Meghan’s latest setback at Netflix is the “kiss of death” for future brand deals, according to experts.
Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, spoke exclusively with Page Six after we revealed that the streaming service had severed ties with Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand.
“This is celebrity brand suicide in a cashmere apron,” Schiffer said, calling Markle’s “With Love, Meghan” series, which lasted just two seasons before being canceled, a “Martha Stewart rip-off.”
“Losing Netflix with ‘As Ever’ is a cruel backlash, as the halo has just been stripped away and what’s left looks like yet another failed Montecito money grab,” he continued.
The Los Angeles-based executive said Netflix’s move away from Markle was similar to Spotify’s eventual termination of its contracts with the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry.
“This pattern is starting to look like fatally unwise brand management,” he said, adding, “For Meghan, losing Netflix is the kiss of death for a pitch whose prestige partners still see endless returns.”
Asked how this latest trouble will affect Markle’s future partnerships, Schiffer said Hollywood buyers should question whether Markle, 44, has a “real audience.”
“In the network world, repeated breakups leave a bad smell,” he says. “She now smells like a well-manicured disappointment. It’s rat poison when executives already hate guns.”
Schiffer said her trading history “doesn’t close the door,” but argued it could hurt her leverage.
“My advice to them would be to eliminate the illusion of empire and build a great repeat-buy business that doesn’t require a Royal Smoker,” Schiffer suggested.
“They have to break out of their elitist bubble of inaccessible celebrity and create something people want rather than ridicule,” he concluded.
As Page Six exclusively reported on Friday, Netflix will no longer be producing any new projects with Markel’s As Ever company.
“Her show didn’t go on, so it didn’t make sense to continue the partnership,” an industry source exclusively said, referring to her Housewives show.
It is reported that Netflix and Duchess Meghan will continue to have a mutually supportive relationship, adding, “You can also look forward to seasonal specials like “With Love, Meghan.”
Netflix said in a statement that it was “thrilled to play a role in making[Markle’s]vision a reality.”
“As always intended, Meghan will continue to grow her brand and move on to the next chapter of her independence. We look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to homes around the world,” the statement said.
A representative for As Ever said the Goop-like brand is “ready to stand on its own.”
“As Ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership throughout our first year of launch,” they said.
The “Suits” alum and Duke of Sussex signed a $100 million deal with Netflix after leaving royal duties in 2020.
Under the lucrative contract, they released several projects, including the 2023 tell-all documentary series “Harry and Meghan,” which was a huge success. However, their documentaries “Polo” and “With Love, Meghan Markle” were flops.
Although Netflix is no longer working with As Ever, the company has worked with Markle and Harry on several other endeavors, including the book adaptations of “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date.” The former was acquired by Netflix for approximately $3 million.
Page Six revealed this week that both projects have stalled, with one Hollywood source saying, “It’s not good for Netflix to take three years to develop a movie like this.”
What’s more, the Sussexes’ documentary Cookie Queens has yet to be acquired by a distributor or distributor, even though it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Page Six has contacted Markle’s representatives for comment.
