Prince Harry’s Netflix deal in jeopardy after Sentebale charity resignation
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix documentary, Polo, has been met with criticism and disappointing viewership.
The five-part series, which the couple executive produced, failed to make the top ten in Britain, America, or any of Netflix’s other major regional markets.
The show, which follows professional polo players, was panned by critics, with many calling it “unrelatable” and “tedious.” Eric Schiffer, chair of Reputation Management Consultants, told Newsweek: “It’s a pompous portrayal of privilege posing as a documentary. It feels fake.”
A two-star review from The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage described the show as Prince Harry’s “unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport.”
Heritage also said: “Fixtures are chosen by popping confetti-filled balloons, obnoxiously privileged players weep in darkened rooms when they lose … this documentary about the royal’s hobby is like a spoof.”
The show’s poor reception marks the latest in a series of streaming projects pursued by Harry and Meghan that have flopped or failed to find a consistent audience.
According to The Sun, there are no plans for any more Netflix shows featuring Harry or Meghan, as their deal with the streaming giant is set to expire.
The couple’s deal with Netflix, reportedly worth $100 million, has yielded mixed results. While their documentary Harry & Meghan was a success, with 81.6 million hours of viewing time in just four days, their subsequent projects have struggled to find an audience.
A source told Closer that neither Harry nor Meghan had much control over the direction of Polo. “Truth is, it was pretty much out of their control. The bosses wanted the series to appeal to the masses and pushed this reality TV slant so it’s not entirely their fault.”
The Duke of Sussex, who has played polo throughout his life, wrote a statement on Netflix’s website, saying: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour.”
