4.5 million Montecito mansion. Each episode would include personal anecdotes about her life, as well as her attempt to master various culinary techniques. But critics have quickly dismissed the concept as tone-deaf, particularly in light of the show's perceived disconnect from reality.
Sources close to the production say that Netflix allocated a large portion of the $10 million budget to creating a picture-perfect kitchen set in Meghan's mansion, complete with custom copper cookware and imported Italian marble countertops. Industry experts note that the food often seemed like a backdrop to Meghan’s attempt at creating a lifestyle brand, rather than a genuine cooking show.
The controversy intensified when leaked production notes revealed that professional chefs were hired off-camera to perfect the recipes that Meghan would later recreate for filming. This revelation sparked outrage among cooking enthusiasts and royal critics, who accused the Duchess of authenticity issues. Some felt that her image as a domestic goddess was at odds with her past career as a lifestyle blogger, where her expertise was more focused on avocado toast than culinary skills.
In a tense meeting, Netflix executives presented Meghan with the shocking feedback from the 20,000 subscribers who had expressed their dissatisfaction with the concept. The complaints centered on concerns about her lack of culinary credentials, her perceived tone-deaf approach to food, and the extravagant $10 million budget during a time of global economic hardship. One particularly scathing email read aloud during the meeting said, “We want real chefs with real experience, not another celebrity vanity project. This isn’t what we pay our subscription for.”
According to an insider, Meghan was caught off guard by the overwhelming criticism and could not handle the backlash. She walked into the meeting expecting praise for her vision but instead found herself confronted with a storm of disapproval. Reports say that Meghan grew increasingly agitated, throwing her designer binder across the table before declaring, “You clearly don’t understand my vision or my worth.” She then left the room, leaving her stunned team and Netflix executives to deal with the fallout.
Although Prince Harry was not present at the meeting, sources say he has been frantically trying to salvage the situation. He reportedly made multiple calls to Netflix executives in an attempt to rescue what would have been the couple's third major project with the streaming giant. However, some industry insiders suggest that Netflix might be secretly relieved to have an excuse to cancel the show.
This latest setback adds to the growing list of challenges the Sussexes have faced in their content creation journey. Their production company, Archewell Productions, has struggled to produce hits since signing a massive deal with Netflix. While their documentary series Harry & Meghan initially generated buzz, it failed to maintain long-term viewer interest. Their other projects have faced delays and setbacks, and experts predict that the cooking show’s cancellation could cost the couple millions in potential earnings.
Financial analysts have also raised concerns about the couple's ability to maintain their lavish lifestyle without consistent content production. Media analyst Jennifer Chin notes, “They’re running out of stories to tell and angles to exploit. At some point, you have to deliver substance over style.”
The cooking show debacle has reignited criticism of the Sussexes’ post-royal career choices. Royal watchers have pointed out the irony of Meghan, who struggled with royal duties, thinking she could navigate the competitive and often brutal world of streaming content creation. Victoria Howard, a royal commentator, remarked, “There’s a certain irony in someone who couldn’t handle royal duties thinking they could handle the brutal world of streaming content.”
Following the meeting, sources claim that Meghan has retreated to her Montecito mansion, reportedly devastated by the public's reaction to the show. She is also said to be angry at Netflix for not defending her vision more vigorously. The custom kitchen set, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install, now sits unused, a symbol of yet another failed Sussex enterprise.
Industry experts suggest that this latest setback could have lasting implications for the couple’s relationship with Netflix and their broader media aspirations. Robert Martinez, a media consultant, explained, “There’s a growing perception that their brand might be more of a liability than an asset.”
As news of the cooking show’s troubled development spreads, social media has been flooded with memes and jokes about Meghan’s culinary ambitions. Popular references include her infamous avocado toast controversy and the suggestion that her next show could be titled How to Cook Up Drama.
The incident has also reignited discussions about the couple's apparent disconnect from public sentiment, particularly at a time when many people are struggling with rising living costs. Cultural critic Sarah Bennett notes, “Launching a show about cooking in a multi-million dollar mansion shows a remarkable lack of awareness.”
This latest controversy marks another chapter in Meghan Markle’s post-royal career, and it remains to be seen whether the Sussexes can recover from yet another public relations misstep.
