Netflix is pushing back against a report suggesting its relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has broken down. The streamer’s leadership moved quickly to dispute the claims, calling them inaccurate in unusually direct terms for a company that rarely weighs in on tabloid-adjacent narratives.
The report in question, published by Variety, cited unnamed sources claiming the partnership between Netflix and the couple’s Archewell Productions was effectively finished. It also alleged that Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos had grown frustrated with the Sussexes to the point of disengagement. The claims landed with considerable force given the high-profile nature of the relationship and the couple’s ongoing visibility in entertainment media.
Netflix’s response was swift. The streamer’s chief content officer described Archewell Productions as a thoughtful and collaborative partner, characterizing the working relationship in warm terms and suggesting the couple’s global perspective had been a genuine asset in developing content that connects with audiences.
Meghan and the Sarandos access question
One of the more pointed claims in the Variety report involved the nature of the communication between Sarandos and Meghan specifically. The report suggested that the Netflix chief would not engage with the Duchess without legal counsel present on any call, an assertion that her representatives rejected outright.
Those close to the couple described the characterization as entirely false, indicating that Meghan and Sarandos are in regular contact and that their relationship is far more personal and informal than the report implied. The correction was notable for its specificity, directly addressing the nature and frequency of their communication rather than offering a vague dismissal.
What is actually happening with the Sussex content slate
The denial came amid some genuine complexity in the Sussexes’ broader relationship with Netflix. Earlier this month it emerged that the streaming service had stepped back from its involvement with As Ever, Meghan’s lifestyle brand, which sells products including preserves and baking mixes. That separation from the commercial venture added texture to the Variety report, lending the rumors at least some surface plausibility.
However, Meghan’s presence on the platform is not going away. She is expected to continue appearing in seasonal specials connected to With Love, Meghan, the lifestyle series that completed its second eight-episode season last August. A standalone holiday episode was also released in December, extending the show’s footprint beyond its regular run.
The original foundation of the Netflix relationship dates to shortly after the couple stepped back from their roles as working members of the British royal family. They signed a multiyear deal with the streamer that produced the 2022 documentary series Harry and Meghan, which drew significant viewership and considerable public debate upon its release.
Whether additional projects are currently in development under the Archewell Productions banner remains unclear. But based on what Netflix chose to say publicly and how firmly it chose to say it, the partnership appears to be very much intact for now.
