Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos discusses Meghan Markle backlash
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently weighed in on the ongoing criticism surrounding Meghan Markle and her new show, With Love, Meghan. Sarandos shared that Netflix has a stake in Meghan’s company, As Ever, and views it as a valuable partnership. He highlighted that Meghan’s cultural influence is often underestimated, pointing to the buzz generated by the release of the Harry & Meghan docuseries in 2022.
The streaming giant signed a $100 million deal with Harry and Meghan back in 2020, leading to collaborations on projects such as Polo, Heart of Invictus, and now Meghan’s latest series. With Love, Meghan follows Meghan as she shares hosting and cooking tips with notable guests in her California kitchen, including Mindy Kaling, Abigail Spencer, Alice Waters, and Roy Choi. Despite debuting in the global top 10 on Netflix, the show has faced mixed reviews from viewers.
Critics have taken aim at Meghan’s show, with Jimmy Fallon poking fun at a scene where Meghan transfers pretzels from one bag to another. The Independent gave the show a one-star review, describing it as “queasy and exhausting.” However, the second season of With Love, Meghan is set to premiere in the fall, with filming already completed.
Ultimately, Sarandos believes that Meghan and Harry are often unfairly dismissed and that their partnership with Netflix continues to be a significant discovery model for the platform. The future of their collaborations remains bright, with new projects on the horizon.
