Meghan’s Netflix Show Gets 0% on Rotten Tomatoes — Critics Say Fans Just Wanted to Watch Harry
Meghan Markle’s Netflix return sparked quite a buzz, but for all the wrong reasons. Critics, chefs, and royal commentators alike have slammed With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration as 'inauthentic,' after it premiered on December 3. The show made an unfortunate history — becoming the first series ever to earn a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For someone aiming to cement her place in the entertainment world, the ranking will surely sting.
Markle’s popularity had soared after her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry. But things shifted quickly after the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US. Since then, she has tried to carve out a niche in the lifestyle space with her brand, As Ever, and her Netflix cooking show was meant to be a confident leap forward. Instead, global critics have offered little praise, and the series now reportedly won't return for another season.
"It’s the same old, dull routine. A sluggish, predictable episode stretching the previous season’s boredom, filled with pointless name-dropping and meaningless recipe segments," said celebrity chef Jameson Stocks to The Express. He credited Harry for being the saving grace in the show. "Honestly, I think viewers only stick around to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry at the end — who inexplicably wanders into someone else’s kitchen and suddenly appears behind her at the stove," opined the chef.
The Christmas series was meant to feel warm and celebratory, but landed flat. The overall show, however, has a significantly better 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In the show, Markle invites her celebrity friends to a California estate kitchen, where she cooks alongside them, sharing hosting and gardening tips. Critics and viewers labeled the show as 'boring,' reportedly forcing the streaming giant to pull the plug on it.
Stocks, in particular, critiqued Markle's cooking choices as a chef, calling her out for using a microwave to melt chocolate. "Meghan Markle should be nowhere near a kitchen," he declared. For the unversed, Stocks has prepared meals for the King and was recently recognized by The King's Trust for his impeccable services. Stocks explained that melting chocolate in a microwave is hazardous, as it can mess up its texture and appearance. He condemned Markle for using her platform to showcase such flawed methods and called her show a spoof rather than a culinary lifestyle show.
With overpowering criticism and low ratings, the holiday special may be the last we see of Markle's cooking. Previously, reports suggested that Netflix wants Markle to work on her image before they agree on future projects. As of now, the Sussex is working on her silver screen comeback with the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film, Close Personal Friends, where she will play herself.