Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, has broken his silence on Meghan Markle‘s future with the company following the mixed reception to her eight-part lifestyle series.
With Love, Meghan was released earlier this month to brutal reviews from critics.
It also underwhelmed in the ratings, delivering barely a quarter of the viewers hooked by her 2022 documentary series Harry & Meghan.
Fellow Netflix stars have even taken to mocking the series, while the Duchess of Sussex has become a punching bag for some comedians.
Despite this, the series has been renewed for a second season – with Netflix standing firmly behind the beleaguered royal.
Speaking to Variety, Sarandos said that Markle has been ‘underestimated’ by many.
He also admitted that Netflix has a stake in her lifestyle business As Ever, which sells the various products – from edible flowers to jams and tea – that are featured in her show.
‘We’re a passive partner in Meghan’s company, and it’s a big discovery model for us right now,’ he said.
Netflix’s CEO has weighed in on the future of Meghan Markle’s lifestyle series With Love, Meghan following the show’s underwhelming reception
‘I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture,’ he continued.
‘When we dropped the trailer for the “Harry & Meghan” doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days.
‘The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.’
Netflix has already said that it will set aside space in two of their brand-new stores for Markle’s As Ever products.
The first of the As Ever stands will open in two of America’s biggest retail center, the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia and the giant Dallas Galleria.
But while details of products such as jam and pancake mix have emerged, the full range and price points have not.
With Love, Meghan was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix since its release on March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV.
But by comparison, Harry & Meghan drew in 2.1 million households in approximately the same number of days – making it four times more successful.
Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, is standing by Markle and said that she has been ‘underestimated’ and ‘overly dismissed’
Sarandos also admitted that Netflix has a stake in her lifestyle business As Ever, which sells the various products – from edible flowers to jams and tea – that are featured in her show
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With Love, Meghan was watched by more people aged between 45 to 54 than any other age group.
Despite the disappointing reception to the series, With Love, Meghan, will return for a second season soon.
The Duchess confirmed the news on Instagram, when she uploaded a post with the caption ‘I’m thrilled to share that season two of With Love, Meghan is coming.’
One Netflix insider with links to the commercial arm of the streaming giant previously told DailyMail.com that the negative reviews the show received had ‘worried’ bosses.
And a new season does not mean her Netflix contract has been renewed, DailyMail.com’s source said.
With Love, Meghan was released earlier this month to brutal reviews from critics
Meghan Markle shares sneak peek of her new show With Love, Meghan
They explained, ‘I know they filmed the shows back-to-back so in theory there is no second season it’s like with lots of Netflix shows it is already in the bag at the same time as the first one.
‘What this does is allow edits to be made to the show from feedback from press and Netflix viewers. It’s clever and cost effective. So no the overall contract hasn’t been renewed yet.’
The source added that bosses were ‘worried’ about the poor reviews – especially as they are a business partner in her lifestyle brand, which will launch in their bricks and mortar stores in the coming months.
‘The industry bibles like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are not keen on it’, the insider said.
‘Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line. They don’t know when and how to roll it all out.’c
