In an era of celebrity saturation and a persistent divide between the haves and have-nots, the public fascination and criticism of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continues unabated.
Their latest venture, the Netflix lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, has again thrust the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into the spotlight. While the series promises a blend of cooking, crafting, and celebrity guest appearances, its reception has been anything but universally warm.
A polarising brand in a fractured economy
The timing of With Love, Meghan is particularly fraught. With inflation and rising living costs dominating headlines across the globe, critics have labelled the show “tone-deaf.” Royal expert Hugo Vickers recently told The Sun, “The sort of food she’s producing is not going to appeal to a lot of people who can’t afford to buy that sort of thing.” This critique raises a broader concern: can Meghan and Harry truly connect with audiences beyond their affluent bubble?
In the United States, where the Sussexes have cultivated their new lives, economic pressures are biting hard. A recent poll revealed that a majority of Americans feel worse off than they did four years ago. Against this backdrop, a show featuring elevated recipes and curated moments of joy may unintentionally fan the fire between Meghan and her viewers.
The Netflix deal: A double-edged sword
The couple’s $100 million deal with Netflix, signed in 2020, shows their ambition to build a media empire. Yet the very platform they hoped would cement their new identities has also amplified public scepticism.
Thus far, their projects, including the docu-series Harry & Meghan, have been characterised by high visibility but mixed reception. The couple’s insistence on being seen as “normal” jars with the opulence and exclusivity that their lifestyle, and by extension, their content, inevitably conveys.
It’s worth noting that their contract with Netflix covers both scripted and unscripted content, children’s programming, and documentaries.
However, the success of this multi-year partnership depends not only on ratings but also on public perception. A string of projects perceived as out of touch could erode their brand value, even among their core supporters.
Meghan brings her personal touch to the screen, sharing recipes, creativity, and a bit of heart in With Love, Meghan.
A missed opportunity?
With Love, Meghan could have been a chance to bridge divides. Meghan’s framing of the show as a pursuit of joy and connection is admirable, but it risks coming across as unrelatable to the very audiences it seeks to charm. One might wonder if a more grounded format, like Conan O’Brien’s podcast, which connects with everyday people, could have better demonstrated Meghan’s often-touted empathy and relatability.
Instead, the glossy, curated aesthetic of the trailer reinforces the perception that the Sussexes are out of step with the struggles of ordinary people. Meghan McCain summarised this sentiment on social media: “Americans can’t pay for groceries… and Meghan Markle is hosting lifestyle shows.”
The broader brand implications
The success of With Love, Meghan will inevitably impact the Sussexes’ broader brand. As public figures, their image is their currency. Meghan and Harry have sought to pivot from royal life to a more modern, cause-driven celebrity model. Yet their struggles to shake off accusations of hypocrisy, such as using private jets while advocating for environmental causes, remain a thorn in their side.
What’s at stake is not just the success of their Netflix deal but their ability to maintain relevance and authenticity. If they wish to be seen as champions of causes or relatable figures, their future projects may require a recalibration of tone and substance.
Harry and Meghan team up for a candid moment, giving viewers a peek into their lives and shared passions in With Love, Meghan.
So, where do they go from here?
The Sussexes’ foray into media production is still in its early stages. They have the resources and platform to create meaningful, impactful content. But as With Love, Meghan demonstrates, public perception is a fickle beast. For Meghan and Harry, the challenge lies in striking the delicate balance between leveraging their celebrity and truly connecting with audiences, a feat that remains tantalisingly just out of reach.
If the couple can learn from these early missteps, they may yet redefine their legacy beyond the walls of Buckingham Palace. Until then, their Netflix deal will remain both a huge opportunity and a lightning rod for criticism.
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