How Meghan Markle Should Avoid Podcast Disaster After Netflix

Meghan Markle Faces Backlash Over New Projects: PR Experts Weigh In

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been facing a wave of negative reviews following the release of her Netflix cooking show, With Love, on March 4. While criticism from the British press is no surprise, the scathing feedback from prominent U.S. outlets like Time, The Economist, Variety, and New York Magazine’s Vulture has raised eyebrows. One review from Vulture even labeled her as "pioneering new frontiers in unrelatability," a harsh assessment that underscores the challenges she faces in connecting with audiences. As she prepares to launch her new podcast series soon, PR experts warn that she must navigate this backlash carefully to ensure the show’s success. They argue that her current approach, particularly her reliance on celebrity interviews, is alienating her from the public and fueling perceptions of elitism.

Shifting Strategies: PR Experts Advise Meghan to Ditch Celebrity Interviews

Edward Coram James, a PR expert and CEO of Go Up, told Newsweek that Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes, suffered from its focus on celebrity interviews, which many viewers found off-putting. "The one thing that isn’t wise is leaning into interviewing famous people," Coram James said, emphasizing that the British public perceives her as aligning with "glitzy Montecito types" rather than relatable figures. He suggested that Meghan should adopt a more free-form, "very human" approach to her content, focusing on causes and issues that resonate with the public. Coram James pointed to Prince Harry as an example of someone who has managed to stay relatable by championing causes like wounded veterans, conservation, and environmental efforts—issues that align with public values.

The Relatability Factor: What Meghan Can Learn from Prince Harry

Prince Harry’s work with the Invictus Games, which he recently hosted in Canada, has earned him widespread admiration for his commitment to wounded veterans and his ability to connect with people on a personal level. In contrast, Meghan’s projects, such as her Netflix cooking show and lifestyle brand, have been criticized for feeling overly polished and disconnected from everyday life. Coram James and other experts argue that Meghan needs to shift her focus toward initiatives that highlight her humanity and compassion, rather than her association with A-list celebrities. By doing so, she can begin to rebuild her image as someone who is genuinely relatable and down-to-earth.

The Scathing Reviews: Critics Call Out Meghan’s Cooking Show

The backlash against With Love has been particularly intense, with critics accusing Meghan of coming across as overly defensive and artificial. One reviewer from Vulture described the show as a "deranged bizarro world voyage into the center of nothing," criticizing its focus on decorating cakes and communicating through vague platitudes about joy and hospitality. The review also highlighted the show’s artificiality, pointing out that the beautiful kitchen and garden featured in the series are not actually part of Meghan’s home but rather a carefully constructed set. This criticism suggests that viewers are seeing through the facade and finding it difficult to connect with Meghan on a genuine level.

Artificiality and Elitism: The Perception Problem

The criticism of With Love has also focused on its perceived elitism and lack of authenticity. Many viewers have pointed out that the show feels more like a carefully choreographed performance than a genuine glimpse into Meghan’s life. The use of a fake kitchen and garden, for example, has been seen as an attempt to create a perfect image rather than share a real one. This perception of artificiality has only exacerbated the public’s skepticism about Meghan’s intentions and sincerity. Experts warn that this image problem could be detrimental to her podcast’s success unless she makes a concerted effort to be more transparent and relatable.

Moving Forward: The Road Ahead for Meghan Markle

As Meghan prepares to launch her new podcast, the question on everyone’s mind is: can she turn things around? PR experts like Eric Schiffer of Reputation Management Consultants suggest that she needs to refocus on the causes and issues that originally earned her public admiration. "She needs to lean into areas where people really found her and resonated with her—where she was helping those causes and those areas that people intrinsically believe in," Schiffer said. However, he also warned that rebuilding her image will be an uphill battle, given the intense scrutiny she is under. For now, it seems that Meghan’s best bet is to listen to the feedback, pivot her strategy, and work toward creating content that feels authentic and meaningful to her audience.

In the end, the road ahead for Meghan Markle is fraught with challenges, but it’s not impossible. By embracing her humanity, focusing on causes that matter, and ditching the glitz and glamour of celebrity culture, she may yet find a way to reclaim her place in the public’s heart. Only time will tell if she can rise to the occasion and prove her critics wrong.