There’s no doubt about it: Netflix’s new series, With Love, Meghan, is a ratings disaster. We all know it, and Netflix knows it too. That’s exactly why executives are scrambling to do damage control for the series. They’ve dialed back on marketing funds, which is why you’re not seeing many commercials, ads, or TV spots for the show. This speaks volumes about the show’s reception.
Meghan Markle is currently on what I’ll call a “mini” press tour—and I say “mini” because it’s far from what Netflix originally planned. The streaming giant has canceled numerous interviews and appearances, focusing instead on promoting other celebrities and projects. Meanwhile, more personalities are coming forward to express their opinions about With Love, Meghan, and the criticism is pouring in.
One of the most vocal critics is Mel Gibson, who recently called out Meghan’s show in the best way possible. Gibson, a true patriot and Hollywood veteran, didn’t hold back. He criticized the lazy storytelling and concepts plaguing the streaming era, particularly targeting Netflix and Meghan’s series.
Gibson said, “When you take a closer look at this new era of streaming, where fewer people are going to theaters, it shows how much producers have royally screwed up. Even with streaming, you’re getting very lazy storytelling and concepts. Like what Netflix is doing with this show—I don’t even know what it’s called, but it’s with Meghan Markle doing all these fake, phony things on camera. Nobody wants to watch that. People are tired of being hypnotized by reality TV and all this other garbage floating around on platforms like Netflix.”
He continued, “Netflix can do better. They have it in them, but it’s wrong of them to stoop down to focusing on someone like Meghan Markle. Producers believe a name like hers will bring success because she’s connected to royalty, but they forgot to pay attention to the tons of critics surrounding her. Why did Netflix pursue her and hand her a $100 million contract? It’s beyond me.”
Gibson also pointed out that this isn’t just a problem with Meghan’s show. He mentioned Disney+ as another example of platforms pumping out lackluster content. “People are growing tired of the streaming era because it’s just lazy projects being produced by inexperienced or incompetent producers and executives. Things need to shape up, and they need to shape up now.”
Gibson isn’t alone in his criticism. Many are fed up with Hollywood’s current direction, where ideology and messaging often take precedence over quality storytelling. He emphasized, “Hollywood needs to get with the program and understand that their ideology and messaging is not a great business model. It’s just not. If I were Netflix, I’d split from Meghan right now. You don’t need someone connected to royalty to become successful. Look at what Sylvester Stallone did with Tulsa King on Paramount. That’s a living legend right there.”
Gibson’s comments highlight a growing frustration with the entertainment industry’s reliance on big names and shallow concepts rather than genuine creativity. He praised actors like Sylvester Stallone, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and James Woods for speaking the truth and pushing back against the industry’s decline.
Gibson’s critique ties into a broader cultural shift happening in Hollywood. Many believe the industry is out of touch with what audiences truly want. The rise of streaming platforms was supposed to revolutionize entertainment, but instead, it’s led to an oversaturation of mediocre content.
With Love, Meghan is a prime example of this problem. The show, which focuses on cooking and lifestyle tips, has failed to connect with audiences. Critics argue that it’s nothing more than a vanity project for Meghan, lacking substance and originality.
Gibson’s call for change is a wake-up call for Netflix and other streaming platforms. The industry needs to refocus on quality storytelling and stop relying on big names and gimmicks to attract viewers. As Gibson put it, “Netflix has the ability to turn things around, but they’re not going to do that anytime soon unless things truly hit rock bottom.”
Mel Gibson’s bold critique of With Love, Meghan and the state of Hollywood resonates with many who are tired of lazy storytelling and overhyped projects. Netflix’s decision to invest heavily in Meghan Markle’s series has backfired, and it’s clear that audiences want more than just a famous name attached to a project.
