When Meghan Markle launched her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan in March 2025, it was heralded as a bold step into the world of aspirational living, showcasing her passion for cooking, crafting, and hosting. The first season, while polarizing, drew significant attention, with viewers and critics alike dissecting the Duchess of Sussex’s attempt to carve out a new identity beyond her royal past. However, as the second season premiered on August 26, 2025, a new controversy has emerged, threatening to overshadow Meghan’s ambitions: A-list celebrities reportedly refused to appear on the show, and the reasons behind their rejections have sent shockwaves through Hollywood and royal circles. Described as “the outcome Meghan never wanted,” the lack of high-profile guests has sparked intense speculation about her influence, the show’s appeal, and the challenges of maintaining relevance in a crowded media landscape.

The first season of With Love, Meghan featured a modest but notable lineup of guests, including The Office actress Mindy Kaling and farm-to-table pioneer Alice Waters. These appearances, while respectable, fell short of the star power many expected from a former royal with deep Hollywood connections. For season two, expectations were high that Meghan would leverage her friendships with A-listers like Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, or Gwyneth Paltrow to elevate the series. Instead, the guest list—while still impressive—leaned heavily on culinary figures like chefs José Andrés, Clare Smyth, David Chang, and Samin Nosrat, alongside television personalities like Chrissy Teigen, Tan France, and Jay Shetty, and Meghan’s close friends like makeup artist Daniel Martin and Pilates studio founder Heather Dorak. The absence of top-tier celebrities has fueled headlines, with tabloids proclaiming that Meghan’s star power is waning and that her show lacks the “pulling power” to attract Hollywood’s elite.

According to industry insiders, several A-list stars declined invitations to appear on With Love, Meghan season two, citing a variety of reasons that have sparked heated debate. The most commonly whispered explanation is the fear of being associated with the Sussexes’ polarizing public image. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry have faced relentless scrutiny, with their media ventures—such as their 2021 Oprah interview, Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, and their 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan—drawing both praise and criticism. For some celebrities, appearing on Meghan’s show risked aligning themselves with a couple whose every move is dissected by tabloids and social media. “The Sussexes are a lightning rod,” one Hollywood producer commented anonymously. “A-listers don’t want to get caught in the crossfire of their drama.”

Another reported reason for the rejections is the perception that With Love, Meghan lacks the cultural cachet to justify a high-profile appearance. While the first season attracted millions of viewers, it was met with scathing reviews from some critics, who called it “painfully contrived,” “tone-deaf,” and “an advert for somewhere we’ll never go.” The show’s focus on Meghan’s Montecito lifestyle—complete with flower sprinkles, artisanal jams, and hand-dyed scarves—has been criticized as out of touch, particularly in a time of global economic uncertainty. For A-list stars accustomed to high-stakes projects like blockbuster films or prestige dramas, appearing on a lifestyle show perceived as niche or frivolous may not align with their brand. “It’s not The Bear or Succession,” one industry source quipped. “It’s a cooking show with a duchess, and that’s a tough sell for some.”

The competitive nature of Hollywood’s media landscape also played a role. In 2025, streaming platforms are flooded with celebrity-driven content, from cooking shows featuring Gordon Ramsay to wellness series led by Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop. A-listers are selective about their appearances, often prioritizing projects with broader appeal or guaranteed commercial success. Meghan’s show, while backed by Netflix, faces pressure to stand out in a crowded field. The decision to film season two at a rented Montecito property rather than the Sussexes’ $14.65 million estate was intended to protect their family’s privacy, but it may have inadvertently reinforced perceptions of inauthenticity, further deterring high-profile guests wary of a staged setting.

Meghan’s supporters, however, argue that the narrative of A-list rejections is overblown and rooted in bias. On platforms like X, fans have rallied to her defense, pointing out that the season two guest list is far from “subpar.” Chrissy Teigen, a model and cookbook author with a massive following, brings mainstream appeal, while José Andrés, a celebrated chef and humanitarian, adds gravitas through his work with World Central Kitchen, a cause supported by the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation. Tan France, known for Queer Eye, injects humor and relatability, as seen in a viral clip where he jokingly calls Meghan’s flower sprinkles “the gayest thing I’ve heard in a long time.” These guests, fans argue, reflect Meghan’s focus on authenticity and personal connections rather than chasing clout. “She’s not begging for Hollywood’s approval,” one supporter wrote. “She’s inviting people she respects and trusts.”

The controversy has also reignited discussions about Meghan’s transition from royal to media mogul. Since leaving the monarchy, she and Harry have pursued ambitious ventures, including their Netflix deal, estimated at $100 million, and the launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sells products like jams and flower sprinkles tied to the show. However, their media projects have faced mixed success. The cancellation of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast by Spotify in 2023 after one season was a blow, and their recent polo docuseries received lukewarm reviews. With Love, Meghan season two, while praised by some for its “heartwarming” focus on joy and creativity, has been panned by others as “boring” and “narcissistic.” The absence of A-list stars has only amplified these criticisms, with detractors arguing that Meghan’s influence is not as strong as she and Harry hoped when they relocated to California.

For Meghan, the snub is a personal and professional setback. Sources close to the Duchess suggest she was “disappointed” by the rejections, having hoped to showcase her ability to bring together Hollywood’s elite. Her vision for the show was to create a platform for meaningful conversations and creative inspiration, drawing on her pre-royal experience with her lifestyle blog, The Tig. Yet, the reality of producing a hit series in a competitive industry has proven challenging. The decision to focus on lesser-known guests and personal friends may reflect a strategic pivot, emphasizing authenticity over star power, but it has left the show vulnerable to accusations of lacking ambition.

The broader implications for the Sussexes are significant. Their Netflix deal, renegotiated in 2025 for a lower commitment than the original $100 million agreement, hinges on their ability to deliver compelling content. The lukewarm reception to With Love, Meghan and the absence of A-list guests could jeopardize future projects, including a planned holiday special and a film adaptation of Meet Me at the Lake. Meanwhile, the couple’s Archewell Foundation continues to fund charitable initiatives, such as disaster relief and mental health advocacy, but their public image remains tied to their media ventures. The A-list snub risks reinforcing perceptions that they are struggling to maintain relevance, even as they work to establish themselves as global philanthropists.

Public reaction to the controversy has been polarized, reflecting the divide in how Meghan is perceived. In the U.S., where she and Harry have built a new life, some view her as a relatable figure navigating the challenges of fame and motherhood. Her candid moments on the show—like revealing her dislike for baking or sharing nostalgic stories about her 2018 wedding to Harry—have resonated with fans. In the UK, however, tabloids have seized on the A-list rejections to portray her as out of her depth, with headlines like “Meghan’s Starless Show” and “Hollywood Turns Its Back.” Social media platforms have become battlegrounds, with hashtags like #WithLoveMeghan and #MeghanFlop trending in equal measure.

As Meghan and Harry move forward, the A-list snub underscores the challenges of their post-royal journey. Their decision to step back was driven by a desire for freedom, but the realities of competing in Hollywood have tested their resilience. For Meghan, With Love, Meghan is a deeply personal project, reflecting her love for hosting and creating. Yet, the absence of A-list stars has exposed the limits of her influence, raising questions about her ability to compete with established lifestyle moguls like Martha Stewart or Gwyneth Paltrow. Whether this setback will prompt a rethink of her approach or fuel her determination to prove her critics wrong remains to be seen. For now, the Duchess is forging ahead, but the whispers of rejection and the roar of public debate ensure that her path is anything but smooth.