After Variety published a detailed exposé revealing internal issues within the Sussex camp, the outlet’s chief correspondent, Matt Donnelly, joined The Royalist Podcast to elaborate on why he considers the situation “nightmare fuel.”
For context, the Variety profile was brutally candid, highlighting everything from the couple’s “poor communication” to “weak audience numbers,” and even the friction they allegedly caused within their professional circles.
Now, weeks after the article’s release, Donnelly has revisited the topic. When asked by host Mr. Sykes about the claims made by As Ever, he stated bluntly that the situation “defies common sense.”
One of the most striking claims from As Ever was that they supposedly sold $60 million worth of jam — allegedly outperforming major jam producers. As the podcast host pointed out, “It’s difficult to believe Netflix would cut ties with them if that were true.” The more likely explanation, he suggested, is that “the brand simply hasn’t taken off.”
Donnelly emphasized an important point: Netflix is a publicly traded corporation. “If they chose to make a massive investment in a new consumer-goods experiment like As Ever,” he said, recalling an on-record interview with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos from last March, “then the program was meant to function as a discovery model for Netflix.”
He added that, according to his sources and previous reporting, Netflix financed everything — from production and shipping to branding. “This was a huge financial commitment,” he said. So, if the company was supposedly celebrating one record-breaking jam milestone after another, Donnelly questioned, “Why would Netflix walk away after only a year? How does that align with their duty to deliver shareholder value? It simply doesn’t make sense.”
That line of questioning is part of what reportedly prompted Prince Harry and Meghan to respond through a letter from their attorney, Michael J. Kump. The letter branded several allegations — including claims that Meghan repeatedly interrupted meetings — as “categorically false.”
It also underscored that Meghan works remotely while caring for two young children, ages four and six, and naturally encounters occasional interruptions, just like many parents working from home.
The statement further noted that Meghan makes deliberate efforts to shield her team from household distractions. As the letter explained, most professionals have had to mute their audio or turn off their camera at some point during long virtual workdays — a common reality, not evidence of misconduct.
