Royal biographer Tom Bower has implied that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might want to glean insights from the Kardashians' success to create a sustainable and lucrative Hollywood brand.
Bower's remarks surfaced during his conversation with GB News' host, Dan Wootton, as they deliberated on the Sussexes' financial prospects following their controversial split with Spotify, reportedly costing them a $20 million deal.
The public backlash following the Spotify break, combined with a significant dip in their popularity among Americans, according to recent polls, prompted Wootton to speculate whether Markle's association could potentially deter brand collaborations due to the fear of negative public reactions.
Referring to Markle's speculated contract with Dior, Bower noted, "She [Meghan] has made herself, to some extent, contaminated. And how does a contaminated person actually sell?" Speculation regarding Markle becoming the face of Dior was later refuted by a representative of the luxury fashion brand.
The royal biographer then pivoted to a comparison between the Sussexes and the Kardashians. He commended the latter for constantly 'reinventing' themselves, highlighting the royal couple's propensity to focus their narrative on their royal feud.
"The Sussexes have only one trick, which is to attack, and that has now turned sour," observed Bower, an experienced journalist and TV producer.
Further extending the comparison, Wootton argued that the Kardashian's value for family relationships starkly contrasts with the Sussexes' treatment of the royal family, underlining the importance of familial bonds in American culture.
In an earlier appearance on the same show, Bower pointed out that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had possibly 'sabotaged' their brand, making it less appealing for corporate partnerships. "They sabotaged themselves by being so controversial, and I think that is what people like Dior and other corporations fear. They don't want to be associated with that sort of controversy."
However, their professional relationship with Netflix remains unaffected by these allegations. As of late June, a Netflix spokesperson confirmed that they have several ongoing projects with the Sussexes' Archewell Productions.
"We value our partnership with Archewell Productions," the spokesperson stated, adding that the debut of 'Harry & Meghan' marked Netflix's largest documentary premiere ever.
Among their upcoming projects is "Heart of Invictus," a documentary series capturing the journey of athletes preparing for Prince Harry's 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands. The series is scheduled to premiere on Netflix this summer.
