Netflix has denied that boss Ted Sarandos will only speak to Meghan Markle if lawyers present – with the Sussexes’ representative also shooting down the claims.
The Netflix CEO has been working with the couple since they signed a deal with the streaming service in September 2020, following their exit from the Royal Family.
The highly-publicised partnership was set to see the Sussexes deliver “content that informs but also gives hope” through a production arm of their Archewell company, with a press release at the time saying they would make television series, films and children’s shows.
Fast forward six years, and while the couple have released their own self-titled documentary series and two seasons of With Love, Meghan, they are yet to produce any scripted projects.
The deal was renewed last year, however a new report from Variety alleged on Wednesday (18 March) that the relationship between the Netflix CEO and the Sussexes has soured – with two sources insisting “that Sarandos recently said he would not sit for a call with the duchess unless a lawyer was present on the line”. The insiders were unclear on whether he was joking, Variety added.
A Netflix spokesperson has contradicted the claim, telling the publication it is “absolutely inaccurate” that Sarandos made the comment.
Meghan and Harry’s lawyer, Michael J Kump, said in a letter to Variety: “This is blatantly false. In fact, Meghan texts and speaks with Mr. Sarandos regularly, and has been to his home, sans lawyers.”
The Sussexes’ first Netflix project was their 2021 series Harry & Meghan, which became the streaming service’s highest-viewed documentary debut ever after 81.55 million hours were viewed in the first four days.
It was followed in March last year by With Love, Meghan, a glossy lifestyle series which saw the mum-of-two welcome famous friends to her Montecito mansion, where she shared tips on party planning, cookery and gardening.
Despite scathing reviews for the first season, a second followed in late 2025 and along with it, Meghan launched her As Ever range of products including jams, tea and bottles of wine. A third run has not been commissioned, with Netflix instead saying the show will continue as “seasonal specials”.
Harry and Meghan’s Archewell company has two scripted projects in development with Netflix – an adaptation of Jasmine Guillory’s 2018 novel The Wedding Date and a film based on the 2023 bestseller Meet Me at the Lake by romance writer Carley Fortune.
