Netflix executive Bela Bajaria addressed claims of tension with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, sparked by a March 17 'Variety' report, at the “Next on Netflix Event” on Wednesday, March 18
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NEED TO KNOW
- Netflix executive Bela Bajaria addressed claims of tension with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the “Next on Netflix Event” on Wednesday, March 18
- At the event, the Netflix Chief Content Officer confirmed the couple still has projects in development following their 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan
- “Don’t believe whatever you read. Maybe we should all do a little fact-checking,” Bajaria said of the recent reports
Netflix executive Bela Bajaria is denying claims of a dispute between the streamer and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Variety reported on Tuesday, March 17, that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a tense relationship with Netflix after claims that the streamer was caught off guard by their joint interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, and Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare. Those claims, however, were firmly disputed by both Netflix and the couple’s representatives.
Bajaria briefly addressed the speculation at the “Next on Netflix” event on March 18, pushing back on the narrative.
“Don't believe whatever you read,” the Chief Content Officer at Netflix said. “Maybe we should all do a little fact-checking.”
As Bajaria continued, she reiterated that Netflix still has a relationship with the couple. “We have movies in development with them,” she said.
She noted that Netflix “had an amazing documentary with them.” Their first project was the six-episode docuseries Harry & Meghan, which was released in December 2022. The docuseries chronicled the couple’s relationship from its early days through their wedding and decision to step back from royal life.
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Bajaria added that Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, “have things in development on the TV and film side.”
“Deals come and go all the time,” she continued. “There are deals that are deals we don't renew.”
The executive said that the company has "so many deals" in motion, but those don't receive the same type of attention as its partnership with Meghan and Harry. She said the lack of press for the other deals is "for obvious reasons," and adding, "I guess there's no juicy story there."
Bajaria’s remarks come one day after the Variety report, in which both Harry and Meghan's team and Netflix disputed several of the claims.
Bajaria’s denial comes one day after Harry and Meghan disputed that account to Variety.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the outlet it is “categorically false” that Netflix was unaware of the Winfrey interview.
Regarding the deal, the representative added that “Netflix and Archewell had legal counsel involved to oversee the evolution of the deal, as is common practice for any deal changes in Hollywood.”
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Shortly before the reports, Meghan announced on March 6 that she and her lifestyle brand, As ever, was ending its partnership with Netflix. The brand will continue "independently," according to an As ever spokesperson.
"As ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth, and As ever is now ready to stand on its own," the spokesperson said.
A Netflix spokesperson said, "As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.”
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