Mistakes often turn into bad habits when lessons aren’t learned. Unfortunately, Meghan Markle seems to embody this cycle, as her latest misstep has landed her in yet another PR crisis. This time, she and Prince Harry have been branded with a new, unflattering nickname: "The Disaster Tourists." And based on how things are unfolding, it looks like this label might stick.
Rumor has it that Netflix executives are furious—angry enough to hold emergency meetings and potentially reconsider their deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Could this mean the end of Harry and Meghan’s partnership with the streaming giant, even before Meghan’s cooking show premieres? Let’s dive into the juicy details.
Back in 2020, Netflix signed Harry and Meghan to an eye-watering $100 million, five-year deal. While they likely didn’t receive the full amount, the expectation was clear: Netflix hoped to profit from the couple’s global fame. However, the results have been underwhelming.
To date, their projects haven’t delivered the returns Netflix was hoping for. Meghan’s latest venture—a cooking show—has already faced backlash. Its trailer on YouTube reportedly became one of the fastest to receive a record number of dislikes, racking up over 15,000 thumbs down by January 11th. For Netflix, this reception was nothing short of a disaster.
According to insiders, executives were scrambling to salvage the project, with rumors suggesting they urged Meghan to rework the trailer, add family moments, or otherwise improve the presentation. The show’s release was delayed from January to March, using the California wildfires as a convenient excuse.
The nickname “Disaster Tourists” stems from a recent public relations blunder in which Harry and Meghan visited wildfire victims in California. Instead of generating goodwill, the visit was criticized for being performative and self-serving. Critics have pointed out that their presence at the scene, complete with a camera crew, felt more like a publicity stunt than genuine compassion.
Even Fox News gave airtime to the controversy, questioning why the couple appeared front and center during such a sensitive time. Many argue that Harry and Meghan could have simply issued a statement or made a substantial donation instead of turning the tragedy into a photo opportunity.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have struggled to land significant deals outside their initial partnerships with Netflix, Spotify, and Penguin Random House. The problem? Their public image has taken repeated hits, and the couple’s “woke” narrative from 2020 feels increasingly outdated in 2025.
Hollywood is shifting away from performative activism, and the Sussexes seem out of step with the times. Meghan’s reentry into social media has also failed to gain traction, with her Instagram account reportedly stagnating at 1.5 million followers—a far cry from the global superstar status she once held.
Inside sources suggest Netflix may be eager to cut ties with Harry and Meghan. After several high-profile flops, the couple’s projects have been more embarrassing than profitable for the streaming giant. Their 2022 documentary, Harry & Meghan, faced criticism for inaccuracies and failed to secure any major awards. Meanwhile, Harry’s Heart of Invictus barely made a ripple, and Spotify dropped Meghan’s Archetypes podcast after just one season.
The latest controversy over their “disaster tourism” may have sealed their fate. Industry insiders are speculating that Harry and Meghan have been effectively blacklisted in Hollywood. Without new deals or successful projects, their future in the entertainment world looks bleak.
As Netflix reportedly counts down the days until their contract with the Sussexes ends, the question remains: can Harry and Meghan recover from this latest PR disaster?
