Meghan Markle's 'Underwhelming' Guest List: Netflix Steps In
MEGHAN MARKLE'S NETFLIX FLOP: 'UNDERWHELMING' CAST, CRITICISM, AND A 'DOWNGRADED' DEAL
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is facing a backlash over her Netflix show "With Love, Meghan," which has been panned by critics and viewers alike. Sources close to the streaming giant have revealed that the show's second season will feature a cast of "random people" known to Markle, including her makeup artist and pilates instructor.
The lackluster lineup is in stark contrast to the A-list guests that were rumored to be joining the show, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and a Kardashian. Instead, viewers will see Chrissy Teigen, Tan France from "Queer Eye," and Jay Shetty, among others.
But what's really got tongues wagging is the news that Netflix has stepped in to bail out Markle, packing her show with people who have existing deals with the streamer. It's understood that most of these guests are TV chefs, and many of them have ties to WME, the talent agency that also represents the Duchess.
"It's very underwhelming," a British Hollywood insider told The Scholarly Note.com. "It's really down to Meghan to get the stars. Where is Oprah, Michelle Obama or a Kardashian? It's just a bunch of random people she knows."
The show's trailer has been viewed a whopping 380,000 times on YouTube, but with a dismal 32,000 dislikes compared to a mere 2,900 likes. Fans have been left unimpressed by the guests, who are mostly unknown outside of Markle's inner circle.
The biggest name on the list is arguably Chrissy Teigen, but her appearance has been marred by controversy due to her "mean girl" past and online safety concerns. Jay Shetty and his wife Radhi Devlukia are also featured, as well as Queer Eye star Tan France, who is a vocal supporter of the Sussexes.
But don't expect to see any A-list celebrities on Markle's show anytime soon. In fact, insiders claim that Netflix has effectively taken over the production of "With Love, Meghan," packing it with people who have existing deals with the streamer.
"It's not like they're gradually uncoupling – it's a downgrade," PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Scholarly Note.com. "Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It's Netflix saying, 'Let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate.'"
Borkowski believes that the couple will be paid for each production selected by Netflix, rather than receiving an overall fee like they did in their original contract.
"I would be surprised if it's not pay-as-you-go and it's well, well below that first mark," he added. "It's a 'we'll call you' deal, rather than a 'here's the chequebook' one."
The new deal has been dubbed a "downgrade" by experts, with some claiming that Markle and Harry are now at the mercy of Netflix.
"It's not like they're negotiating from a position of strength," said Borkowski. "They're just trying to get back into the game, and it shows in the deal they've got."
The drama doesn't stop there, as Markle is also set to film a Christmas special for broadcast in December, which may clash with the Princess of Wales' annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
But what's really got everyone talking is the fact that Markle's show has failed to break into Netflix's top 300 programs for the first half of 2025. The numbers watching are "dismal," according to an insider at the streamer, with some claiming that the show is actually being beaten by multiple seasons of Suits.
The first season of "With Love, Meghan" was met with widespread criticism, with many calling it "sensationally absurd and trite." Markle herself was panned for her hosting skills, with one reviewer describing her as "tone-deaf."
"It vibrates with vacuous joylessness," the reviewer wrote. "I've seen more excitement in a bucket of paint drying."
The show's IMDB rating is a paltry 3.2 out of 10, while its Rotten Tomatoes score is a mere 38%, indicating that the TV show is considered "rotten" by critics.
In one particularly cringeworthy moment, Markle was seen putting pretzels from the packet into a plastic bag, chiding a guest for using her married name instead of Sussex. And things took a dark turn when one viewer threatened to sue after claiming that Markle's recipe for homemade bath salts burned their skin.
It seems that Markle and Harry are facing a bit of a crisis at Netflix, but will they be able to turn things around with their new deal? Only time will tell.