Meghan Markle Accused of Plagiarizing Children’s Book Series for Netflix Show

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is currently in hot water over plagiarism accusations from British children’s author Mel Elliott. Elliott claims that Markle’s canceled animated Netflix show “Pearl” bears striking similarities to Elliott’s own “Pearl Power” book series.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Elliott expressed her disappointment and confusion over the similarities between the two projects. Despite creating her “Pearl Power” series seven years before Markle’s show was announced, Elliott noted that the resemblance was too significant to ignore.

Markle, known for her feminist beliefs and advocacy for women, has not responded to these claims. The animated series “Pearl” was part of Markle and Prince Harry’s deal with Netflix, with Markle serving as an executive producer alongside David Furnish. The show was said to be about a 12-year-old girl discovering her power and drawing inspiration from influential women throughout history. However, Netflix later revealed that they were no longer moving forward with the animation project.

Elliott’s legal team sent formal letters to Markle’s camp in 2021, alleging possible copyright infringement. Despite her efforts to communicate with Markle’s production company, Archewell Productions, and Netflix, Elliott did not receive any acknowledgment or response. She clarified that her intention was not to shut down Markle’s show but to be recognized as the original creator and potentially collaborate on the series.

Markle and Prince Harry have been actively working on various projects with Netflix, including documentaries and lifestyle series. Markle’s latest venture, “With Love, Meghan,” was met with mixed reviews and accusations of similarity to Pamela Anderson’s show.

This situation highlights the importance of acknowledging creative work and respecting intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry. The impact of these plagiarism claims on both parties remains to be seen, but it serves as a reminder of the complexities of creative inspiration and originality in the media landscape.