The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have been listed in The Hollywood Reporter’s industry bible as one of the biggest losers in the entertainment industry in 2023.
The publication took several shots at the couple’s projects that have debuted across the past year, including their Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan,” their failed deal with Spotify, and the duke’s memoir, Spare.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Projects Were Critiqued As ‘Whiny’ And ‘Inert’
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With the year almost over, The Hollywood Reporter dropped a list of stars and organizations who were the “biggest winners and losers” in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, they found themselves among the 11 chosen “losers,” having fallen short of the industry standards.
The unfavorable mention of the royal couple was not limited to their inclusion on the list; the write-up also harshly critiqued their projects. Their Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan,” despite breaking viewing records, was characterized as “whiny.” The same descriptor was applied to Harry’s biography, “Spare,” which he released just weeks after the debut of the documentary.
As for Meghan’s podcast, “Archetypes,” it was criticized for being an “inert” project, a term seemingly alluding to its lackluster performance. The podcast was subsequently canceled after its first season due to the termination of the Sussexes’ deal with the music streaming platform Spotify.
More Criticism Of Harry & Meghan By THR
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Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down from their senior royal roles in 2020 was also questioned, with the publication implying that the duo had “fled a life of ceremonial public service to cash in their celebrity status in the States.”
The article continued to criticize the couple’s public image, highlighting how South Park’s “The Worldwide Privacy Tour” episode mocked them for appearing to seek the spotlight while publicly expressing dissatisfaction with media intrusion into their lives.
Then, the scathing critique was concluded about how the couple is stuck with enduring all the flak that comes their way rather than returning to the stressful life of being royals.
It read: “Still, all the scorn and mockery beats otherwise having to attend 200-plus official royal family engagements a year, which sounds hellish.”
The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex Were Trolled In A ‘Family Guy’ Episode
Aside from what was mentioned in the piece, Harry and Meghan have also faced further skewering in the form of a “Family Guy” episode that satirized their $100 million Netflix deal.
Per reports, the incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as it made the couple feel like “they’re not being taken seriously enough by people.”
It was also noted that the couple felt like they never get to “catch a break” and considered it an “attack from inside Hollywood.”
“Meghan said she won’t be humiliated like this and is desperate for a solution. They’re in full panic mode,” an insider told Closer Magazine at the time (per the New York Post), adding that the couple described the satirical episode as “savage” and an “outrageous slur” against their personalities.
The source continued, “What’s hit them hardest and cuts the deepest of all is that it plays up the whole notion they’re self-entitled grifters or spoilt brats.”
Harry And Meghan’s Invictus Games Faced Controversy
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The couple’s Invictus Games, which seemed to be the bright spot in all of the drama in their life, was recently hit with controversy following the last edition.
First, a major shakeup saw CEO Peter Lawless and Chief Commercial Officer Bill Cooper of the Invictus Games Foundation removed for reasons not disclosed to the public. Then speculation circulated that the foundation was still facing budgetary issues ahead of the next edition despite assurances of financial support from the host country, Canada.
“I’m told are well over budget and no plan to close the gap even after securing $ 30 million in government support from the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Federal government,” a source close to the situation said, per the Daily Mail.
The rumors of the budgetary issues were later refuted in a statement from the foundation, which said they were on track to meet their fundraising targets thanks to a dedicated network of senior volunteers and our government partners.