Meghan Markle’s Netflix Drama Isn’t Going Away — And One Critic Is Getting Even Louder

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are busy working on their untitled scripted series about the world of polo for Netflix, but one critic won’t back off the narrative that the royal duo is on the outs with the streamer.

In March, Variety chief correspondent Matt Donnelly wrote a deep-dive report about the Sussexes’ “falling out with Netflix” amid their split over Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle brand. A Netflix spokesperson told the media outlet that the hot take was “absolutely inaccurate,” but Donnelly isn’t backing down.

The reporter appeared on the March 31 episode of The Royalist Podcast to double down on his allegations about Harry and Meghan.

“If we’re talking exclusively about Netflix, I think there’s an exhaustion at the two of them, especially as they need a lot of hand-holding,” Donnelly explained. “There’s a lot of FaceTime. There’s a lot of feedback. I think that the ultimate verdict there is that they’re a bit tiresome and that the yield, what this partnership has produced, has not quite been meaningful.”

Page Six has echoed this sentiment about the leftover products from Mehgan’s As Ever line, with Netflix “giving it away to employees” on their Hollywood campus. Donnelly and host Tom Sykes were questioning the claim that $60 million worth of products has been sold so far.

The “massive investment” from Netflix would indicate a continued partnership if it were profitable.

“If they are going from success to success to record-breaking jam haul to record-breaking jam haul, why then, after a year, does Netflix bail? Doesn’t that contradict the responsibility they have for shareholders, which is to provide value?” Donnelly continued. “It defies common sense.”

A spokesperson for Meghan’s brand told People in early March that they were “grateful” for the opportunity given to them by Netflix. “We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth, and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own,” they said. “We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.”

Despite the criticism from Donnelly, Netflix is still in the Sussex business with their upcoming polo drama. Their first production deal from 2020 was “downgraded” by the network to a first-look contract, but that’s been pretty standard in the struggling economy of Hollywood these days.

Now, it will be up to the Sussexes to prove Donnelly wrong, and he’s not backing down from his reporting, which paints a much different picture of their relationship with Netflix.

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Before you go, click here to see more of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s milestones since leaving the royal family.