Despite her global fame, Meghan Markle's foray into Hollywood has encountered significant hurdles, casting doubt on her ability to replicate her royal spotlight in the fiercely competitive entertainment industry. The Duchess of Sussex, a figure consistently in the media glare since her marriage to Prince Harry, finds herself at a pivotal juncture as multiple high-profile projects fail to meet expectations.
Recently, Meghan's plans for a new podcast with Lemonada Media were unexpectedly delayed, reportedly postponed to next year amid concerns that her focus was divided among too many initiatives, including the upcoming launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Sources suggest that Lemonada executives feared the new brand would overshadow the podcast, leading to its deferral.
An insider expressed to In Touch that Meghan's expansive ambitions might be working against her. "Meghan gets greedy. She wants everything all at once, and it's backfiring on her again. She's become a total joke and is overplaying her hand," the source said. This sentiment is echoed by concerns that her engagement with Netflix for a cooking show might further distract from her audio projects.
The stakes are high for Meghan as she navigates the aftermath of her Spotify series "Archetypes," which was not renewed for a second season. Now, the success of either her Netflix endeavor or her lifestyle brand is deemed crucial for proving her and Prince Harry's continued relevance in Hollywood-a task that sources are skeptical about.
Critics argue that Meghan's rapid rise to fame following her marriage has not been accompanied by the graft typically required to sustain a career in Hollywood. "Hollywood is glam and glitz on the outside, but the real stars have worked hard for their success - and you get the impression hard work isn't really Meghan's thing," a Hollywood insider told In Touch.
Furthermore, the backlash isn't confined to industry critics; it reportedly extends to the upper echelons of Hollywood and even back to the British royal family, with both groups purportedly finding Meghan's missteps a source of private amusement. "Now, after all her failures, those A-listers - and the royals - are laughing at her!" the source added.
The perception of Meghan as an outsider trying to carve out a space among established A-listers has only deepened the skepticism around her. Despite her high-profile status and the initial intrigue surrounding her royal departure, sustaining momentum in Hollywood demands more than star power-it requires strategic project management and a series of successful ventures, which thus far have seemed elusive for Meghan.
Palace insiders and industry veterans alike seem united in their doubt over her current strategies, with one palace courtier starkly predicting that her new ventures "are destined to fail" due to a lack of foundational experience in brand building and audience connection.
