Netflix has reportedly cancelled Meghan Markle's 'failed' series, which drew criticism.
Meghan Markle's highly-hyped lifestyle show "Love, Meghan" will not return to Netflix for a third season amid low ratings and criticism directed at Prince Harry's wife. This was reported by Page Six, citing multiple sources.
"There won't be a series. There was talk of special episodes for the holidays, but nothing is planned yet," the outlet quotes one of its sources as saying.
Sources also report that 44-year-old Markle wants to focus instead on developing her lifestyle brand, As Ever. "People will see similar craft and cooking videos on Meghan's social media pages, but it will be a different format," one source said.
The Duchess of Sussex unveiled her new show, "Love, Meghan," as part of a $100 million streaming deal last March, aiming to compete with genre icons like Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow. But she immediately became the target of ridicule for a series of "amateurish" party-planning tips. Critics, in turn, called the show "pointless" and "narcissistic." Most of the criticism centered on the fact that filming took place in a rented mansion, not Meghan's actual home, creating the feeling of "acting" rather than real life.
Markle's series was called a flop by the media and experts. Although its first season briefly cracked the global Netflix top 10, its popularity proved short-lived. The second season failed to crack the top 10 in any country, and the show overall received an IMDb rating of 2.6 out of 10. Even the participation of such stars as renowned chef José Andrés, actresses Abigail Spencer and Mindy Kaling, Chrissy Teigen, as well as Harry himself and their children, didn't help Prince Harry's wife.
This latest setback follows a string of other failed media projects by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the US, including the short-lived "Archetypes" podcast on Spotify, which was not renewed for a second season. The Sussexes' failures come amid rumors of Prince Harry's dissatisfaction with his wife's handling of his inheritance following the couple's "elopement" from the UK, and his desire to reconcile with his family.
Фото: NetflixMatt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Children's Hospital Los Angeles