KEY POINTS
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries was called a “reality show” by some social media users
- Gayle King defended “Harry & Meghan,” insisting that it was not a reality show
- The Sussexes previously denied a report that they would be starring in a reality show after signing a deal with Netflix
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s docuseries has been likened to a “reality show” by some social media users, but Gayle King disagrees.
During an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” which aired on Thursday, host Andy Cohen, 54, joked about the Duchess of Sussex’s previous comments regarding not wanting to do a reality show, implying that her new Netflix show fits under the category.
King, 67, came to Markle’s defense, saying, “It’s not a reality show. It’s not.”
The “CBS Mornings” anchor added that she “can’t wait” to tune in to the six-part docuseries.
King’s comment came on the same day Netflix dropped the first three episodes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s highly anticipated documentary series, “Harry & Meghan,” which lifted the curtain on royal life behind the scenes.
In the series, Prince Harry and Markle shared never-before-heard details about their relationship and talked about the intense media scrutiny surrounding their lives.
The episodes garnered mixed reactions on social media, with some calling it a “reality show” rather than a documentary and comparing the project to “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
“Harry and Meghan saying the engagement interview was a manufactured reality show, but then pretending this documentary isn’t is insulting. If they believe that, they are delusional,” one Twitter user commented.
Film critic Kathryn Flett claimed that Prince Harry and Markle’s docuseries included “stuff that makes the Kardashians look shy and retiring,” adding that, “It’s just relentless.”
In addition to King, a number of Twitter users and fans also sided with Markle and Prince Harry’s docuseries.
“You can just tell it’s the truth. There’s nothing disingenuous about their story. We were all witnesses to the racially charged Britain in which so much of this took place. [‘Harry & Meghan’] is fantastic,” one Sussex supporter tweeted.
After stepping back from their roles as working members of the royal family in 2020, Prince Harry and Markle signed a multimillion-dollar, multi-year deal with Netflix for scripted series, docuseries, documentaries and other projects.
At the time, British tabloid The Sun reported that the couple would be creating some sort of reality series about their philanthropy and that it would be the former “Suits” actress’ opportunity to show viewers “the real her.”
But a rep for Prince Harry and Markle quickly denied the report. “The Duke and Duchess are not taking part in any reality shows,” their spokesperson said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times in September 2020.
Following the release of their docuseries, a rep for the Sussexes also shut down the narrative that the couple stepped back as working royals for a private life.
“Their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties,” Ashley Hansen, their global press secretary, said in a statement to The New York Times.
She continued, “Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series. They are choosing to share their story on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created an entirely untrue narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion. The facts are right in front of them.”
Presley Ann/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald
