Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Hollywood Nightmare Continues

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s transition from royal life to Hollywood hasn’t gone smoothly in the four years since their split from the monarchy, with fresh jabs at the Golden Globes rounding off a particularly turbulent 12-month period.

The duke and duchess signed multi-million-dollar content creation deals with streaming giants Netflix and Spotify in 2020, after breaking away from the royal family and moving to California.

While the couple’s road to releasing content through these deals was by no means smooth, 2023 saw a significant change in the way their Hollywood peers treated them. They became the subject of numerous late night jokes, TV show skits and acerbic comedy takedowns.

The main catalyst for this change was the publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare, last January, which included anecdotes ripe for spoofing, including information about an experience with frostbite on his penis back in 2011, and how he used Princess Diana’s lip cream as a home remedy.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Jo Koy

The book’s criticisms of the U.K. media and royal family members, hot on the heels of Harry and Meghan’s eponymous six-part Netflix docuseries, caused their popularity on either side of the Atlantic to plummet, only slowly moving towards a more positive direction over the following months.

As well as becoming the butt of several jokes, including an entire satirical episode of adult animated comedy South Park, and a cutaway sketch in Family Guy, the couple also failed to secure prestigious industry awards nods.

The Harry & Meghan series missed out on a Primetime Emmy nomination and Harry’s 15-hour self-narrated audiobook version of Spare was snubbed for a highly anticipated Grammy. In the same year, they also split from podcast partner Spotify.

Fresh off of these disappointments, Meghan appeared on the red carpet in November enthused about a number of “exciting” projects the couple had lined up on the production slate of their Archewell Productions company.

Hopes the couple may have had about turning over a new leaf in 2024, however, may have stumbled after they found themselves the target of two bold jokes during the 81st Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood on Sunday night.

The January 7 ceremony was attended by the industry’s most important players, including the Sussexes’ Netflix boss, Ted Sarandos, pal Oprah Winfrey and A-list stars such as Meryl Streep, Margot Robbie, Emma Stone and Taylor Swift.

During his opening monologue, comedian Jo Koy took aim at Harry and the royal family, likening them to the HBO drama Succession, describing them as a “rich, white dysfunctional family” who were “all scheming.”

He went on to praise actress Imelda Staunton’s performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the royal drama series, The Crown.

“Her portrayal of the queen was so good, Prince Harry called her and asked her for money,” Koy said, which was met with laughter from the celebrity packed audience.

Jo Koy Presenting The Golden Globes He went on to target both the prince and his wife. “It turns out Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still get paid millions of dollars for doing absolutely nothing,” he joked, “and that’s just by Netflix.”

The coverage of the event then cut camera angles to show Netflix CEO Sarandos, who laughed off the joke, shaking his head from side to side.

While these jokes may not prove damaging to the duke and duchess, who were not present at the awards, it comes as the latest in a long line of reputational knocks.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Newsweek the couple appear to be at a career impasse.

“Several members of the cast of Suits reunited at the Golden Globes to present the cast of Succession with the Best Drama Series Award, Meghan was not among them, yet the Sussexes were the butt of more jokes,” he said of the latest development.

“This began with South Park‘s ‘Worldwide Privacy Tour’ in February, which satirized their hypocritical obsession with privacy. Last year, their [popularity] ratings collapsed in the United States.

“Host of the Globes, Jo Koy, quipped last night that they had been paid millions ‘for doing absolutely nothing- and that’s just by Netflix!’ If they don’t want to be recognized as ‘losers,’ which is the recent view of the Hollywood Reporter, it’s surely time the Sussexes actually did something other than continue Harry’s charitable activities which he launched prior to his marriage.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 2023 So far, the couple have released three docuseries for Netflix: Harry & Meghan (2022); Live to Lead (2022); and Heart of Invictus (2023).

Meghan also released a full podcast series with Spotify (Archetypes, 2022) before their partnership ended.

On what the future holds for the couple in Hollywood, Meghan has revealed that they have a number of projects on the horizon.

“We have so many exciting things on the slate,” she said on the Variety Women of Power Gala red carpet. “I can’t wait until we can announce them, but I’m just really proud of what we’re creating and my husband is loving it too.”

Newsweek approached representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex via email for comment.

Related Posts

Two ordinary Brits, once known as a construction worker and a football fan, now stare down Indonesia’s death penalty. Families back home cry “they were tricked”

Two ordinary blokes from the quiet town of Chichester are now staring death in the face, caught in the iron grip of Indonesia’s merciless war on drugs….

💥 THE TRAILER EVERY FAN IS TALKING ABOUT! Mel & Jack’s Family Dream Comes True in Virgin River Season 7… Until ONE SHOCKING MOMENT Changes Everything 😱🌲

Virgin River fans, brace yourselves—the Season 7 Episode 1 trailer has landed, and it’s a heart-pounding, tear-jerking ride that promises to shake up the small-town drama we’ve…

⚖️🔥 LINCOLN LAWYER SEASON 4 IS HERE! The Game-Changer Fans Have Been BEGGING For — And Netflix Just Confirmed the Arrival of a Missing Character Who Could Blow Everything Wide Open 💥📚👀

Buckle up, because The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 is roaring onto Netflix with a promise to redefine the series. This isn’t just another chapter in the saga…

💥👀 THE CANYON IS ABOUT TO ERUPT! Season 2 of Ransom Canyon Brings MORE Secrets, MORE Betrayal, And A Cast Shake-Up That Changes Everything Forever 💔🌪️

The dust is about to rise again in Ransom Canyon — and this time, nothing will be the same. Netflix has officially confirmed that Season 2 is…

🎬❤️ Nobody Wants This Season 2 Is Almost Here — But Joanne & Noah’s Love Story Is About To Face Its Toughest Test Yet… Will Love Win, Or Will Faith, Family, And New Rivals Tear Them Apart? 👀✨ 👉 Find out what Netflix is hiding about the October 23rd premiere!

The wait is almost over for fans of Nobody Wants This, Netflix’s breakout romantic comedy that captured hearts with its witty dialogue, irresistible chemistry, and heartfelt exploration…

‘I Want to See My Platinum Jubilee—Can You Keep Me Alive Until Then?’ Inside Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Battle with Cancer, Her Final Days, Harry’s Painful Arrival, and Why Meghan Was Left Out

As the world celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022—marking an unprecedented 70 years on the throne—few knew the heartbreaking truth behind the monarch’s unwavering smile:…