Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stripped of their Royal status, have a new problem to face. It is that they have no new deals and are scrambling for work in Hollywood.
According to the British tabloids and a royal commentator’s predictions, they have “failed in Hollywood,” and will see a downward career trajectory in 2024.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Have No Work Currently
No longer a Princess, Meghan Markle teased many “exciting and upcoming projects” in the new year. And yet, if you believe the sources, they are waiting on new deals. Ever since they outed the Royals in their “bare-all” interview special with Oprah Winfrey, they have been signing lucrative network deals.
But last year, their Spotify deal ended abruptly after a single podcast season of “Archetypes.” Even after winning “Pop Podcast of 2022,” the series was cancelled by the network citing revenue issues. There were almost 10 million listeners for the show, but it didn’t manage to bring in enough money. Meanwhile, Netflix silently backed out of Meghan’s animated series Pearl.
No Income Stream
Per the opinion of Tom Bower, a royal author, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have got no credibility in Hollywood.” All their efforts to relaunch themselves in showbiz and make a lasting mark have been unsuccessful. “They are just putting on a good face,” he said, adding, “They’ve got no new income streams, no new companies.”
Bower’s claims also mention that Meghan Markle, aged 42, is “desperate” for a new role, and perhaps that’s why she stayed “so silent” in recent months. When asked for a comment, Bill Simmons, the Spotify executive, called Harry and Meghan “f***ing grifters” as their streaming deal got canned.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Played Victims
One reason experts cite for their downfall is that they played the “victim card” too much in 2023. Netflix claimed a lack of subscribers to end Meghan’s show, while Spotify cited the lack of sufficient income. The Hollywood Reporter branded them “Hollywood’s biggest losers” after their UK security case. After Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” came out, the couple gained “sour” public opinion.
2023 was pretty miserable, except for the success of their Invictus Games and philanthropy campaigns. Charlene Sweeney, a PR expert has a suggestion for the couple. They must consider their next steps, enjoy the relative high of small victories, and stop being victims. “Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t scared of a fight. If there is one thing the public loves, it is an underdog, and two are better” she encourages them.
However, Meghan is teasing big commercial launches soon, as quoted in Variety magazine. “We’re just really proud of what we are creating, and my husband is loving it too,” she said. She is also back to taking up on-camera work, as seen in a coffee ad cameo. Note that Meghan Markle declined the “Suits” reunion for the Golden Globes, indicating she is not as desperate for work as the media says.
