In a surprising turn of events, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have been overlooked by the Emmy Awards, despite their high-profile Netflix docuseries. The snub has sparked a flurry of speculation about the couple's future in the entertainment industry and their personal lives.
The six-part docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," which was part of a production deal potentially worth up to $100 million, failed to secure a nomination in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series category. The series had garnered significant viewership, with audiences consuming 81.55 million hours of the content. However, the Emmy voters seemed to have a different perspective.
Entertainment expert and founder of MarkMeets, Mark Boardman, expressed his views on the situation to Newsweek. "It is undoubtedly a rather large and terribly disappointing blow for the couple, particularly in light of the criticism they have faced in recent weeks over their media deals," he said. Boardman suggested that the pair would need to "redefine who they are" in the wake of this setback.
The Emmy snub was not the only blow for the Sussexes. Their $20 million podcasting deal with Spotify was also recently scrapped. Spotify stated that they had "mutually agreed to part ways" with Archewell Audio, the couple's production company. This decision was met with criticism from Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, who referred to the couple as "f—ing grifters."
Despite these setbacks, the couple has been maintaining a brave face. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the U.K. Mirror that the couple were "devastated" after not hearing their names among the nominees. However, she added, "But of course (the couple) will not show it."
Amidst the professional challenges, the couple's personal bond appears to remain strong. Angela Levin, author of "Harry: A Biography of a Prince," recently spoke on GB News, stating that Meghan would not leave Harry as it would tarnish her brand. She said, "But she's not going to split with him. Of course, she won't because if she does, she loses a lot of people's interest because that's what they're really interested in. And I think it's tragic."
The couple's future in Hollywood remains uncertain. However, they are reportedly focusing on future projects and are determined to turn their current situation into a positive one. As Seward told the Mirror, "They are having a run of bad luck in their working life. But ironically as long as they concentrate on delivering personal stuff instead of more serious work, people will be interested. They have built a gilded cage of expectation around themselves from which it will be hard to escape."
Despite the challenges, the Sussexes continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Their journey, filled with both triumphs and tribulations, continues to unfold, offering a unique insight into the lives of those who have chosen to step away from royal duties and carve their own path.
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