Netflix has pulled the plug on Meghan Markle’s lifestyle series after dismal ratings and the Duchess admitting the show was simply too exhausting to continue producing.
Story Snapshot
- Netflix canceled “With Love, Meghan” after two seasons that ranked #383 globally in viewership, despite the Sussexes’ $100 million production deal.
- Markle cited production demands as “a lot of work” and is pivoting to bite-sized social media content for her As Ever lifestyle brand instead.
- The show drew viral mockery for simplistic tips like repackaging store-bought pretzels and serving raw broccoli as appetizers.
- The cancellation marks another failed attempt by the Sussexes to replicate the success of their 2022 documentary, raising questions about their Netflix partnership’s viability.
Celebrity Status Doesn’t Guarantee Streaming Success
Netflix officially canceled Meghan Markle’s lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” in January 2026 after the show ranked a dismal #383 in global viewership during its first half of 2025. The cancellation comes despite the Sussexes’ reported $100 million production deal signed in 2020, which was supposed to position them as major content creators. While a December 2025 holiday special briefly cracked the top 10, this temporary bump proved insufficient to justify continued full-season production. The Duchess herself acknowledged the show was “a lot of work,” citing production demands as a primary factor in ending the series after two seasons.
From Martha Stewart Aspirations to Viral Mockery
The series attempted to position Markle as a lifestyle authority comparable to Martha Stewart or Gwyneth Paltrow, but audiences rejected the premise entirely. The show became infamous for offering absurdly simplistic advice, including repackaging store-bought pretzels, serving raw broccoli as appetizers, and placing flower petals in ice cubes. Critics panned the content, with The Daily Beast likening it to the British saying “you can’t polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter.” The show’s awkward celebrity interactions and lack of genuine expertise exposed the hollowness of trading on royal titles rather than demonstrable skills or authentic content.
Renegotiated Netflix Deal Signals Recalibration
The Sussexes renegotiated their Netflix contract in August 2025, securing a smaller deal with a first-look option for Archewell Productions content. This recalibration followed declining viewership across their projects after their 2022 documentary “Harry & Meghan” became Netflix’s fifth most-viewed documentary. The couple now focuses on narrative storytelling projects, including adaptations of romance novels “The Wedding Date” and “Meet Me at the Lake.” This strategic shift away from lifestyle content suggests Netflix lost confidence in the Sussexes’ ability to deliver competitive programming in that genre, despite their high-profile status and substantial financial investment.
Strategic Pivot or Admission of Failure
Markle is redirecting her efforts toward her As Ever lifestyle brand, promising “bite-sized” cooking and crafting content on social media instead of polished television productions. Insiders claim this pivot allows her to bypass television crew schedules while engaging audiences on her own terms. However, this explanation conveniently glosses over the objective failure of the Netflix series to attract viewers or critical acclaim. The shift represents a retreat from the accountability and production standards required by major streaming platforms to the controlled environment of branded social media, where authenticity and expertise matter less than cultivated image. For American conservatives who value merit over celebrity status, this cancellation demonstrates that even massive financial backing and royal connections cannot substitute for genuine talent and compelling content.
Sources:
Netflix Cancels Meghan Markle’s Show ‘With Love,’ Report – The Daily Beast
Meghan Markle Netflix Series Cancelled – She Finds
