$100M Deal Crumbles—Markle Out

A woman smiling while engaging in conversation at an outdoor event

Netflix axes Meghan Markle’s flop lifestyle series after dismal ratings and her own complaints of exhaustion, proving celebrity hype can’t save woke Hollywood drivel from market reality.

Story Snapshot

Netflix cancels “With Love, Meghan” after two seasons and a holiday special due to poor viewership ranking #383 globally.
Markle admits the show was “a lot of work,” pivoting to her As Ever brand for easier social media content.
Holiday special hit top 10, but not enough to save the series mocked for silly tips like repackaging pretzels.
Sussexes’ $100M Netflix deal shrinks; focus shifts to romance projects amid declining success.

Netflix Pulls the Plug on Markle’s Lifestyle Flop

Netflix officially canceled Meghan Markle’s “With Love, Meghan” in January 2026 after two seasons and a December 2025 holiday special. The series debuted in March 2025 as a lifestyle and cooking show but ranked #383 in global viewership during the first half of 2025. Sources report Markle found production demands exhausting, calling it “a lot of work.” No third season is planned, though holiday special talks surfaced without progress. This ends the full-format run despite high-profile backing.

Poor Ratings and Viral Mockery Seal the Fate

The show drew ridicule for simplistic tips like repackaging store-bought pretzels and serving raw broccoli as appetizers. Awkward celebrity interactions overshadowed lifestyle content, failing to position Markle as a Martha Stewart rival. Despite 5.3 million views in six months, it stayed outside Netflix’s top 300 programs. The holiday special reached global top 10 but was filmed early, featuring Markle’s late dog Guy. Critics like The Daily Beast’s Tom Sykes called it unpolishable despite glitter.

Strategic Pivot to Lifestyle Brand Over TV Demands

Markle shifts focus to her As Ever brand, offering jams, rosé wines, and home goods with bite-sized cooking content on social media. This bypasses TV crew schedules while engaging fans directly. Archewell Productions prioritizes narrative projects like adaptations of “The Wedding Date” and “Meet Me at the Lake,” echoing personal themes. Insiders note this aligns with Markle’s preferred creative control, avoiding television’s toll.

Production staff face job losses, and guests like Mindy Kaling lose a platform. Audiences move from full episodes to quick social posts.

Shrinking Netflix Deal Reflects Market Rejection

The Sussexes’ original 2020 Netflix deal exceeded $100 million, launching with the successful 2022 “Harry & Meghan” documentary. Later projects declined, leading to an August 2025 renegotiation for a smaller first-look deal. Netflix retains Archewell for storytelling but drops lifestyle content. This shows even star power can’t sustain low-viewership genres amid streaming trends favoring narratives. Markle gains brand autonomy, but the cancellation underscores Hollywood’s accountability to real audiences over elite aspirations.