James Beard award-winning chefs reveal behind-the-scenes details about Meghan Markle’s failed Netflix cooking show
The Royal Family’s foray into culinary television recently faced a major setback. Multiple sources have confirmed that Netflix flatly rejected a 45-minute cooking segment featuring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The streaming giant reportedly found the episode “too boring and preachy,” a decision that has left palace insiders fuming. In a surprising turn of events, several celebrated chefs have stepped forward to support Netflix’s decision, providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the ill-fated project.
It was supposed to be Meghan Markle’s big return to the spotlight—an opportunity to showcase her passion for home cooking and healthy eating on the global stage of Netflix. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan had been seeking ways to connect with audiences in a more intimate, unscripted setting. Food, often seen as a universal language, seemed like the perfect medium for this.
Sources close to Meghan say she spent weeks meticulously planning a 45-minute cooking segment, which aimed to take viewers through one of her favorite plant-based recipes. The episode was designed to be a relaxed, unpretentious glimpse into the Duchess’s domestic life, with Meghan casually preparing the meal in her home kitchen, sharing tips and personal anecdotes. “She was really excited about it; it was supposed to be her chance to show a different, more relatable side of herself,” one insider revealed. Meghan genuinely enjoys cooking and was eager to share that passion with the world.
However, Netflix executives apparently had different ideas. According to multiple reports, the streaming giant dismissed Meghan’s cooking segment, criticizing it as too lengthy, overly preachy, and ultimately too boring for their viewers. This decision has sparked outrage within Meghan and Harry’s inner circle, with one royal source describing it as a “devastating blow” for the Duchess. “She put so much time and energy into this project only to have it shut down at the last minute. It’s a real kick in the teeth,” the source added.
The real salt in the wound may be the corroborating feedback from several high-profile chefs, who have echoed Netflix’s unflattering assessment of Meghan’s culinary skills and on-camera presence. James Beard award winner Dominique Crenn, known for her innovative plant-based cuisine at her Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier Crenn, was one such chef. “I was actually asked to consult on the episode and provide some feedback,” Crenn revealed. “I have to say I agree with Netflix’s decision 100%.”
Crenn, initially excited about the prospect of working with Meghan, found her enthusiasm waning once she saw the Duchess in action. “The whole thing just felt very forced and unnatural,” Crenn explained. “Meghan clearly hadn’t spent much time actually cooking in a kitchen before. Her knife skills were sloppy, her pacing was all off, and she kept getting distracted, going on these long, tangential rants.”
The French-born chef was particularly put off by Meghan’s preachy tone and tendency to lecture the audience about the virtues of a recipe. “Look, I’m all for promoting healthy, sustainable eating, but there’s a way to do that without beating people over the head with it,” Crenn said. “Meghan just came across as very self-righteous and out of touch. I can see why Netflix felt it wouldn’t resonate with most viewers.”
Celebrated New York chef Jonathan Waxman, who was also approached to consult on the project, echoed Crenn’s assessment. “I hate to say it, but I agree with Dominique. The whole thing was a bit of a train wreck,” Waxman admitted. “Meghan just didn’t have the natural charisma or culinary chops to pull off a solo cooking show.
She’s great at giving speeches and doing those carefully scripted TV interviews, but the minute you put her in a real kitchen, it all falls apart.” Waxman was particularly critical of Meghan’s technique, describing it as “sloppy and amateur hour.” “She was constantly fumbling with basic knife work, dropping ingredients on the floor, and openly acknowledging that she was winging it the whole time,” he said. “It was all just very uncomfortable to watch.”
The chefs’ scathing critiques have only added to the Duchess’s growing list of public failures, following the underwhelming launch of her podcast “Archetypes” and the lukewarm reception to her children’s book “The Bench.” With her Netflix deal now in jeopardy, some royal commentators believe Meghan may need to rethink her strategy for reconnecting with the public. “This was supposed to be her big comeback, her chance to show the world a more relatable, accessible side of herself,” noted veteran royal correspondent Richard Fitzwilliams. “But if even the experts are saying it’s not working, maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board.”
These revelations have added to the mounting pressure on Meghan and Harry as they navigate their post-royal careers, making it clear that transitioning from royalty to Hollywood stardom is fraught with challenges. As the couple continues to seek their niche, it remains to be seen how they will adapt and evolve in their quest to carve out new roles in the public eye.
