Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been left reeling after a major ‘wrecking ball’ moment – and it speaks volumes about their standing in Hollywood, according to an expert
Hollywood is ‘done’ with Harry and Meghan, according to one expert
The Sussexes initially looked set to have an exciting year ahead of them as Meghan returned to social media to announce her new Netflix series.
But they were quickly hit with a series of setbacks, with Hollywood now said to have washed their hands of the royal couple. The Duchess was forced to postpone the launch of her series by two months due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, and a short time later, both Meghan and Harry were branded “disaster tourists” after helping out at a food distribution centre for victims of the fires.
Then came a major ‘wrecking ball moment’ – the publication of a scathing article on the couple in Vanity Fair. The 8,000-word piece, titled ‘American Hustle’, set out what life was like ’Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Big Business Ambitions, 5 Years After Their Royal Exit’.
It contained a series of troubling claims about what it’s like to work for the couple, alleged complaints from their neighbours in Montecito, and the bombshell allegation that a member of Meghan’s team reached out to a publishing house to “gauge interest” in a post-divorce book. It has been seen by many as the final nail in the coffin for the couple and their Hollywood ambitions.
Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan told host Kinsey Schofield on the podcast ‘Recollections May Vary’: “This cover story has a lot of teeth which is something most publications no longer have. Vanity Fair thought that they could take a wrecking ball to these two and just obliterate them, it tells you everything we need to know about where they stand in the industry.
“Whether it’s publishing, podcasting, streaming. It followed the Hollywood Reporter story, which basically said Hollywood is done with them.”
Harry and Meghan have not publicly commented on the Vanity Fair article but they are said to have been left ‘distressed’, according to a source. Royal commentator Kinsey previously told Sky News Australia: “It is my understanding that they are upset over it [and] I’m being told that things aren’t good for them right now, between Meghan’s show being postponed, which I’ve heard was Netflix’s idea, and just the idea that she has worked so hard to rebrand herself and here comes a very respected publication reiterating some of the nastiest claims about her.”
She added: “So I think they are bruised and they’re sitting back trying to figure out how to process going forward.” Despite the criticisms being levelled at the couple, they did recently receive some support from Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, who insisted she is ‘excited’ about the plans in the works from Harry and Meghan.
She told the Daily Mail : “We have Meghan’s new show coming out, which is great. It is such a great take on a lifestyle show and showcase for California, Montecito and nature. It really has great takeaways. I was like oh my God, I want to really do that pasta.’ There are really easy great takeaways on life. I am really excited about that coming out.”
Meghan also has another project in the works; a movie adaptation of the novel Meet Me At The Lake by author Carley Fortune. The story focuses on a couple who fall for each other once they enter their 30s, and one of the characters is left with trauma following the death of a parent in a car crash.
Ms Bajaria added: “It is in development. It is a great book, she had it and we are happy to do it. And we have things in development. Everyone is excited about what is coming. I am really excited for her show.”
