Meghan Markle’s much-hyped cooking show, *With Love, Meghan*, is struggling to find an audience, while Mindy Kaling’s Netflix comedy *Running Point* has soared to the top of the streaming charts. As Meghan’s latest venture flounders, Kaling is basking in the success of her hit series, leaving the Duchess of Sussex trailing far behind.
Mindy Kaling proudly announced on Instagram that *Running Point* was the most-streamed show of the week, racking up an astonishing 1.9 billion minutes watched. Meanwhile, despite an aggressive marketing push, *With Love, Meghan* barely made a dent in Netflix’s rankings.
The top five streaming shows included heavyweights like *1923*, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, the political thriller *Zero Day*, *Love Is Blind*, and *Reacher*, but Meghan’s project was nowhere to be seen.
Critics have not been kind to *With Love, Meghan*. *Time Magazine* called it “bland,” while *The Guardian* was even more scathing, dubbing it “joyless.” On Rotten Tomatoes, the show received a dismal 35% rating from audiences. Even Netflix insiders admitted that the show hasn’t gained traction, with viewership data suggesting audiences prefer seeing Meghan alongside Prince Harry rather than watching her solo endeavors.
In its first five days, *With Love, Meghan* barely managed 526,000 households, according to Samba TV. For comparison, *Harry & Meghan*, the couple’s documentary series, garnered 2.1 million households in the same timeframe—four times the audience. Meanwhile, *Running Point* amassed 12.2 million views this week alone, adding to last week’s impressive 9 million.
Adding an ironic twist to the situation, Mindy Kaling appeared as a guest on Meghan’s struggling show. Seated in Meghan’s rented kitchen, Kaling played along with the Duchess’s attempt at a relatable lifestyle. However, the overwhelming success of *Running Point* has proven that Kaling never needed Meghan to stay relevant.
Despite Meghan’s continuous efforts to position herself as a Hollywood powerhouse, the industry and audiences appear unconvinced. If Kaling initially saw her appearance on *With Love, Meghan* as a favor to an old friend, it’s now evident that being associated with Meghan might be more of a liability than an advantage.
At the end of the day, Mindy Kaling didn’t need to criticize Meghan Markle—she simply had to succeed. And that’s exactly what she did. While *Running Point* thrives, *With Love, Meghan* is struggling to stay afloat.
