Meghan Markle’s Netflix Show Delay: What’s Really ...

“I don’t think she could imagine putting out a show centered on joy and hosting when so many people in her home state no longer have homes to host people in,” an industry insider tells PEOPLE.

Meghan Markle didn’t think twice about postponing this week’s release of her new show, With Love, Meghan, amid the series of wildfires ravaging her hometown of Los Angeles.

On Jan. 12, three days before With Love was due to debut on Netflix on Jan. 15, the Duchess of Sussex announced that the premiere was pushed to March 4 due to the devastation caused by the wildfires. Meghan and Prince Harry spent last Friday volunteering in Pasadena, Calif., to help victims of the Eaton Fire.

Meghan’s decision to postpone her show has been widely met with support. In response to critics questioning her motives for delaying the launch, an industry insider reveals that the decision was an “easy one,” driven by her genuine concern for her hometown and those impacted by the fires.

“Delaying the release of With Love, Meghan was likely an easy decision for her. I don’t think she could imagine putting out a show centered on joy and hosting when so many people in her home state no longer have homes to host people in,” an industry insider tells PEOPLE. “I think it’s sad that critics are saying she’s only doing this to avoid the fires overshadowing her show. We’re all human, and we’re dealing with a catastrophe.”

Meghan Markle with the mayor of Pasadena, Victor Gordo, at a home that was destroyed during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Jan. 10, 2025. 

Meghan was born and raised in L.A., and she and Prince Harry live about 90 miles north of the Los Angeles area in Montecito with their children, Prince Archie, 5 and Princess Lilibet, 3. PEOPLE previously confirmed that Harry and Meghan opened their home to friends and loved ones forced to evacuate amid the blazes, and the couple hit the ground on Jan. 10 to volunteer with World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, distributing food and supplies to those affected by the Eaton Fire.

Contrary to some reports that their visit was brief, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dedicated an entire day to volunteering in Pasadena, where they focused on discreetly supporting wildfire relief efforts, hearing both harrowing stories and witnessing the community spirit. They donated essential supplies, served meals with World Central Kitchen (a longtime partner of their charitable Archewell Foundation) and spent time with families and elderly individuals.

Prince Harry and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo at a home that was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Jan. 10, 2025. 

Together with Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, the couple shared their gratitude for first responders, including L.A. County firefighters and police.

In a later conversation with FOX 11 Los Angeles, Gordo said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left an impression on everyone they met with.

“It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected,” Gordo told the local outlet. “It’s very important. They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders.”

“We visited the command post at the Rose Bowl, and people were very happy to see them,” the mayor said. “They want to be as helpful as they can be… we visited with some of the affected families in some of the burned-out areas in Pasadena and Altadena. They took the time to meet the people that are affected and spent time. They’re just very caring people who are very concerned for their friends and neighbors.”

Meghan and Prince Harry’s office shared a statement on Jan. 9 about how people could pitch in with the relief effort, and headed out to help the next day.

On Sunday, the Duchess of Sussex said she was postponing the release of her TV series amid the wildfires, and with the full support of Netflix.

(Left) “With Love, Meghan” on Netflix; (Right) Meghan Markle at the Paley Honors Fall Gala honoring Tyler Perry in Beverly Hills, California on Dec. 4, 2024. 

“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement on Jan. 12.

With Love, Meghan was filmed in Montecito and pays tribute to the beauty of Southern California. The series sees Duchess of Sussex pursue her longtime passions like cooking, creating and entertaining, welcoming friends old and new across eight episodes.