Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take a major blow after Netflix threw them to the wolves at its star-studded season launch in LA. As Harry and Meghan’s five-year deal with Netflix reaches its final year, royal enthusiasts and fans are on the lookout to know whether or not the streaming giant will renew the contract, or pull the plug for good. So far, Netflix has given no indication of their plans for the future with the Sussexes. However, fans and experts have made wild guesses, betting on Harry and Meghan’s axing.
Netflix appeared to hint at this decision ahead of the deal’s expiration, during a celeb-packed bash showcasing their biggest stars. During the big night at the Los Angeles Egyptian Theatre, stars like Ben Affleck, John Mulaney, and Tina Fey turned up, snagging opportunities to promote their latest and upcoming projects. While it is unclear if Harry and Meghan Markle received invitations to attend the bash, the two were notably absent.
Meghan Markle’s Cooking Show Sidelined During Netflix Bash
The streamer also flashed clips from these projects through the screen, including movies and documentaries. While upcoming projects by the likes of Victoria Beckham and even Barrack Obama had their moments on screen, Netflix appeared to sideline Meghan Markle’s upcoming show, With Love, Meghan, which debuts on March 4.
Aside from the apparent omission of Meghan’s show from the lineup, Saturday Night Live comedian, John Mulaney who would debut his new Netflix talk show next month, made Meghan Markle and Prince Harry the butt of the joke during his set. The comedian took a swipe at the couple’s Netflix deal and film-making record, dubbing it part of “a really fun experiment.” He joked,
“Not since Harry and Meghan has Netflix given more money to someone without a specific plan.”
Netflix’s Apparent Snub Did Not Go Unnoticed
Mulaney’s jab at the Sussexes attracted “snickering” from the audience, according to an attendee. One guest admittedly found it shocking that not only did Netflix omit the mention one of of their most talked-about stars (save for a passing montage), but they also allowed their public ridicule at such a prestigious event. The guest lamented,
“It was shocking to me that Netflix would seemingly allow Meghan and Harry to be ridiculed at such a prestige event,’ she said. ‘The head honchos were all there. And how strange that a show by the couple who signed a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix barely featured – apart from one brief clip in a montage. Even filmmaker Tyler Perry, the guy who loaned his LA house to the Sussexes after Megxit, got a mention. It really felt like Netflix doesn’t give a d*mn.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix snub and Mulaney’s open swipe highlight the extent of the couple’s fall from grace, fueling assertions that America has fallen out of love with them. Some consider the incessant negative publicity, scathing publications, and hostile representation of the couple’s image part of a campaign to make clear to the Sussexes that Hollywood was done with them. Whether or not the message is passed across is left to be seen.
