Meghan Markle’s Hollywood reputation ‘unraveling in real time’ as latest drama ‘weakens’ career hopes

Meghan Markle’s Hollywood reputation is falling apart as her latest career moves raise questions about her future in entertainment, according to multiple sources.

“I think we’re watching the Sussexes’ Hollywood partnership unravel in real time,” royal commentator Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six.

“Netflix has already withdrawn from As Ever, Meghan has lost one of her most influential supporters at the company, and now her camp appears willing to publicly criticize the streamer,” she added.

Meghan Markle, who appears here in a June 2024 episode of her lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” is seeing her Hollywood career unravel in real time, a source told Page Six. JAKE ROSENBERG/NETFLIX
The Duchess of Sussex, seen here in a December 2024 episode of “With Love, Meghan,” saw her Netflix cooking show canceled earlier this year. AP

The “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” podcast host believes the latest drama surrounding the former “Suits” star points to a “deteriorating relationship” with the streaming giant, which has backed several of the couple’s projects.

Meanwhile, branding expert Eric Schiffer believes Markle’s upcoming guest appearance on “Junior MasterChef Australia” only further highlights her diminished standing in Hollywood.

“This is an entry-level bridge in Britain that gives her something to talk about, aligns her with kids and parents, but also highlights how weakened her career has become versus her hope of being a younger version of Martha Stewart, which blew up into bits at Netflix,” the chairman of Reputation Management Consultants exclusively told Page Six.

Schiffer was referring to Markle’s lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” which was canceled after two seasons earlier this year.

Markle, seen here on “MasterChef Australia” earlier this year, is set to appear as a guest alongside host Poh Ling Yeow on “Junior MasterChef Australia.” Channel 10
Poh Ling Yeow, seen here with Markle on “MasterChef Australia,” defended casting Meghan Markle as a guest on “Junior MasterChef Australia.” masterchefau/Instagram

“It is consistent with the types of projects she tried to align herself with her Netflix opportunity, which failed miserably,” he continued. “I don’t see much happening with this other than dwindling viewers and it ending in termination.”

Page Six confirmed last week that Markle will appear as a “special guest” alongside host Poh Ling Yeow when “Junior MasterChef Australia” returns from a six-year hiatus in 2027. Yeow has since defended the controversial casting decision, praising Markle’s “will of steel” and expressing her “admiration” for the duchess.

However, Schiffer sees the gig as an attempt by Markle to rebuild goodwill with viewers following a series of professional setbacks.

The latest career criticism comes as Markle and Harry’s relationship with Netflix has reportedly grown increasingly tense.

“I think we’re watching the Sussexes’ Hollywood partnership unravel in real time,” Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six of Markle, seen here in Nottingham, England, on Oct. 15. GC Images
The Duchess of Sussex, seen here in Nottingham, England on Oct. 15, seems to have a weakening Hollywood career, Eric Schiffer told Page Six. Getty Images

Last month, sources close to Markle claimed she felt “used” by the streaming service after rumors circulated that she was being considered for a role in Guy Ritchie’s hit crime drama, “The Gentlemen.”

“Some people in her camp feel she was used to help promote Season 2, because they knew it wasn’t as good as the first season and had already commissioned a third,” a friend of Markle told the Telegraph.

The insider claimed the speculation “left a bitter taste in [their] mouth” and accused Netflix of using Markle’s star power to generate publicity.

Page Six Hollywood previously confirmed there was never actually an offer on the table.

“She took it as an offer. And it wasn’t,” one insider told us in September. “And [she and Harry] thought it would be helpful in the moment for there to be a reason for their move.”

The As Ever founder, seen here in a December 2024 episode of “With Love, Meghan,” has several Netflix projects in the works. COURTESY OF NETFLIX
“With Love, Meghan,” was cancelled after just two seasons. A promotional poster for the project is shown above. Netflix

Schofield questioned why Markle’s camp would publicly criticize one of her most important Hollywood partners if the couple still has projects with the streamer coming down the pipeline.

“You don’t typically throw one of your most important commercial partners under the bus when you’re counting on them to finance your next big project,” she said. “If Harry and Meghan genuinely still have substantial projects in development with Netflix, why would someone in their circle risk damaging that relationship over an unconfirmed casting story?”

Schofield also pointed to the departure of Netflix executive Bela Bajaria, whom Markle previously credited with coming up with the idea for “With Love, Meghan.”

“Bela Bajaria, one of Meghan’s biggest champions at Netflix, was just brutally terminated,” she said. “Now, just days after Bajaria’s departure was announced, we’re hearing from Team Sussex accusing Netflix of exploiting Meghan for publicity. Does that sound like a relationship with a promising future?”

The former actress, seen here in “Suits,” has been selective about her TV projects. Ian Watson/USA Network
Markle, seen here in “Suits” in 2014, started a production company with Prince Harry. ©USA Networks/Courtesy Everett Collectio / Everett Collection

The mounting criticism follows Netflix’s decision to end its partnership with Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand in March.

The couple’s Archewell Productions company has also faced turbulence, with Page Six exclusively reporting last month that there have been staffing reductions over the past 12 to 18 months.

Despite the Sussexes relocating to the UK in August after six years in California, Archewell continues to operate out of its Los Angeles office, though sources told us only a handful of employees remain.

Page Six also exclusively revealed this week that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix films, “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date,” remain “in development.”

Harry and Markle (seen here at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on April 17) moved back to the UK in August. Getty Images
The couple, seen here in Melbourne, Australia, on April 16, have been keeping a low profile since their return. Getty Images

An industry source assured us that the pace of these projects is simply standard practice.

“It’s Hollywood. People know how this town works, and things are not made in a day,” the insider said, explaining that adaptations take time as producers work alongside authors to develop scripts.

“This is all part of the process. There are a lot of steps,” the industry source said.

And just this week, news broke that Markle and Harry’s longtime head of nonfiction at Archewell Productions, Chanel Pysnik, had exited the company.

Markle and Harry, seen in Australia on April 17, have several projects “in development” with Netflix. Getty Images
An industry source said of the duo, seen here at the 75th NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 15, that there are just “a lot of steps” to the process in Hollywood. Getty Images

The professional setbacks have also coincided with a turbulent period in the Sussexes’ personal lives.

Markle, 45, and Harry, 42, received a warm welcome in Nottingham last month during their first official joint appearance since returning to the UK.

However, they were thrust into another controversy days later when news broke that Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was under investigation for allegedly possessing child pornography — allegations he has vehemently denied.

The Daily Mail subsequently reported that additional explicit images of children had been discovered in Thomas Sr.’s abandoned storage unit in Mexico.

Markle, seen here in “With Love, Meghan,” recently lost several of her Archewell Productions employees. JAKE ROSENBERG/NETFLIX
Harry and Marke, seen here at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Melbourne, Australia, on April 14, returned to the UK as private citizens. Getty Images

Although the Sussexes traveled overseas amid the scandal, Page Six confirmed that the trip had already been planned around their children’s school break.

Schiffer believes the couple will continue to steer clear from Markle’s father — estranged since 2018 — while navigating their next public moves.

“Harry and Megan will continue to scramble to distance themselves from the Markle Sr. septic muck and they’ll attempt to be strategic about upcoming appearances in the short run,” he said.

“I don’t see them curtailing things materially beyond what their public patterns have been prior to this allegation.”

Meghan’s dad, Thomas Markle (seen here with his son Thomas Markle Jr. in 2025) is being investigated for possessing child pornography. BACKGRID / BACKGRID
Thomas Sr. (seen here on Oct. 30) has denied the allegations. LB/GDoggy / BACKGRID

Meanwhile, Schofield believes the Sussexes may be overestimating the goodwill generated by their return to the UK as they attempt to rebuild their public image.

“They seem determined to take what they consider a positive day of press and turn it into a much larger PR victory,” she said. “But they need to pump the brakes. The Sussexes operate in a world where their perception of public enthusiasm doesn’t align with reality.”

Page Six has reached out to Meghan and Harry’s reps for comment.

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