Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief at Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has delivered a scathing review of Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” in her Substack newsletter. Brown describes the series as “a testament to how far the beleaguered Duchess of Sussex has rowed herself backward in time since she first burst into the public consciousness more than eight years ago.”
Brown critiques Markle’s attempt to present a polished image: “With her unerring instinct for getting it wrong, Meghan has come out with a show about fake perfection just when the zeitgeist has turned raucously against it.”
“With Love, Meghan never really recovers from its preposterous opening scene of Meghan, dressed in a veiled beekeeper’s space suit, whispering with her apiarist about the wonder of bees.” —@TinaBrownLM https://t.co/cOdtE7Scfk
— The Free Press (@TheFP) March 12, 2025
Reviews of the series have been mixed and negative.
Some critics have labeled it “a Montecito ego trip not worth taking” and “toe-curlingly unlovable TV.” Brown also commented on the show’s disconnect with the current sociopolitical climate under President Trump, describing it as out of touch with cultural realities.
Despite the mixed reviews, Netflix has renewed “With Love, Meghan” for a second season. It remains in the streaming platform’s Top 10 shows, with a second season already in the works.
#Opinion | Barely a week since its release, ‘With Love, Meghan’ has slipped out of the top 10 rankings, pushed down by a distinct lack of love for Meghan from viewers
By: @ReshmiDG #MeghanMarkle #Hollywood #Politics https://t.co/g3TWOCv4EJ pic.twitter.com/nJWeQoRdTi
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 12, 2025
The Duchess of Sussex’s first solo hosting project for Netflix, “With Love, Meghan,” has topped the charts.
The lifestyle series premiered last week, and as of March 12, it ranked tenth on Netflix’s global chart with 2.6 million views and 12.6 million hours watched since its debut on March 4. With Love, Meghan” features the Duchess of Sussex sharing her personal passions for cooking, creating, and entertaining. Meghan forged new friendships with chef Roy Choi and farm-to-table pioneer Alice Waters throughout the eight-episode show, which is set to return for a second season.
"If you’re loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2!” she wrote. “Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!”#AsEver #WithLoveMeghanonNetflix https://t.co/VKbiLz5Nae
— Agathe de Lili (@AgathedeLili) March 11, 2025
In her most intimate interview in years, Meghan spoke about returning to her creative roots. “When your children get to a certain age — when you’re not just playing in the sandbox with them but almost playing in your own sandbox again — it’s super joyful,” Meghan said. The Duchess of Sussex served as host and executive producer for “With Love, Meghan.” It was filmed in Montecito, where she lives with her family.
Harry, Archie, and Lili visited her on set during filming. A crew member noted that Harry was incredibly supportive and allowed Meghan to shine in her element.
Who do you want to read on Meghan's Netflix show? There's only one correct answer and it's @TinaBrownLM. https://t.co/zzX6u6C96W
— Oliver Wiseman (@ollywiseman) March 11, 2025
Tina Brown’s scathing critique
Some critics have fixated on the show’s ratings, comparing them unfavorably to “Meghan and Harry.” Simone Phillips, who operates the local food site Charm City Table, noted that icons like Martha Stewart and Ina Garten of “The Barefoot Contessa” face less scrutiny than Meghan, a rich bi-racial lady. The Duchess has been accused of bragging about keeping bees or using a pricey but long-lasting Le Creuset pan. “‘I have some at home right now, and I’m not some millionaire,” Phillips said.
Kendra Nelson, a lifestyle influencer based in Park Heights, commented, “What is spent on each ‘With Love, Meghan’ project might be aspirational, but to say it’s not relatable? That’s ridiculous.” Nelson chronicles her own fabulousness to demonstrate what is possible. The narrative is pushing against the idea that I can have a joyful, easy, fun life,” Nelson said.
“Black women have the right and ability to live their full lives. It shouldn’t be such a hard thing to reach for.”
Apart from the fact that some people simply dislike her, the resistance to Meghan stems from a persistent disconnect between who gets to have that picturesque dream and who doesn’t. Surprise! If you can buy that pan or pump those balloons, you have it.
And we’re going to revel in it.
Image Credits: Photo by Thibault Penin on Unsplash
