The British tabloids spent the entire Labor Day weekend freaking out about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix deal. It’s pretty funny. It reminds me of something I’ve been saying for more than a year as well: there are actually some criticisms which could be made of the Sussexes about certain things, arguments to be made in good faith, which we could all take seriously and have a legitimate conversation about “is this a good idea” or “could they have done this better” or “perhaps this timing isn’t the best.” But any good faith is lost with these British commentators as they all immediately freak the f–k out and get absolutely hysterical whenever the Sussexes dare to breathe, exist or thrive. The Daily Mail did a summary of “what people are saying” about the Sussexes’ Netflix deal and it is hilariously stupid. Some highlights:
Angela Levin speaks! Royal biographer Angela Levin, who wrote Harry: Conversations with the Prince in 2018, said: ‘This is the biggest exploitation of the Royal Family that has been in our lifetime. I think this was plotted right from the beginning, before the wedding even. Meghan has used the Royal Family and Harry to go from being a C-lister to one of the most famous and richest women in the world.’
Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe speaks! Mr Larcombe, author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, said: ‘There isn’t a soul on the planet that would think that they got that job with that many zeros in the salary for any other reason than their association with the British Royal Family. They wouldn’t have got a deal if it wasn’t for their position. They owe their success to the fact that they have been public property. Without Harry she was a pretty average actress on an American show that hardly anyone in Britain had heard of. Now she is enjoying a position higher than the Pope.’
The crux of all the arguments: Mr Larcombe added that the agreement with Netflix means that the couple might now never return to the UK or be part of the Royal Family again. He said: ‘The Netflix deal is by far and away the biggest development in Harry and Meghan breaking their ties with the British Royal Family. It is inconceivable that Meghan and Harry will come back to the UK and possibly make it impossible to ever return to the UK. The Palace have been sideswiped by this. Harry didn’t get on the phone to the Queen about the Netflix deal, it was news to her. That is an astonishing departure and shows that Harry is going to do what he wants on his terms.’
Angela Levin thinks Harry is secretly sad: Speaking about Harry’s recent zoom call with the Rugby Football League, Ms Levin added: ‘He looks terribly unhappy. Harry used to sparkle. He was so lively, he would make you feel energised, like as if you have taken an energy pill. There it’s all words, he deflects the question which means he doesn’t want to answer it.’
Larcombe accidentally revealed the motivation of so much of the press’s abuse: they wanted to (nonsensically) abuse and smear Harry & Meghan to the point where the Sussexes would HAVE to return. Like, the press thought they could somehow whine and cajole and abuse H&M until they simply had to come back to England. The current hissy fit is about the media’s realization that Harry and Meghan (especially Harry) are not coming back. That Harry and Meghan are planning for an extended future in America. As for the accusation of “exploitation” – I think it’s a difficult conversation to have, because it assumes that the British people feel like they “owned” Harry and Meghan and that Britain “made” H&M. That’s exploitative AF too, you know? And constantly painting Meghan as scheming… Jesus. Meghan didn’t want THIS. This was not her plan. Her plan was to become the next Diana. Meghan wanted to be a princess and to use a global platform to do good work WITHIN THE FAMILY. And then they were bullied out of the family and the country. Ugh.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red, Backgrid.
What? How do you exploit a monarch??? This is a dumb argument. And no, nobody would care about them without the family connection but nobody would care about Liz without her title either. Neither earned it. It is what it is. That’s the crux when it comes to royalty and titles. You really can’t accuse outsiders of taking advantage if your entire existence is based on the privilege of being born with a title. She’s not taking anything from them at all. She wanted to add and they refused.
Yes this x1000. Every single person born into the RF is only important because they won a generic lottery. QE uses that unearned privilege to live a life of luxury on the taxpayer dime, H&M use the unearned privilege to get a development deal – at least they aren’t living of the taxpayer anymore.
Yay! Harry the British Senior Royal is now living the American dream because the UK sucks being petty and racists! Conquer the world Harry! The more they smear the smaller they get in the eyes of the world.
Exploitation = what the monarchy does to us, the people of Britain.
There isn’t a member of the BRF that wouldn’t take this deal if offered. The fake outrage is just jealousy.
This whole thing with H&M has hard for me because I am English but unhappily living in the U.S wanting to move back, and hearing of all the negativity back home is very disconcerting. I haven’t been back since Megan came around, it’s been years really but I love my homeland. It’s not the same as it used to be it seems, nowhere is. And Trumpland sure isn’t what it used to be 4 years ago, never thought I’d see whats going on here. Oh dear, where to go for a happy retirement? Brexit really screwed over my life plans. I have a decent amount of money but not enough to make multiple moves internationally. I feel like that Eminem song from his movie; you’ve only got one chance, don’t blow it. P.S. If Trump wins again I will be beyond heartbroken.
If Angela Levin thinks the Netflix deal is the biggest exploitation, she must be on crack. Because there’s nothing more exploitative than Andrew raping human trafficked girls and staying out of jail with the help of this horrible family, all titles intact.
Lacombe and his foolish argument that the Sussexes wouldn’t have got this deal if they weren’t royals amused me. Like are all the people who have deals with Netflix royals or do each and every royal family member already have a Netflix deal? So bizarre!!
Pitch at the Palace where 2% of the deal went to line Pedo’s pockets? Doesn’t get more exploitative than that. Anytime anyone wants to bellow about exploitation, show them the picture of Ghislane Maxwell on Betty’s throne.
the biggest exploitation was the british empire raping and pillaging foreign lands, benefiting greatly from it and refusing to acknowledge the untold damage done and reparations that need to be paid.
I cannot imagine how a person can be such a disingenuous boot licker about a family that has exploited the world for hundreds of years. To dare to use the word exploitation in reference to them is grotesque, and shows how the monarchy needs to be abolished. It clearly makes its defenders lose their minds and become illogical and unfeeling fools.
Is you on crack Angela Lavine? Is you? 😂🤣😝
Angela Levin Is nasty nasty nasty!!!!
Lol right? how do u exploit a monarch??? Perfectly said.
Yeah the use of “exploitation” made me laugh out loud.
The biggest exploitation of the Royal Family was and always has been Prince Andrew and Fergie being paid off to have contracts in England from foreign agents and access to the throne. They were even caught doing it! Anything to protect Pedo Andrew and throw Harry and Meghan under the bus.
And those who slam Meghan and Harry for the most part blame the victim instead of Andrew. I just am horrified at some of the attitudes.
Yeah, I thought they can’t use “HRH” and they aren’t on payroll anymore because they can’t use their titles or take public money if they are going to work as private individuals.
But now they cannot work as private individuals? Yet they still don’t get to use their titles or be on payroll? WHY? Which is it? It is so clear that any “rules” or “protocol” are being made up as they go along, to pick whatever it is that makes Harry and Meghan look bad. It would almost be funny, if it wasn’t so hateful and racist.
Well said, Mrs. Krabapple. Well said.
They were moaning about them being on the taxpayer dollar and now that the Sussexes clearly have made a path of their own… still moaning.
On top of that – others in the family work as private individuals too while retaining their HRH titles and nobody even lets out a peep — Like how HRH ‘The Blood Princess’ Eugenie works at an art gallery while her husband is a representative for CasaMigos Tequila – where is the outrage that they are ‘exploiting the royal family’? Or is it only exploitative because Harry & Meghan are RAKING IN THOSE NETFLIX DOLLAS? Jeez.
Um, the BRF is exploitative–not the other way around. The british press = Trumpian levels of projection. Want to talk about exploitation, Angie? PRINCE ANDREW.
That was my very first thought. The existence of a monarchy is based on the exploitation of the people. In fact, in a monarchy, the people are the subjects of the monarch and they have to genuflect before Her Majesty and show reverence to her and all her offspring and their offsprings. Let’s also not forget the exploitation of colonies to build the empire.
@naomi I agree. Actually, Prince Harry has seen his wife exploited by the BM and BRF since their relationship became public. At a very young age, he watched his mother being exploited by the same group. It’s quite horrific.
Prince Harry cannot control which family he was born into. But he can control the kind of person he wants to be.
Also, anyone claiming royal privilege and/or inexperience regarding a Netflix deal is either blowing smoke or ignorant regarding a producer’s role. Just my opinion.
I mean…Meghan did become the next Diana. To the point she had to get out. Difference is Harry was there with her also. At this point, they should just cut all ties. Clearly they don’t want to work for the “crown” anymore. Or even if they do…is it worth the cost
Tho I do have to say, it’s not unfair to say they used the royal name and their connections to get this deal. Both have NO EXPERIENCE in producing anything, and let’s not kid ourselves that Meghan’s B list history of being a supporting actress could have taught her how to run a production company, and direct and create content. This is something you need years and years of experience to do well. Netflix saw the opportunity to use their titles and their connections to grab a deal. No one would have given them a chance if not for their celebrity status…
It’s ok tho…they can hire ppl to help them, but I think people are fickle and celebrity status will only get me to watch one episode of a show…and if it’s crap people will see it is crap.
The Obamas have no experience in producing either and they got a deal. At least Meghan was in the industry. Barack and Michelle were not. And as we’ve seen with Trump, running a country and running a business are two different things so it’s not like you can say the presidency “gave” them the experience.
And neither of them re actually going to sit there and write and direct this. What they’ll probably do is pitch an idea to Netflix, they’ll greenlight it and give them a budget and with that, they’ll hire people with actual experience to write and direct it. It’s probably what the Obamas are doing too
Being an actress does not mean you have experience either. It just means you are within the industry as an actress. Just like a producer can’t suddently decide ok I am going to be the star of this movie/documentary. Completely different roles, talents, skills and yes, experience. If anything, Harry has more experience given the number of similar projects he was actually apart of.
Given they are setting up a production company, I would go ahead and think they would be interested to not only hire the right people, but learn the business as Meghan has demonstrated she is willing to do the moment she joined the royal family. Thedeal is about their value, opinions, ideas etc.
And true, no one would be as interested in them if not their connection to the Royal Family, but like another commenter said, it is what it is, and now we have to move forward and see what they can do to change the world which clearly they want to do. They need some SPACE. Comparing them to Barack and Michele Obama is not fair because they actually have real results, real interest and real change whereas Meghan and Harry are trying to make their mark under intense scrutnity and hatred OUTSIDE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. (please note the last part before the stans jump on me about them changing the world already.) H&M wants to do this as a unit away from the monarchy… this is my point.
No it does not. But she’s been in the industry and knows people who can help her out. A lot of actors end up directing/producing episodes when they’ve been on the show for a while. I think even Gabriel Macht and Patrick Adams were producers on the final season of Suits anyways. So no she doesn’t have experience directly, but she knows how the industry works – no matter how “C-List” she was/is.
I only used the Obama comparison because amanda said that the Sussexes have no experience in producing. The Obamas don’t have any experience either. And I doubt Netflix cares either way. The Sussexes can breathe and people throw a hissyfit. Netflix just wants more viewership which equals more money in their pockets. Would the Obamas have gotten the deal if Barack was still Senator Barack Obama? No he wouldn’t.
My point isn’t about them using family connections. My point was more so that people need to stop acting like they’re the only people in the world that got a Netflix deal because they’re famous. Netflix offered them the deal because they’re famous. Netflix offered the Obamas the deal because Barack is an ex-president as opposed to ex-senator. It’s not a bad thing yet certain posts want to whine/imply that it is.
I don’t think it’s particularly fair to compare them to the Obamas. Barack Obama was not only a US president, he was a Senator and a prominent civil rights attorney. He and his wife may not have any producing experience, but they’ve incited real change at a local and national level from a far less privileged position than Harry and Meghan. Their producing skill is far less important than the wealth of knowledge and experience they have to impart.
@Penguin: So how many civil rights icons/lawyers and senators have Netflix deals? Don’t worry I’ll wait. And I don’t hate the Obamas or think that shouldn’t have gotten the deal. My point was that experience isn’t the only thing Netflix is looking for and getting a deal because they’re famous isn’t a bad thing.
And let’s not act like Meghan has been a royal all her life. She’s done a lot of philanthropy projects including working with the UN and Harry’s founded 2 organisations and done several tours – even if they were just royal tours. Why are people acting like they’ve stayed in a palace for 40 years, never stepped foot outside of it and just walked out 6 months ago?
Donald Trump couldn’t run a business even with his father handing him untold millions to start with (probably hundreds of millions of dollars). He went bankrupt three times and now has to ask for loans from foreign banks. Most of his business ventures have failed (Trump University!). He was just able to pawn off the worst losses on banks or partners.
And he certainly can’t run a country.
@Belle
“no one would be as interested in them if not their connection to the Royal Family,”
I would argue that actually, it’s the other way round. Harry’s history of naughty antics, his service in the army, his famous charity contributions, in short his popularity, have all contributed very heavily to whatever popularity and status the royal family enjoys today.
Had he never been born, the family would be significantly less well known and talked about. So essentially, he is enjoying the fruits of his own contributions. And that’s why it’s the Sussexes that have this deal and the Wessexes couldn’t pull it off.
@Sofia I feel like you’re going out of your way to twist my response in order to suit your narrative. No, not every civil rights lawyer gets a Netflix deal much like not every actress who’s been involved in philanthropy gets one either. Yes, Megahan and Harry have done some philanthropic projects, but pretending that they got this Netflix deal because of their wealth of experience and knowledge and not because of their public image and fame is a bit delusional.
@Penguin and you need to stop acting like the Obamas got a Netflix deal because they were civil rights lawyers. Yes they were but they also got the deal they are an ex-president and first lady.
I have never said that they got the deal because of what they’ve done. I simply said that they are not the only ones. In fact let me literally just copy and paste what I wrote earlier: “My point was more so that people need to stop acting like they’re the only people in the world that got a Netflix deal because they’re famous. Netflix offered them the deal because they’re famous. Netflix offered the Obamas the deal because Barack is an ex-president as opposed to ex-senator. It’s not a bad thing yet certain posts want to whine/imply that it is.”
There’s a teeny tiny difference I think between ex royal compared to ex President. Obama was not president because of the family he was born into, he got the job on his own merits.
Harry has been involved in several productions and Meghan comes from a television background, add to that they don’t really need experience, they will HIRE people with experience.
Do people not understand what producing is?
People really need to get a grip, this constant harassment, abuse and racism is not making the Royal Family or the British Media look good at all.
It’s really making the country look like a group of very small, very mean and very petty people. Really sad.
Is it rude to mention that Meghan lived with & married a Hollywood producer for seven years before Suits? Her ex was at the beginning of his career too. My guess is that an over achiever like Meghan learned a lot about producing that she can now put to good use.
Amanda what you saying is pure hogwash. Not every person that ever got a deal like this already had experience or was a royal, just get yr head from wherever it’s stuck and think about this logically.
Don’t forget Meghan was married to a producer and worked in the industry for years. Shes friends with several successful producers Oprah, Tyler, George Clooney. They will do ok. In the US a family would celebrate a son leaving the family business and charting his own path. In England they want this 35 year old Prince tied to his families apron springs forever. Its ridiculous.
I am thinking very rationally thank you very much. Nothing I said is not factual. Did Meghan get any ability to produce anything before her marriage despite being in the industry for many years and being married to a producer briefly? Did she come close to direct/writing/setting up her own production company before she had the connections she has now? Did Harry produce a series of documentaries and docu-series before his marriage? Would they even have the ability to hire and find talent to work for them if not for their immense privilege? To deny that their astronomical rise in stardom is not due to their association with royalty and the intense interest in their lives because she is a bi-racial american marrying a PRINCE is just really naive. There is much much more to producing SUCCESSFUL projects than stardom. That is the point I am making. They have the celebrity by association to royalty to attract Netflix deal…now they have to show that they have the chops to be successful if this is the road they want to travel.
I’m not going to compare the Obamas to Meg/Harry…it’s comparing apples and oranges. The Obamas are some of the most influential political figures in the 21st century, with one having been the leader of the US for 8 years.
All in all, I hope Meg/Harry choose smart people to work for them and are thoughtful about their projects to have success in their production company.
The Obamas had no experience in production either, and the first doc they ‘exec produced’ won an Oscar. Keep trying amanda, but your argument fails. These two couples are powerful and influential, have high public profiles, and have been given NetFlix deals because of it.
The Obamas had no experience in the film and television industry, Meghan does so whatever argument you are trying to make fails. Besides they are going to be hiring people to help run the company just as the Obamas have done, just like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and all other people who own production companies have done. This is a tumblr talking point that I have seen the sunflower brigade try to raise.
I say, it’s the RR and BM that got them this deal. And the RF, but not in the way you mean.
Yes, the royal connection got them a foot in the door. That got Peter a milk commercial, Princess Blackamoor some books, Zara an Olympic spot, and Beatrice/Eugenie cushy jobs. What Harry and Meghan already accomplished gives them legitimacy those others don’t have. (And don’t discount Meghan’s industry background, including her marriage to a producer. Two Suits castmates had producing credits. We have no idea what she learned in her years in the industry or what plans she considered before marrying Harry.). But even the track record of Invictus, Sentebale, Together cookbook, SmartWorks, etc. would likely not be enough to get this kind of deal.
It was the hundreds and hundreds of articles, the constant smearing and badgering day after day for four years, that kept this couple permanently in the news and created international celebrities – and that’s the cherry on top that ultimately made them sought after by companies like Netflix, Apple, Disney. Look at the success of Finding Freedom. On bestseller lists in the US and UK. Released worldwide, now in 15 languages. What media company wouldn’t want to capitalize on that level of interest?
This yapping about their “immense privilege” being the factor that got them this deal is laughable. A biracial woman married into the royal family, the powers that be (including within the RF) tried every way possible to crush her, ultimately driving her and the PRINCE she married out of the country. These same forces now try to cast doubt on this deal, scuttle chances for them to be successful outside the bubble – and, pile on the blood royal as well. That’s what privilege has done for Harry.
Whether they succeed at the level that Netflix hopes remains to be seen, but based on the projects they’ve done separately and together, their skills picking worthwhile projects, talented people to execute them, and with discipline to see the work through to completion, a deal with them, especially at this point in time when interest is likely at its peak, is a more than reasonable gamble.
@Windyriver, I couldn’t have said it better. Truly, you completely nailed it and I hope others read what you’ve written because that’s it right there. Besides these two are completely focused individuals and the same traits that the BRF courtiers apparently despised in Meghan are the traits that should set her up for success. She is driven, hardworking and focused don’t look now but that’s what’s needed in a producer. Harry seems to share similar qualities, which is why together I think they have at least a good a chance as any other team given this opportunity.
What the mugxits don’t understand is that Netflix would never give Cain and Unable a 100 million dollar production deal and they’re much higher ranking royals than Harry and Meghan. They’d never get a deal because they have no brand, no fanbase, no track record of any kind of real success, no glamour, and no one cares about them. So this idea that HM got the Netflix deal solely because they are royal is simply pure hateration. Their brand is gold and they are extremely marketable. Secondly, running a production company is mainly finding talent pitching good projects and putting together a team and a budget, right? I’m sure that Harry, founder of successful Sentebale and Invictus, is more than capable of doing that. Meghan, a longtime actress, editor of the biggest selling issue of British Vogue, creator of two clothing lines, and a successful online lifestyle brand is more than capable. The other royals outside of Charles? Not so much. William has created nothing in his life and can’t generate headlines, yet you think Netflix would offer him a 100 million bucks because he’s a prince? Kate, who’s also never created anything great, literally can’t even deliver a two minute speech, written for her by someone else, without completely stumbling over her words but you think she’s be able to sit at the negotiating table with the big dogs and get herself 100 million bucks because she’s a princess? Stop hating. Yes, HM’s global platform comes from Harry’s royal background. But their skills and their talents and their accomplishments are all their own. And it’s those skills, talents, and accomplishments that make them bigger than mere royalty and gives them opportunities like this Netflix deal.
@Nyro, well said.
Other royals haven’t been able to ‘exploit’ their access to the royal family because the overwhelming majority of them are lazy dullards who’ve never accomplished a fucking thing in their sad little lives. Drinking a glass of milk is all the Queen’s nephew is capable of doing and I’d love to know how many takes it took before he could do it properly.
Willieleaks and Keen Katie hotfooted to Hollywood the second they got married. Was it because they REALLY wanted to see the Hollywood sign and Graumann’s Chinese Theatre. They probably met with some big dogs in the business and those big dogs sniffed out a couple of boring losers. Even being a future King hasn’t helped Wee Willie accomplish as much as his younger brother.
Harry and Meghan have a lot more to offer than the accident of his birth. That’s why Netflix is willing to hand over a shitload of cash to them.
@Sofia. That’s exactly right. All of these big name production companies run like that. The Obamas hired two veteran producers with a significant body of work to run their operations. I think a lot of the British media are being willfully ignorant.
Yeah we’re not going to be parroting British tabloid talking points here. Most people who become producers in Hollywood don’t have experience, they have money. Do you know who was a producer? Banker Steve Munuchin, who is currently the US Secretary of the Treasury. The Obamas, who are lawyers by profession, are now producers. So let’s drop the no experience bs.
That’s just it. Any random person can become a producer. The question is – will they produce contents worthy of watching? I personally think they would. They’re not suddenly going to produce Breaking Bad, GOT types of contents. Certainly documentaries on topics meaningful to them both, even scripted shows from directors/writers who normally are not invited in the room to pitch their programmes.
That’s not true. Harry has produced documentaries before.
If having a title and/or fame is all you need to get a deal, then why aren’t more people doing it? Why doesn’t Prince William have a deal? I heard a rumor that he pitched Netflix and got rejected.
I would bet anything that Harry and Meghan put together a strong proposal with a clear vision. You are overlooking the fact that while, yes, they will have to hire people, they will use their position and power to hire fresh, DIVERSE talent and elevate them. Choose projects to shine a light on issues that have long been in the dark.
Finding and hiring talent and projects is a talent in itself. And I can GUARANTEE you that Meghan and Harry will be FULLY involved in that process. They are not going to slap their name on anything. They are going to take this seriously.
And they have already demonstrated they have an excellent eye for projects and great ideas for making them a success. Harry’s has built several charities from the ground up – Sentebale, Invictus, Heads2gether, Travelyst. Meghan’s Hubb Kitchen, Smartworks and Vogue issue were all MASSIVE successes and brought in money to the organizations in a time where many charities have had to shutter.
So frankly it’s insulting to insinuate that all they are going to do is coast on their name. You must be confusing them with the Cambridges.
1000% correct.
So many excellent comments on this thread.
The assertion that they would not have been picked but for the royal association, this is just blatantly not true for this simple reason, there are many royals that Netflix wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole and I’m sure you can think of a few, no need to name names. So the royal association attracts but it is backed up by who they have shown themselves to be, their interests and passions, their ability to come up with great ideas and work them into successful fruition. That is what go them this deal. It is just preparation meeting opportunity.
They’ve already done amazing things, Harry with his projects, Invictus, etc. Meghan in the short time she was in the royal fold, her work with Grenfell, Vogue, Smart Works, Disney etc.
They don’t need to prove a damn thing to anyone anymore, they’re out. All they need to do is work and live their lives.
This imaginary impossible bar that people are setting for them is nonsense. When Netflix announces deals with other people, experienced or not, no one talks about “let’s wait and see”, “I don’t care”, “they have no experience”. Only for these two, once again why is the bar different for them?
As to the suggestion that actors cannot be producers. I raise you Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Hillary Swank, Ice cube, Lisa Kudrow, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Jeremy Irons. There are many many more all with varying lengths of time and success in Hollywood, so let’s lay that idea to rest.
Simple fact is that people WANT to work with Harry and Meghan. As Will has himself said, the celebrities weren’t knocking each other over to work with him.
@CN you’re absolutely right! Princess Michael of Kent has been writing novels and capitalizing on her title – I mean on the book jackets the author is listed as HRH Princess Michael of Kent. She has no big Netflix or Amazon deal. Never even had a Spotify podcast. Edward has no deal. His little company closed and Betty had to pay his losses off.
As someone said earlier, William tried to pitch an idea to Netflix and was TURNED DOWN! He is second in line to the throne but that didn’t give him the red carpet of acceptance. Netflix is about quality. If H&M had no past record of achievements they wouldn’t have this deal either. But everything from the Hubb Cookbook, Smart Set Collection, British Vogue, Sentabale, Invictus Games was enough of a track record that Netflix saw the two of them as winners! The titles pretty much are irrelevant at this point. Netflix hired Harry & Meghan. Pretty much the world now knows them as Harry & Meghan – not the Duke & Duchess of Sussex. Even if QEII took away the dukedom, she cannot legally take away his birth status as a Prince of the Realm. He would still be Prince Harry and Meghan would be Princess Henry of Wales. But they would probably still be Harry & Meghan to the rest of the world, and the UK press KNOW THIS!
Have you ever worked for a production company? Half of them are owned by privileged white people with no experience. That’s why you hire talented producers, writers, etc. I’ve worked for 3 in Toronto. The owners of all were monied white people. They were all successful, but I could point to which executive producers, producers and production staff help them there. All HIRED by the owners.
And I disagree, working on a hit series would help you set up your own production company – if you were paying attention. And I think Meghan paid attention.
Troll playbook step one, shout ‘ NO EXPERIENCE ‘. Step two, ‘Meghan was a B list actress’.
I believe these were the same things shouted when there were reports of speaking engagements.
Very unoriginal.
Lizzie, respectfully disagree. I am certainly not trolling anyone although you weren’t speaking to me directly.
I just feel like stating a fact that is being used to support the narrative isn’t trolling. If Meghan’s actress qualifications is being used to support the Netflix deal then it is quite right IMO, to state the reason accurately. She was not a B list actressat least not in the US therefore I would assume, like everyone on this site, that they are hiring top notch people. They are following in the path of other influential people, but they need time and space instead of this war and over inflatation of their contribution to world change already.
Angelina, an actual A list actress, produced and failed at several projects. Therefore it could go either way. Acting like it will be an instant success is unfair to H&M. I prefer a wait and see. I will be perfectly clear, I am awaiting what they will have to offer but not estatic at the mere mention of their deal.
Trolls keep trying and failing.
Where’s Edward’s NetFlix deal, eh? After all, he once worked for a few months making tea for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Oh that’s right, because Edward was a flop. Whereas Harry has been involved in making several successful documentaries and Meghan has 15 years in the business.
UGH please stop talking about “Barack and Michelle’ this way. It’s sOoooooo disrespectful. And quite frankly, disgusting. Just stop. Defend your fav, but leave the former President of the United States and First lady out of this.
NO ONE has to stop talking about the Obamas. Sorry, you are not the moderator.
You mean the people who have *chosen* to be Harry and Meghan’s friends, aka former POTUS Barack and FLOTUS Michelle Obama? Haters gonna hate.
@Bella DuPont – that is why I said “as interested”. They do have their own individual shine but it was amplified by their connection and inclusion and subsequent exclusion from the Royal Family. Trying to act like it is not the most influencing factor, esepcially her astronomical rise, I can’t agree with that at all.
As for him, his existence is non consequential when all the areas you mentioned, was a direct result of his status because he was born into it. Meghan on the otherhand was an actress with a following although I would agrue that she was not a B list actress and globally even less well known.
All of this stuff shouldn’t matter however, because it is the hand they were dealt. Haters will hate, as mentioned they need time to shine!
@Sofia… thank you explaining further, I understand your points and they make sense.
Amanda your assessment seems reasonable. Harry is Diana’s son and that will always be of interest. Meghan was sort of famous but not anywhere near as famous as she is after marrying Harry. Together they are stars and that sells.
You make some interesting points. I work in the TV industry in the UK and being a producer is essentially a creative management role. You have a vision for a project, you hire the right people to execute your vision. That’s it. Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon are successful producers. And they’re actors. You don’t have to have years of experience as a producer to form your own company etc.
Neither Harry nor Meghan would have got this deal without being in a relationship with each other. I think people are interested in them and what they have to say. Harry has been a royal since birth and Netflix never offered him this kind of deal before he met Meghan. I think they’re a dynamic force together. From an outsider’s point of view, they seem to elevate each other.
I agree with this. Obviously they know this and even said as much in their engagement interview and now here we are.
so if its their royal connection that got them the deal, why didn’t Netflix give the same deal to William when he approached them with his mental health programme?
I feel like Harry and Meghan get successful and lucrative deals because of who they are as people (their values, their integrity, their talent) and because they have a proven track record of successful business and charitable ventures behind them. But the reason that the whole world knows about their values, talent, and integrity and successful work experience is because they were members of the RF. So it’s not being members of the RF that got them the job. It’s who they are as people and workers. Being members of the RF gave them a platform to showcase who they are as people and workers. Because of their position in the RF, more people probably looked over their proposals, but the proposal still had to be good and they still had to be hardworking, talented people with good values and integrity to get the deal.
There are highly famous and infamous people who don’t get the same type of business deals because they’re not good, talented, hardworking people, even though they might pitch themselves all the time and try to schmooze their other famous, highly successful friends.
They’re just going to hire a bunch of talented people to run the company, those people will find and develop projects, H and M will decide what gets pitched to Netflix, and Netflix will say yes or no. They are executives, not creatives. That’s the way all these deals work. (Seriously, if you think the Obamas or even Clooney are doing the preliminary legwork on any of these projects, you’re cracked. People specialize in this kind of work for a reason.)
As for Netflix, they’ve actually been throwing money around the past two years. There’s a big scandal about the show “Grand Army” right now, mostly because they gave a relatively inexperienced person 63 million dollars and she did not handle it well. This woman was a playwright, but I’d argue that makes her less suited for the job than someone who knows the ins and outs of tv production, like Meghan. All Meghan and Harry have to do is hire the right people.
Lastly, even though the “Grand Army” thing is kind of a mess, I’m not sure it’s a bad idea to give talented, but unseasoned people a shot at these kinds of deals. The problem with demanding “experience” is that most often, the higher you get on the totem pole, the whiter/more male your surroundings. That’s because the white men in charge are willing to hire POC at lower levels, but are less willing to promote them. If the white men in charge refuse promote POC, how will POC ever become experienced enough to wield that kind of power on their own? It makes it impossible for POC to ever be considered “qualified” enough.
So execs that really want to make a difference take chances. Donald Glover had only been a tv actor (not a star), a junior writer, and a rapper before he made “Atlanta.” By traditional metrics, he never should have gotten to make that show. But he did, and it’s great. Same with Issa Rae. She’d only done a low-fi internet-based show that she made herself. But look at her now.
I’m not saying Meghan is as talented a writer/creator as Glover or Rae (I don’t think she is), but now she has the ability to hire people who are. If she and Harry use this deal to give underrepresented minorities their break in the industry, that would more than justify the contract in my eyes.
I’ll keep this short.
It’s called social capital. Some people have it, others don’t. No one should care about influencers, and yet here they are, making money off Youtube videos, Instagram posts and sometimes, their own Netflix deals. I don’t get why people are so concerned that they have made millions because people are interested in what they have to say. Yeah, it goes without saying that it is in part because they are royal. But it’s also pretty clear that no other member of the royal family has this type of social capital. Not by a long shot.
And certain members of the BRF and other royalists cannot accept that social capital is not based on birth order or rank. They had the same issue with Diana and couldn’t understand why she eclipsed the rest in popularity.
Exactly. Social capital. And the seventh in line and his wife have more of it than any of them.
Harry has already produced several documentaries. He is working with Oprah on another now. Meghan has been n the business for many years and is smart and hard working. They can do it.
If this was Meghan’s plan all along, then surely there are easier ways to go about it, no? Which she would have known about, especially if she’s as smart and Machiavellian as her haters say she is.
Why not find some bigshot Hollywood producer and marry him? Why not use her marriage to Trevor as a way of finding even more famous/richer producers and marry them? That way she wouldn’t be nearly as “known” as she is now, being rich and not being subjected to a years long smear campaign. Why bother going through months of abuse and BS when, like I said, there are easier ways. If she was a true social climber, she would stay in the BRF as that’s seen in some people’s eyes as the ultimate “status symbol” and be silent about everything.
A years long smear campaign? you having a laugh aren’t you? its been ongoing for 4years started in 2016 with “straight outta Compton” to discredit her
I’m a bit confused here. I think I typed it incorrectly but I literally did mean “years long” not “a year long”
A years long smear campaign is the same as saying multiple years smear campaign.
THIS is what I’ve said to those loonies that despise her-if she were aiming for the Royal title then why would she leave? These people can’t have it both ways-you hate her for ‘taking Harry away’ AND you hate her for being in the family.
Well it’s what it is. The Sussexes have already dealt, so the British tabloids and all their freakish minions can go suck stinky d!!cks.
If there has been any light in this dark time, it’s the absolute bananas reaction to any and everything H & M have done since leaving GB and ending up in California. Larcombe and Levin are downright fools, and I’m assuming they are unaware that they are a major part of the joke.
Whats fascinating is Netflix is smiling all the way to the bank with the free publicity and advertising international media is giving this deal. I’m sure their stock/shares are up since the deal was announced. Silent marketing tactic. And when H&M’s productions get released, the media will do another publicity for Netflix which will get more people going on there, I’m loving this free worldwide publicity for Netflix just by association with H&M. Disney had more worldwide subscribers in the week Meghan released the elephant documentary. Netflix’ marketing officer is very clever haha….he deserves a raise
It’s clear that the British press doesn’t have any clue how these things work, are completely disingenuous with their criticisms and wanted Harry and Meghan to have to crawl back. They’re so transparent.
Also, what a joke to call it exploitation. I realize that the British media is unfamiliar with how real charity & fundraising works compared to the sad sack patron ribbon cutting they usually get to cover, but a deal like this allows for serious funding and awareness of causes.
They absolutely know how these things work that’s why they are so unhinged because they know this is a good thing. They are just counting on their critically thinking challenged readership to not know how these things work in the hopes of appeasing them, so they will continue with the bad mouthing they’ve been carrying on with since Meghan arrived.
Argument So silly. Would Charles have had an equally easy time getting the Dutchy jam etc off the ground and selling well if he was just some bloke who wanted to sell organic foods?
Would Eugenie snd Beatrice have gotten their jobs if they were regulars? Would Zara have been paid for photos ? And the list goes on
It is the Catch-22 I wrote about yesterday. If certain members of the Windsor family, titled or not, are required to go out and earn a living? Some amount of whatever they do will end up being because of who they are and who they know.
Do they move forward trying to do something not related to royalty, like working for an art gallery as Eugenie does? Or being a working artist like Sarah Chatto? Is she supposed to question everyone who buys one of her paintings, and if they admit they’re buying it because she’s the Queen’s niece, she has to stop selling her artwork? Linley-now-Snowdon has made a fortune selling overpriced furniture. Are we to think every piece was sold because of quality, not because of his connections? Did he get commissions to create artwork for the Cunard ships only because of his talent?
Peter is the one openly exploiting the royal connection, from selling wedding photos to the milk deal. Zara is in a way too, but as her husband is famous in his own right, some of their deals may be related to him. Let’s not forget, Zara was PUT on the Olympic team for PR. There were plenty of other riders who were as good or better. The selection isn’t based simply on numbers; the selection committee gets to ‘select’ whomever they ‘think’ will be best. The PR of having the Queen’s granddaughter in the Olympics in London? There was never any question, Zara was being put on the team no matter who else was in contention.
What is this racist c…t talking about? Exploitation? Harry is a British prince by birth. It’s not like he had a say in the matter.
Do they really think harassing them will bring them back? I need the thought process behind that cause huh?? The exploitation part made me laugh. Ferguson was literally selling access to Andrew at one point and is allowed to remain shacked up with him. Peter Philips selling milk in China as a “prince” in a “castle”. They need to cut the bs.
I don’t think them. Just Harry. Remember they wanted to bully Meghan out but didn’t expect Harry to go with her. The BM wanted toxicity to surround H&M. To make them so toxic no company would want to do business with them. They would fail and be broke. Then Harry would leave Meghan and return to England to marry the proper ‘English Rose’.
The BM overestimated their power. No one cares what they think or want. Netflix is a GLOBAL brand with almost 200 million subscribers. Do people think Netflix CEO is stupid? Does the BM think Netflix didn’t do research on H&M and their popularity before they offered them a contract? Cmon now.
200 MILLION subscribers? No wonder the UK press is sucking eggs! That is like 3 times the population of Britain. Lol!
Literally no one in the RF who has any non-royal work would have anyone paying attention to them if they weren’t Windsors. It’s actually near impossible to take up any meaningful work outside of the family because it is understood that the connection is basically inescapable. This is no different from the other cousin’s jobs or endorsement deals except in scale.
Quite a lot of documentary film producers don’t actually do the production work on films- they are involved to raise money, help get an audience for distribution and amplify the work- sometimes they aren’t even involved until the documentary is complete and they buy it in a distribution deal.
As the Obamas did. They didn’t make American Factory, they signed the existing documentary under their NetFlix deal. That gave AF the kind of distribution it needed to be successful. Harry and Meghan will be inundated with people submitting ideas, wanting to work with them, wanting to be under this production deal.
Like Eva Longoria being Executive Producer of John Wick, when she had nothing to do with making it. Stahelski, Leitch, and Reeves went out looking for investors to pay for the first shoestring production. Longoria took a chance, signed on, and now she’s making money off a hugely successful film+tv franchise. Stahelski admitted they’ve never met; she wrote a check (ie. made an investment) which helped made the movie possible.
Oh well the RF are and have been exploiting people so they deserve it.
Those Brit journalists are so damn bitter. They made this situation get to this point.
Meghan didn’t plan this from the jump. Harry was very loyal to that country and Meghan worked hard to help the organizations and people she worked with over there make money to help them. None of that sounds like a person planning to peace out.
Harry and Meghan came to their exit plan after how terribly Meghan was treated during her pregnancy and the “family” did nothing. That was when Harry was done, I truly believe.
The BRF built their whole existance from Exploitation in the cruelest and most inhumane way. That statement is shocking!
Those who live on an island that has stolen from and enslaved half the globe shouldn’t throw around words like exploitation, should they not desire for that to turn around and bite them in their very posh arsh.
The bitterness. I am just laughing at the RR. And I have seen Harry a few times since he left doing Zoom meetings/calls/etc. and he looks radiant.
Let Angela Levin know that the biggest exploitation was perpetrated by the British Royal Family when they went around the world claiming people and land as their own and who refuse to return stolen property, the Crown jewels and all the artifacts in the British Museum to their rightful owners. The Royal Family thought they could use Meghan to show the world that they weren’t racist and that she could be used to shore up support in the Commonwealth but they were too racist to treat her like a human being. As far as I’m concerned anything she and Harry get now is reparations for the hell they had to go through for the last four years and for everything Meghan was forced to give up when she married Harry.
From the day he was born, Harry was on the receiving end of the world’s goodwill due to his birthright. Would Angela Levin be interviewed now if she hadn’t attached herself like a barnacle to Harry and profited off his name?
Also I think it’s pretty obvious there was a bidding war over H/M and their plans. Netflix offered the most money. Maybe it’s mostly tied to their name/status, but I’m sure that makes certain people in the royal family salty along with their press minions.
It’s amazing how the British Media is following the abusers playbook. First try to isolate the victim, then belittle them and gaslight them so much that they question their sanity. When the victim finally leaves, start in on the “you’re nothing without me” and “you’ll be back.” When they don’t come back, do all you can to sabotage their escape. Then spend the rest of your lives trying to remain connected to the victim in some way, claiming the victim “owes you” their success. The only thing left in the playbook is “if I can’t have you, no one will.”
This is awful to say, but I believe there are people in the palace who would rather have the Sussexes martyred than living successfully without the royals. I’m no conspiracy theorist, and I believe Diana died from poor security, a drunk driver, and not wearing a seat belt. But it’s hard to deny that a lot of people in the palace were likely relieved that she was dead. Sorry I’m being so morbid. I really, really, really hope I’m wrong.
I don’t think you’re that far off, lanne. I had similar thoughts yesterday reading this article. I was thinking five years tops, and like you I really, really, really hope I’m wrong.
Archie. Never underestimate the vileness and abuse of racists. I fully support the Sussexes keeping the press at bay.
It’s so clear they want them to fail that the bar is set so high. H&M may very well be able to hit it out the park on day one but I fear that they are not able to make a mistake and what that could mean for them. They are human beings who suffer like the rest of us. I mean if anyone saw her interview, clearly it affects them. If it didn’t they would still be there.
We have to be careful as advocates or fans to give them room to fail, give them room to grow also. The stakes are so high for them in terms of public interest.
I agree with this. They aren’t always going to get it right and they need to be given the room to not get it right all the time. I think the people who support them understand this and I think the squad will be there for them when it doesn’t go according to plan so there’s that.
I really hope that nothing bad happens to them, as much as William hates his brother and is jealous AF, I would hope there is a line that wouldn’t be crossed. Even though Charles has been an absolute p*ssy in this, I don’t think he would let anyone physically hurt his son. I think with Diana, there was the threat that she was going to spill all there secrets and leak all their dirt, and she did play dirty herself, which caused them to worry. But harry hasn’t leaked anything about them, even after everything they have done to him, so hopefully they don’t see them as a threat in that way, it’s just his popularity and success they are jealous of.
Up until this year, I believed the conspiracy theories surrounding Diana’s death were a bunch of nonsense. I believed that while the royals didn’t particularly care for her they certainly never would have tried to harm her. I no longer believe that. I think the British establishment wanted her gone for many reasons and did what needed to be done. Seeing the hatred the British power that be have stirred up against Meghan, and Harry for being with her, totally changed my thinking. What they are doing to them is dangerous and it’s being done in purpose. Richard Kay is out there openly saying the establishment will never leave them alone. You can give back the security, the renovation money, even the titles and it won’t matter, we will hunt you and your baby down to the end of days because you dared to show up your queen and the men who tell her what to do. Tell me that’s not an open threat for all the world to see.
Ianne: Very true. Very succinct.
It’s quicker to say you are bitter about them living in a nice house etc then all of this.
Meghan has been about gender equality etc since 11& Harry founded Sentabale at 19 and has been about military& mental health for years so yes they have a long time of championing their causes. Meghan was a UN ambassador before the royal family so had a profile before then. Harry can’t help he was born a prince but has actually tried to do a lot with his role hence backlash against him after his marriage.
yes the royal profile& crazy press around them has helped them secure this Netflix bag. But their work will have to stand on its own reward. Because if just being royal, royal adjacent was enough then Fergie, Pippa Middleton etc wouldn’t have flopped.
And even after exiting royal duties, Harry & meghans supporters have fundraised over $100k towards one of the charities they have championed& in their name. There have been all types of fundraisers in their name. Other royals haven’t engineered that kind of support so clearly must be about them & not just cos they are royals. That kind of support& interest is also part of what Netflix is banking on.
The idea that they press would harass H&M to the point they would come back always made zero sense to me. Like, if you leave a place that have people who are abusing you, why the hell would you ever go BACK to that same place where the same people are trying to abuse you even more for leaving? Like, how the hell does that make any sort of logical sense?
Did these fools think the American press would just follow the British Press’ lead on all of this or something and harass them too? Is that what they thought? Or that H&M would be entirely focused on the UK and the British Media while they lived almost 6000 miles away? Is this some leftover Empire stuff where they think the whole world still looks to the UK for, well, everything? Because, like, no dude. No.
Sorry UK media and tabloids. But as the saying goes, play stupid games, win stupid prizes. And trying to harass two people who wanted to leave and get away from you to them to come *back* was one of the most ultimate stupid games.
I’m always surprised by how internationally important the British press thinks they are. When they say things like “This won’t go over well in the U.K.!” or “British taxpayers aren’t going to support this decision.” Who cares? You’re a tiny island. You don’t lead the world in anything. Not politics, military might, social causes, media, pop culture, GDP, production. Nothing. Your tabloid writers aren’t revered internationally. No one is going “I’m excited about this Harry and Meghan thing but first I better check to see what the royal reporters are saying about it.” Or “I, an American, need to make sure that the RF is okay with what Meghan is doing before I support it.” They seem to think that the entire world respects and values the opinions of the Queen and the royal family. Like the entire world is going to shun Harry and Meghan because William or Kate feel a certain way about something the Sussexes are doing. I don’t understand this insular worldview they have where they seem to think that the U.K. is the only audience for Harry and Meghan, that the U.K. press is the only press that Harry and Meghan need to win over and if they fail in the U.K., they’ll be done for forever. The UK could fall into the ocean and Harry and Megan would be fine. They have international fans and support. They have fans who don’t even follow the RF or know anything about them.
Pretty much, this.
I am always baffled by how important they think they are in the overall scheme of things. They do their little polls and they think, GOTCHA! When the outcome isn’t in H/M favor. They act irate over every move H/M make and behave like every negative headline is just going to destroy H/M and keep them from getting up that day. Oh, the queen is upset, the queen is disappointed, H/M will be punished and on and on and on. I guess they were powerful for too long so now they can’t adjust to the changing world were, they don’t matter as much.
The British have not accepted that they don’t really matter anymore, especially not since WWII when the US became the global superpower especially in terms of culture and consumer power. I say this as a Canadian who sees that Canada matters very little as well. The main difference is that Canada was never the head of the empire and understood it was always a minor player in the global scheme. I would argue that Brexit happened in large part because they don’t understand they need the EU to have any real economic power.
So completely agree. Perfectly stated.
From Duncan Larcombe ” Without Harry Meghan was a pretty average actress on an American show that hardly anyone in Britain had heard of. Now she is enjoying a position higher than the Pope”
LMAO he’s pressed like a pretzel!
can’t that be said of all royals? Wasnt Diana just another Sloane Ranger aristo before marrying Charles? Wasn’t Kate just another Sloanie Wannabe who never had a job? Isn’t the Queen the Queen because her shite uncle didn’t want/couldn’t do the job?
I was going to say you’ve got a point there, but actually, you have several.
A lot of the rota were hoping that the pandemic would cause H&M to flop and they would have to crawl back to the royal family like Prince Edward and just fade out behind Prince William & George for the next 50 years.
Now that it looks like they can make big money and be successful, it’s a problem because they can live on their own terms.
Meghan had a solid career and was well networked in the industry prior to her marriage to Harry. Together they had a healthy global image, certainly strong in America. No doubt in watching the two together they engage and support each other. The BRF appears more and more out of touch with reality in not congratulating H&M for building a life in America. It’s always possible they maintain a resentment toward the, “tea party,” we won. 🙂
Leaving aside all the bonkers criticism (Meghan, Eeeeeeeevil Mastermind of Hollywood), does the Queen even know what Netflix IS?
My mom is a full 20 years younger and has only the vaguest awareness of its existence. But H&M should totally consult with a 94 years old before finalizing their deal with an internet media company. Makes sense. /sarcasm
They are just mad that H&M are actually flourishing and making their OWN money. Which means they do not NEED the BRF. And that makes these fools SUPER mad.
Agree. And it starts to raise questions about why others in the family aren’t earning their own money instead of being supported by the sovereign grant.
I guess they don’t want to talk about the fact William.tried to get a project with netflix but was turned down.
I would put money that grifter pedo andrew has also pitched to Netflix.
Prince Andrew knows a lot about exploiting!! Go and focus on that, Levin!
This Netflix deal has the royals seething and i’m ecstatic. Levin better keep on eating her words, whilst she gets further and further into her twisted fantasy of Harry (who she only met once and conversed with for 10 minutes). They’re just mad that H&M turned their breakaway into a booming success (just as we all predicted).
Meghan’s drive and work ethic do not come from marriage. That’s from birth and life experience. She is a hard worker.
If marrying into the royal family made people not be lazy oafs, Kate really would be a CEO.
William, the British haters, and the Royal Rota seem to have forgotten that Harry and Meghan did not want to leave the Royal Family as senior royals. They proposed to be part-time working senior royals to be able to continue to serve the Queen. But jealous William and the men in grey did not accept the Sussex proposal. They booted them out completely. Now they are so mad and have gone crazy because their evil plan to erase the Sussexes from the face of the earth has backfired on them. Harry and Meghan now are considered one of the famous couples in the world with a world-class brand.
Good lord, these stories from the tabs and comments are crazy!!! First yes being royal is a big reason why Harry and Meghan got this deal, but why is that any different than any of the other nepotism celebrity deals others got? At least with this deal Meghan was in the entertainment industry pre marrying Harry. I don’t like any of these overpaid celebrity deals and understand some people’s ire over them in general, but not particularly this one is worse. Unfortunately it’s the world we live in and this one is better than most. Plus it’s hard to now say they are selling the monarchy when the Queen’s son Andrew and his ex-wife spent a lifetime selling the monarchy in many illegal ways. I mean H&M could make 12 Diana dumb gossip musicals and still not sell the monarchy as much as the Queen’s own son has. Granted two wrongs wouldn’t make a right, but still. Second, wait to see what they produce first.
Remember the good days when Meghan was a cunning gold digger who plotted all her life to become a princess and the evidence was a picture of her taken at Buckingham Palace? And someone who supposedly threw temper tantrums about tiaras instead made it so she’d likely never get to wear one again. First she wanted to be a princess too much and that was wrong. Now she plotted all her life to first become a princess in the UK, uproot her entire life and close her business ventures, JUST SO she could… leave the royal family and moved to Santa Barbara and get a Netflix deal? Make. It. Make. Sense.
Talk of exploitation. Talk of Epstein.
Why are they all surprised? H&M were clear that they intended to pursue commercial ventures upon their departure. That was the whole idea behind their financial independence. What else did they think that H&M would do? Oh right, they thought Meghan would go back to acting so that they could make fun of her. They never really grasped just how marketable H&M are. There is a whole world of opportunities for prince and princess that aren’t lazy and boring.
These people conveniently forget that H&M DID want to continue working under the Queen and were told no.
Yes that’s what British tabloids do. I don’t think we need to take this seriously, the British people could care less about the royal Family.
There is a lot of projection and exaggeration in those Mail comments. Angela Levin is one of those moonbump conspiracists so everything she says about Harry gets really weird, it’s important to her that he seems “ unhappy”. Saying this has made Meghan one of the richest,most powerful women in the world is such an exaggeration, like not even close.There may be some legitimate criticism of this deal but haven’t heard much yet. My criticism is I feel in all the press noise it has downplayed their experience somewhat, and has taken some of the focus off their charity launch or how they’ll work with their current patronages. Of course there is always timing as well. As for this keeping them in the US long term, the Royal family never really spelled out what role exactly they wanted for the Sussex in the BRF, other than to be the scapegoat. Back in November/December they were considered deadweight and hangers on, so obviously there work wasn’t valued and they didn’t want them doing too much.Did they really think they could subject them to constant abuse? Also, if they wanted them back, again in what capacity? I think the Sussexes will eventually settle into their groove but they are still going through so much transition and change, with the British press constantly nipping at their heels.
When Angela says this deal makes Meghan one of the richest women in the world I must lol. Then I wonder if she has heard of Steve Jobs widow or Jeff Bezo’s ex-wife? Those two come to mind and I follow with a bunch of entertainment celebrities.
Poor woman needs to get a hobby or order something that comes in an unmarked box to help her get over the Ginger Avenger.
“…an unmarked box.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It’s disgusting that Angela & Duncan even have platforms. Duncan has recently been named in ongoing hacking claims that he engaged investigators to target Chelsy when she was just 17. He was also talking about how he can’t wait until Archie is 18 and then the fun starts so clearly they were gleeful about future rebel child narrative.
Angela has been openly pushing moonbump conspiracies and consorting with anti Meghan trolls on social media. They despise Meghan
& It says something about the media that they don’t have to try and be professional & conceal it.
Exploitation and the royal family as victims shouldn’t even be mentioned be mentioned in the same breath given their history as some of the original slave owners & with the ‘spoils of colonisation‘ jewels the Queen still wears.
I don’t think Meghan wanted to be Diana. From the engagement interview she said it was a larger platform to do what she had already been doing. The idea she was plotting all along for greater Hollywood fame is ridiculous too- no history of showmances etc and being from LA sure she knew easier ways to fame than endure tabloid smear campaign
So because Harry doesn’t get Angela Levin “energized,” he’s the sad one???
Angela needs to go work out her DAP energy and emotional problems with a therapist and a man of her own.
Angela Levin is hilarious. Meghan & Harry’s deal with Netflix is more exploitative than that awful Royal Knockabout tournament that Prince Edward produced for television with Princess Anne, Fergie and Prince Andrew? Or all the royal documentaries that Prince Edward produced for his production company Ardent? Is she serious? Also, the idea that this was Meghan’s idea from the beginning is a huge stretch. I’m sure there were easier ways than meeting Prince Harry, having him fall in love with her, enduring almost two years of racist smears by the media, giving birth, all just to get a deal with Netflix? And I’m sick of her trying to put for this narrative that Harry is miserable in LA.
If Angela Levin believes that Netflix is an exploitation of the Royal Family, who’s producing (and gaining) on “The Crown” series on Netflix then???
Did they get any bonus points for paying off the renovations because of the Netflix deal?
The BRF is exploited? Please. Their luxurious lifestyles have been funded by the British people for centuries.
Didnt both Sophie and Fergie get caught on tape trying to sell access to the royal family? Also Pitch@palace was literally an operation where business people begged Andrew for investments on palace grounds and he personally got a piece of the pie and they somehow passed this off as charity for years.(The org is now under investigation)
One place of cognitive dissonance for these royal reporters is that they seem to think that everything Meghan and Harry will do will involve talking about the royal family. Like remember how they were so sure no one would invite them to speak unless they got royal tea? Yet they’ve both done multiple (remote) public engagements where they’ve never talked about the private lives of royals and only ever mentioned a royal on that QCT call when they mentioned the Queen who is patron of the organization. What they dont get is that H&M used the platform royalty gives to go about things differently in the way they engage with causes and people and that has helped them created a brand centered on them and their work; not royal relatives. Its understandable why they dont get it; no one else has done it before. Both Fergie and Edward’s production centered on royal figures but I highly doubt H&M will do the same especially since we’ve already got a preview of their first two projects- neither of which is billed to be about the monarchy.
The Royal Reporters were so used to The Royals doing whatever they say if William or Kate wanted good press they invited the royal reporters over . It’s known that some people in the press has William and Kate personal phone number as well as carol Middleton’s The press assumed because Meghan was a former Actress that she would do the same that could make her do the same kissing up that the royal do for good press and they turn around and used that against her . But because Meghan has self esteem and self worth they couldn’t break her so they started the smearing campaign and played heavily into the Racist angle because they knew that a section of the British public would never accept Meghan they set to destroy Meghan as a person and also her and Harry marriage. They thought If they abused and harassed her through out her marriage that she would walk away and Harry would stay they have convinced themselves that because Meghan is a black woman Harry couldn’t possibly love her for real that she had bewitch him and Harry would come to his senses and marry someone that William and Kate would approved of . This Netflix deal has shook everyone who thought Harry couldn’t succeed without the royal family Meghan and Harry have been successful in the divorced from the royal family there nothing that the royal reporters can used against them the pay back Frogmore cottage they haven’t received a dime for Charles since March they been using their own money for everything . Of course now the same unhinged royal reporters are trying to start something with their titles If these same royal reporters wanted to really try that route a lot of people are going to asked what about Andrew and his titles do the royal family really wanted the public asking about Andrew again . It’s a slippery slope
These British Media thinks that because they’ve gotten away with it numerous times. Sophie and Edward weren’t always working royals. They each has their own businesses and worked as royals part time. The press didn’t like that, so they set up Sophie to talk to a fake sheikh and lied about Edward’s production company invading William’s privacy while he was at college. They did it to Sarah with the whole selling access to Andrew scandal. She was getting too much positive attention and lucrative deals (for the time) in the US, and they couldn’t have that. The tabloid exploited her financial issues, and undermined all her efforts in the US. Now, Sophie, Edward, and Sarah are all subject to the whims of the press, and are back in the fold, where the press has all the power to rehabilitate or destroy them.
This is what the tabloids wanted for Meghan. It was never about her leaving. They wanted her beholder to them, and to have a monopoly of the information put out about her. Couple with KP’s complicity with telling M she can’t fight back against the lies and misrepresentations, the UK press were counting their money bc they knew what gets their right wing base frothing at the mouth.
The UK tabloids didn’t expect them NOT only to step back, but ALSO head back to America. They kept overplaying their hand and ended up getting outsmarted.
Good for Harry and Meghan!
Well considering the British royal family has been exploiting the British taxpayers for GENERATIONS, and the British tabloids have been exploiting the British royals as well, I guess turnabout is fairplay.
This Angela person should just shut the f up.
“Like, the press thought they could somehow whine and cajole and abuse H&M until they simply had to come back to England.” — where H&M would be subjected to more abuse and hate.
The press want to the Sussexes back so that they can continue to portray them as the villains the royal family. With them gone, the media is pissed about having to construct a brand new narrative that can sell the same way as they knew this would.
The British press is now left with the Cambridges and the rest of the royal family, with whom they’ve spent too many years crawling into bed and being friendly with to betray now. But boring puff pieces don’t make money. Drama does. They expected the Sussexes to provide it–that was the reason they felt so entitled to them.
They expected Harry and Meghan to consent to being villainized without any basis in fact, all for the sake of the media getting to write a story. That was what the tax payer money was “for” in a sense. “We let you live in comfort, and in return, you feature as characters in our vapid morality plays that the public lap up breathlessly. However, you get no say in how you are portrayed, and if you ever complain, we’ll abuse you even more.”
The tabloids are behaving as if they are a studio under the old school Hollywood studio system, where actors were seen as studio “property” who are told what to do, what characters they can play, what movies they can star in, etc. They thought the Sussexes were their property to direct at their will. They’re angry like any abuser would be, because the Sussexes essentially bought out their contract and noped the fuck out of there.
They cannot win with the tabloids, because that’s how the tabs want it. They want public figures to win or lose at the tabs’ word, because they see them as characters in a story they can manipulate for an audience, not real people.
All I can think of is how prince willies documentary got rejected on Netflix and amazon. When it was shown on the BBC no one watched or cared, even when he talked about Diana which is usually a ratings winner. Also remember when Willie said celebrities didn’t want to work with him? It’s funny cos harry never had that problem. The fact that Netflix are literally showering harry and Meghan with cash is hilarious.
Lol, I expect Willie will get the mouthpieces to go full throttle for the next few weeks whilst he rides this little tantrum out.
The more they whine the more they prove that this is all about them not being able to harras and control harry and meghan. RRs are in for a rude awakening. The lawsuit against the sunday times & roya is just the beginning. Harry already has one on Rutton and that keenbridges aid who was leaking stuff via his boyfriend. I look forward to seeing harry going after angela levin, palmolive and pissy moran. These snaks are the most dangerous bullies still attacking him and his family.
Reading these comments (and hundreds like them) makes me realize that very few people have any idea what a producer does. A producer is NOT a director. Or a cinematographer. Or a casting director. Or a makeup person.
Producers are basically event planners. They hire all the right people, get the money together and then make sure everything goes well. Some producers are more hands-on than others. Some just show up on opening night and walk the red-carpet. You don’t have to know a single thing about film-making to be a producer. You just have to be able to hire the right people and come up with the cash.
Harry and Meghan have enough contacts and access to enough money to be producers.
Netflix doesn’t just shell out $150M for anyone to fail. Trust me, H&M will have their choice of top-notch producers, writers, etc. I think this is just the first of MANY such deals to come.
Oh how I love this sane corner of the Internet! It’s a little distressing to see how people have been freaking out about this deal and wanting Harry and Meghan to fail. There is so much sexist language about Meghan’s so called “schemes”….gross. It’s nice to come to this space and know that there are sane and logical folks on the Internet! I for one can’t wait to see what they produce. They strike me as truly creative, interesting people. I don’t doubt that their content will be great!
Two days in a row Express has an article pointing out that William will inherit the Duke of Cornwall title then says the Prince of Wales title does not have to go to the future heir. Has Charles been sending a message to William or Harry? Will that be Charles play to get Harry back part time?
All cards are at play in this game. The Windsors are plotting to get their man back whichever way they can. When the queen passes they will play the sympathy card. When prince philip passes they will play the honour card where he should feel a sense of duty to accept new military roles. When his father is crowned they will play the power card and offer him new titles and responsibilities. They can still play the money card where they can offer him better living quarters and more money to run a larger office. How about playing the ego card and offer him full return to service to the commonwealth inclusive of overseas state visits and cloth ribbons and fake medal honors.
let’s wait and see.
I would love to see everyone’s reaction if harry got the prince of Wales title over William. I’m sure Willie will be incandescent with rage, and Kate’s face would be worse the the one she pulled at the CW ceremony if Meghan became princess of Wales. I wouldn’t be surprised if Charles did it, I think he’s sick of the Cambridge’s playing dirty and somehow coming on out on top smelling of ‘roses’.
Charles wasn’t named Prince of Wales until six years after his mother became Queen. Ceremony wasn’t held until he was 18.
If Charles wants to hold off on the POW title, he can. He could also work with William, if William wants Kate out. They’d agreed to hold off on the POW title until after the divorce. That way, if William remarries, his new wife would be Princess of Wales while Kate would remain with the divorced version of the Cambridge title.
Aside from the ill gotten gains of colonialism, Queen Mary was especially fond of complimenting a host’s furniture, antiques etc. Rather like, oh, some Nazis. That time the UK royals were reluctant to take in the Tsars’ family but more than happy to acquire their jewels at bargain basement prices. Brenda looks very much like Mary. Things that make you say hmmm.
@Harper thanks for reminding us what William has said about his no star appeal “As Will has himself said, the celebrities weren’t knocking each other over to work with him”.
He knows he doesn’t have the world-class brand and the global appeal his brother has. The realization must have stung him but it’s the truth. Too bad he bullied his brother out of the U.K. He could’ve helped him a great deal in keeping the Royal brand strong and relevant globally. I still hope, as brothers who were raised to have each other’s back, they would reconcile in time. Harry says he’d always love his brother. Time heals all wounds.
I thought slavery was abolished In England-evidently not as it relates to royalty-they wanted to put albatrosses around the Sussexes’ necks to make them heel, kneel, and bow to whatever demand was asked of them. These awful bigots and haters better hope God will have mercy on their souls.
PS-these hateful people whether in the press , royalists, or fans-they are showing the world the worst of the Uk-I have seen so many comments about people did not know there were people like these in the Uk-the things coming out of their mouths are so disgusting and vile-to have the nerve to persecute a young family in the media over personal decisions is wrong and evil-the worse part -most of these making statements don’t know the couple personally-the POPE just said this past weekend-he finds the gossip in the social media or internet truly terrible-this type of behavior is not part of God’s plan to get into paradise.
Who is exploiting whom? I mean seriuosly the British commentators, media and tabloids are the ones exploiting the situation; the milking fatted calf dry by exploiting the ignorant readers; the fact that H&M can not respond to every vicious lie and the Royal Family does not even try, instead of hiding behind the stiff upper lip bullshit when they infact revel in the BM attempts to put the uppity nigg@r in her place and provide a distraction for the pedo spare and lazy keens. All the time chingchinging the $$$!!! That spells E.X.P.L.O.I.T.A.T.I.O.N all in caps! What or who is Harry exploiting? He is part of the Royal fanily so it his right to use his birth right as he sees fit. It is like saying I can’t use my talent to earn an income for myself…I am exploiting myself? His title and experiences are his so…? And if he shares this with his wife to then so what? Those 2 quoted nimcompoops are just scunts. 😡😠 flecking set of morons
‘Exploitation’? Doesn’t British press care about exploitation by Andrew?? Or how about that the palaces the rest of the family live in and the ‘Empire’ were built on the backs of exploited slaves? British press royal ass kissers are vomit-inducing leeches.
Angela is upset because she won’t be getting another interview to write another book. Her appearances on talk shows seem unhinged and she is disappointed H has married and loves his wife.
Angela Levin is so enraged and foaming in the mouth. In a TV interview with Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe, she angrily said that Meghan plotted all this even before the wedding and that Meghan is brilliant in terms of strategy but is an unkind human being. Wow! This woman is petty, jealous and vile. She couldn’t accept the fact that the Sussexes have done the best they could to get out of the relentless bullying by her, William, and the British media. They are in denial that it is they that caused all this. The Sussexes just made most of what they could do out of a bad situation. Why blame them for their good fortune. The Sussexes have moved on and so should the rest of Britain.
The Frogmore stick to beat them with has been removed and now the vultures are scuttling around to look for other sticks to beat them with. Wicked wicked people! The real truth about all this will one day come out. Justice will be served.
They’re probably having such hot sex these days.
“They owe their success to the fact that they have been public property.“
Did I read that correctly? Referring to two persons (one being a person of colour) as PROPERTY!!! The dog whistle is on full blast.