Netflix once believed that signing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry would be a golden ticket. The idea was simple: their royal status and global fame would attract millions of subscribers. But reality turned out very different.
When the deal was signed back in 2020, Netflix executives thought the couple’s story of leaving the royal family would make them look like victims of unfair treatment. They expected audiences worldwide to sympathize and tune in. But as time passed, the content Meghan and Harry produced didn’t live up to the hype.
The big-budget documentary series in 2022 was criticized for exaggerations, and other projects didn’t generate much excitement. Meghan’s cooking-themed show also fell flat. What Netflix discovered is that famous names don’t always guarantee good content.
Behind closed doors, insiders say Netflix executives now feel they were misled by hype. Instead of strong storytelling, they got mediocre productions with little replay value. The comparison to Spotify is telling — just like Spotify’s deal with the Sussexes, Netflix feels it overpaid for promises that weren’t delivered.
Another problem is that Harry and Meghan seem to believe their personal struggles are universal stories that everyone can relate to. But audiences clearly didn’t connect in the way Netflix hoped. Without strong creative skills or truly engaging content, the couple’s fame alone wasn’t enough to carry the projects.
In short, Netflix expected royalty, glamour, and cultural influence. What they got was controversy, dwindling public interest, and content that failed to justify the hundreds of millions spent.
