It was the deal that was meant to redefine her Hollywood era. The comeback. The reinvention. The proof that life after royalty could outshine the Palace itself.
But now, with Netflix pulling the plug on Meghan Markle’s latest project, one of her fiercest critics says the writing was always on the wall — and she’s not whispering it.
Megyn Kelly has gone nuclear.
“I said this would happen,” the former Fox News host declared this week, slicing through the headlines with trademark bluntness. “You can’t build a media empire on vibes and victimhood. At some point, you have to deliver.”
Ouch.
The cancellation — described by insiders as a “business decision based on performance” — has sent shockwaves through the Duchess of Sussex’s post-royal portfolio. While Netflix has not publicly trashed the project, sources claim expectations were sky-high and patience was running thin.
And Kelly wasted no time framing it as something bigger than a single show.
“This isn’t bad luck,” she said. “This is a pattern.”
Critics have long accused Meghan of leaning heavily on her royal connection while insisting she wanted distance from it. Supporters argue she’s been unfairly scrutinized at every turn. But in the ruthless world of streaming, sentiment doesn’t balance spreadsheets.
One Hollywood executive told reporters: “Streaming platforms aren’t charities. If the numbers don’t justify the budget, tough calls get made.”
Still, the optics sting.
After signing a multi-million-dollar deal that was meant to position her and Prince Harry as power producers, each stalled project fuels a growing narrative that the Sussex brand may be struggling to convert buzz into long-term hits.
Kelly leaned into that perception.
“She had the biggest platform in the world handed to her,” she said. “Global sympathy. Endless media attention. If that doesn’t translate, you have to ask why.”
Behind the scenes, aides close to the Sussex camp insist the Duchess remains focused and forward-looking. “She’s developing new ideas,” one insider said. “This isn’t the end — it’s an evolution.”
But critics aren’t convinced.
“Hollywood loves a comeback story,” another media analyst noted. “It just doesn’t love excuses.”
For Meghan, the Netflix deal symbolized independence — proof she could craft her own narrative outside Buckingham Palace walls. Now, with one more project shelved, questions are mounting over what that independence really looks like in practice.
Is this merely a bump in the road? Or the start of a deeper recalibration for the Sussex media empire?
Kelly’s verdict is blunt.
“You can’t blame the press forever,” she said. “Eventually, results matter.”
As the streaming wars intensify and audience attention fragments, even the most famous names aren’t guaranteed success.
The crown may have been left behind in Britain.
But in Hollywood, survival is its own kind of royalty.
And in that kingdom, relevance is earned daily — not inherited. For Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the spotlight remains intense, but the metrics are unforgiving. Meanwhile, Megyn Kelly continues to amplify skepticism, framing each setback as validation of her long-held critique.
Still, Hollywood history is filled with reinventions that followed public stumbles. A canceled project rarely defines an entire career — yet perception can shape momentum. Whether this marks decline or reset will depend less on commentary and more on the couple’s next move — and whether audiences choose to press play.