Meghan Markle would allegedly “disappear” during Zoom meetings with Netflix when she’d get offended.
After Netflix cut ties with Markle’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, Variety published a story on Tuesday that shed light on the Duchess of Sussex’s relationship with the streaming service.
“The mood in the building is ‘We’re done,’” a Netflix insider told the outlet, claiming that Markle, 44, and Prince Harry’s behavior “has ruffled feathers in meetings.”
Sources said Netflix teams like the marketing department were told that Markle’s long absences from meetings were because she was offended by something that was said.
But Markle’s lawyer, Michael J. Kump, said in a letter to Variety that she “works from home, is the mother of young children aged 4 and 6, and often encounters children who enter the space unexpectedly during a meeting.”
“Independent of being a parent who works from home, Meghan is also conscious of shielding her team from the distraction of children,” Kump continued. “Nearly all professionals can attest to needing to turn off the audio or camera during a virtual meeting at some point during many hours of virtual business calls.”
Markle would also allegedly “talk over or recast” Harry’s thoughts, sometimes when he’d be mid-sentence, and then she’d touch his arm or thigh during virtual and in-person meetings with Netflix partners, sources said.
However, Kump insisted that claim “seems calculated to play into the misogynistic characterization of her bossing her husband around.”
Harry, 41, also told Variety that the allegation is “categorically false.”
Three insiders claimed that Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos is “fed up” with the Sussexes, who allegedly directly text Sarandos about their projects.
Sources further claimed that Sarandos recently said he wouldn’t sit for a call with Markle unless a lawyer was present on the line, which a Netflix spokesperson insisted was “absolutely inaccurate.”
“This is blatantly false,” Kemp told Variety. “In fact, Meghan texts and speaks with Mr. Sarandos regularly, and has been to his home, sans lawyers.”
While the report claimed that chief content officer Bela Bajaria has “grown weary” of working with the couple, Bajaria herself told Variety she’s “really enjoyed” collaborating with the Sussexes.
“They’re deeply engaged in the storytelling process and bring a unique, global perspective that aligns with the kinds of impactful projects our members respond to,” Bajaria shared.
A source tells Page Six that Markle and Harry have a great working relationship with Sarandos and Bajaria.
Elsewhere in the Variety story, sources claimed that A-list talent and directors are “hesitant” to work with the couple.
Page Six has reached out to the Sussexes and Netflix for comment.
Markle and Harry originally negotiated a $100 million deal with Netflix via their Archewell Productions after leaving the royal family in 2020.
Under the lucrative contract, the couple released projects like their hit 2023 tell-all documentary, “Harry & Meghan,” their failed “Polo” doc and Markle’s critically maligned lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” which Page Six exclusively confirmed was not returning for a third season amid falling ratings.
Last August, we reported that the couple extended their partnership with the streamer — but for an amount “much” less than the original deal.
The Sussexes had several projects in the works, including adaptations of the books “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date,” before Netflix dumped As Ever.
But a source tells Page Six that Netflix’s deal with the Sussexes is in a great place and that they have multiple scripted and unscripted projects that are in development.
A Netflix spokesperson told Page Six on March 6 that “it was always intended” for the As Ever founder “to continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently.”
Meanwhile, an As Ever spokesperson told Page Six that the company “is grateful for Netflix’s partnership” and “is now ready to stand on its own.”
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