Netflix might not renew the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's multimillion-pound deal, but may "keep a vague hand" in working with them "in case there's a divorce", it has been claimed.
During a recent episode of the The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, hosts Marina Hyde and Richard Osman discussed the release of the Duchess of Sussex's show With Love, Meghan. The lifestyle show, which was released earlier this month, sees Meghan give cooking, gardening and hosting tips to her famous friends, including Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer.
As part of the podcast segment, Richard and Marina reflected on the release of With Love, Meghan, with presenter Marina ruminating over what might happen next, MailOnline reports. "First of all, there's not going to be a severing with Netflix. They're not going to renew, but they might say we're continuing to develop projects with them," she claimed, before referencing reports the couple have purchased the rights to a best-selling novel with plans to adapt it for Netflix.
She added: "I have to say, and this is the reality, is that a lot of people are hanging around in case there's a divorce. Because then, and that might be Netflix, or whoever it might be, who's got a deal with them, might keep a vague hand in." The Mirror has contacted representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
It comes as Harry and Meghan were at the centre of a scathing article from Vanity Fair in January, which included a number of brutal allegations. Perhaps the most shocking was the claim that a member of Meghan's team had reached out to a publishing house to "gauge interest" in a post-divorce book.
The article does make clear that the couple are not on the road to divorce, however - to the contrary, Harry and Meghan are said to be very loved up. An excerpt from the article reads: "Not a general book on life after marital dissolution, or one about Meghan's past experience. (She was married to producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2014.)
"This book—this notion of a book, really—might center on a post-Harry divorce. Not that there was actually one in the works! Just…if this a priori divorce ever came to be, would this publisher theoretically be interested in a book that took place in its aftermath?" According to The Times, the Sussexes denied all claims in the blistering article and were 'distressed' by the whole ordeal.
A so-called insider reacted to the report at the time, stating that Harry and Meghan can't break up because "their value is in being a couple". The source, who is said to have worked closely with the couple, told Page Six: "Meghan and Harry know that they are tied together, their value is in being a couple — even if they wanted to split, they couldn't. And honestly, they are obsessed with each other."
The new Netflix series has been viewed as a make-or-break moment for Prince Harry and Meghan, who signed a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming platform in 2020. Despite With Love, Meghan securing millions of hours of views, the show has received mixed reviews online. This is alleged to have "concerned" Netflix bosses.
A second series of the show has already been announced, and is set to hit our screens in the autumn. Sharing the news on her Instagram Story, Meghan posted a video of herself wearing a hat with that read "lettuce romaine calm".
As well as the release of With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has been busy working on her brand As Ever. She has also announced the release of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, which will feature "the real, unfiltered stories and lessons learned from notable female founders".
