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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been looking for opportunities to share a more intimate view into their lives since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Meghan Markle seemed to have found the perfect vehicle for this through an unscripted cooking segment planned for Netflix. However, sources say the streaming giant flatly rejected the 45-minute episode, branding it too boring and preachy - a decision that has been corroborated by renowned chefs and left the palace fuming.
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Meghan had spent weeks meticulously planning a plant-based meal she would prepare for the cameras, hoping to connect with viewers through the universal appeal of food. As an avid home cook passionate about healthy eating, she wanted to offer helpful tips and anecdotes while giving a glimpse of her domestic life. According to insiders, this was meant to be her chance to showcase a different, more relatable side after leaving the constraints of the royal family.
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However, Netflix executives saw it very differently. They rejected the segment, saying it was too long, preachy, and boring for audiences. This has sparked outrage within Meghan and Harry's circle, with one source calling it a "devastating blow" after she put so much effort into the project. But this may have been merely the first sign of trouble, as prominent chefs have since corroborated Netflix's harsh assessment of Meghan's culinary abilities and on-screen presence.
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James Beard award-winning chef Dominique Cren, who was asked to consult on the episode, said she agreed with the streaming service's decision. While initially excited to work with Meghan, Cren felt the whole production was "very forced and unnatural" once she witnessed the Duchess in action. According to the Michelin-starred chef, Meghan's knife skills were sloppy, her pacing was off, and she had a tendency to get distracted and launch into long tangents. Moreover, Cren felt Meghan came across as "very self-righteous and out of touch" in her preachy promotion of plant-based and sustainable eating.
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Famed New York chef Jonathan Waxman echoed these criticisms after also being approached for input. He stated simply that "the whole thing was a bit of a train wreck." In Waxman's view, Meghan lacked the natural charisma and culinary prowess needed to carry off a solo cooking show format successfully. While great at delivering carefully crafted speeches and interviews, things fell apart the minute she stepped foot in a real kitchen. He described her technique as "sloppy" and "amateur hour," often fumbling with basic knife work, dropping ingredients, and openly admitting to winging the recipe.
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These scathing reviews from experts in the field shed further doubt on Meghan's abilities beyond her pre-prepared public engagements. The failed Netflix deal now joins the underwhelming launches of her podcast and children's book on her growing list of public missteps. As one royal commentator noted, this cooking segment was meant to be Meghan's big comeback, showing a relatable new side after leaving the royal family behind. But if even culinary professionals have critiqued her lack of natural cooking skills and charm, it suggests she still has more to learn when it comes to connecting with audiences in unscripted formats.
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For Meghan and Harry's ambitions of building independent careers outside the royal institution, being rejected by Netflix in such a public manner was undoubtedly a major blow. It remains to be seen how the couple will recalibrate their strategy going forward, but breaking free from royal constraints is proving more difficult than perhaps anticipated if even their most personal projects continue to fall flat on the global stage. With future deals and relevance now in doubt, this failed foray into culinary television serves as an early sign of the challenges that still lie ahead as the Duke and Duchess navigate life beyond the palace gates.
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