By Molly Claire Goddard
7:47am PDT, Sep 17, 2025
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One Netflix executive is facing criticism for praising
Meghan Markle.
Despite
With Love, Meghan's lackluster ratings, the co-chief officer of the streaming service,
Ted Sarandos, gushed over the Duchess of Sussex and her "power" and "influence" over her audience. Unfortunately, people on social media were not convinced.
Keep reading to learn more about the backlash…MORE:
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While appearing on
Emma Grede's "
Aspire with Emma Grede" podcast, the co-CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, raved about working with Meghan Markle and her impact on viewers.
"One thing we learned earlier with Meghan is that she has remarkable influence. When we did the documentary with her and
Prince Harry, when we ran the trailer announcing it, hundreds of people broke down every frame of the trailer announcing it," he explained. "The $20 shoes that she got from the village that was making these shoes sold out all over the world. The $1,500 blanket that was on the chair sold out all over the world. She has incredible power and influence. That, for me, is like, how can we enable this to be more of a holistic thing?"
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While the Netflix executive may be taken with Meghan Markle, a segment of the public is not.
"Seeing the co-CEO of Netflix try to prop up As Ever as if it carries any real weight? Honestly, it's tone-deaf and pathetic. Real brands are built on truth, trust and authentic connection. Not borrowed titles and endless spin," one X user wrote of the Suits actress' brand.
"He didn't notice the thumbs-up-to-thumbs-down ratio on the trailer?" a second person questioned about Ted Sarandos.
Other users claimed Meghan is is only successful because of her husband's relatives. "Someone please let Ted know that's the royal family's influence, not Meghan Markle's. That is the reason the Harry and Meghan documentary was the ONLY SUCCESS and five years ago!" a third said.
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Netflix renewed its contract with Meghan Markle and
Prince Harry earlier this year after the couple first joined forces with the platform in 2020.
"We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand," the mother of two said. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision."
While the royal pair and the company are working together once again, Meghan and Harry were relegated to a "first look" deal rather than their previous multi-million-dollar agreement. "They have shot the golden goose of 2020 — more of a 'we'll call you' than 'here's the checkbook.' It's a first-look deal, which means Netflix gets first dibs but no obligation to bankroll every semi-royal whim," publicist
Mark Borkowski claimed. "I reckon Netflix is trimming fat industry-wide, so this is less carte blanche, more curated cameo. They're still in business together. Meghan's As Ever brand and seasonal specials keep them in the Netflix shop window. But make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original. So, Harry and Meghan's new Netflix chapter [is] less champagne budget, more prosecco by the glass."
