Meghan Markle Netflix Show Faces Plagiarism Allegations From British Author
Meghan Markle Netflix Show Faces Plagiarism Allegations From British Author
The Duchess of Sussex’s scrapped Netflix animated series has become the center of controversy. (Netflix)
The Meghan Markle Netflix partnership is once again making headlines, but not for the success of her food and lifestyle series. Instead, the Duchess of Sussex faces accusations from British author Mel Elliott, who claims Markle plagiarized her children’s book concept for a now-canceled animated Netflix show titled “Pearl.” This latest controversy adds another layer of complexity to the Meghan Markle Netflix deal that has seen both hits and misses since the Duke and Duchess signed their multi-million dollar agreement with the streaming giant.
Table of Contents
- The Meghan Markle Netflix Deal: A Mixed Track Record
- The “Pearl” Project: What Was It About?
- Plagiarism Claims From British Author Mel Elliott
- Alleged Similarities Between “Pearl” and “Pearl Power”
- Legal Actions and Responses
- Netflix’s Cancellation of the Project
- Mel Elliott’s Reaction to the Controversy
- Implications for Future Meghan Markle Netflix Projects
The Meghan Markle Netflix Deal: A Mixed Track Record
Since signing their lucrative deal with Netflix in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix projects have seen varying degrees of success. The couple initially gained significant traction with their 2021 limited series that provided an intimate look into their lives. However, the journey since then has been somewhat rocky for the Meghan Markle Netflix partnership, with several forgettable projects and unrealized concepts.
Meghan Markle Netflix Projects Timeline
- 2020: Signed multi-year deal with Netflix
- 2021: Released documentary series about their lives
- 2022-2023: Several projects in development, including “Pearl”
- 2024: Released underwhelming “Polo” series
- 2025: Finally achieved success with food and lifestyle series
The Meghan Markle Netflix collaboration recently found success with her food and lifestyle series, which has been renewed for a second season despite some criticism. This triumph came after a period of uncertainty regarding the partnership’s future, as several previously announced projects failed to materialize or received lukewarm receptions.
The “Pearl” Project: What Was It About?
Among the Meghan Markle Netflix projects that never made it to production was an animated children’s show called “Pearl.” Announced with considerable fanfare in 2021, the show was intended to focus on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl inspired by influential women from history. Markle was set to serve as an executive producer through Archewell Productions, the company she founded with Prince Harry.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaking at EAN University in Bogota, Colombia, in August 2024. (Photo by Diego Cuevas/Getty Images)
This Meghan Markle Netflix creation was positioned as an educational and inspirational series for children, with strong feminist themes in alignment with the Duchess’s public advocacy. However, the project was shelved by Netflix in May 2022, reportedly due to budget cuts at the streaming platform during a period of subscriber losses.
Plagiarism Claims From British Author Mel Elliott
The latest controversy surrounding the Meghan Markle Netflix partnership involves serious allegations from British author Mel Elliott. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Elliott claims that Markle’s “Pearl” project bore striking similarities to her own children’s book series featuring a character named “Pearl Power,” which had been in publication for seven years before Markle’s Netflix announcement.
“Meghan is a feminist who sticks up for other women, so I was disappointed and confused to see how similar Netflix’s proposed show ‘Pearl’ was to my own Pearl Power, who had been created seven years earlier. Of course, I can’t know if anyone on her team had seen it and been inspired by it, but the similarities were too great for me to ignore.”
Elliott’s allegations raise questions about the creative process behind this Meghan Markle Netflix project and whether proper due diligence was conducted before its development and announcement. The British author has published multiple books featuring her “Pearl Power” character, which focus on feminist messages and teaching children about equality.
Alleged Similarities Between “Pearl” and “Pearl Power”
According to Elliott, the similarities between her “Pearl Power” series and the Meghan Markle Netflix show extend beyond just the character’s name. The author claims that both concepts feature a female protagonist named Pearl who learns about influential women throughout history. Both projects also reportedly shared similar educational themes and feminist messaging.
Comparison of Concepts
| Element | Elliott’s “Pearl Power” | Meghan Markle Netflix “Pearl” |
|---|---|---|
| Main Character | Young girl named Pearl | 12-year-old girl named Pearl |
| Educational Focus | Learning about influential women from history | Inspired by influential women from history |
| Themes | Female empowerment and equality | Female empowerment and historical figures |
| Creation Date | Approximately 2014 | Announced in 2021 |
Elliott maintains that these parallels between her work and the Meghan Markle Netflix project are “too many and too striking to be mere coincidence.” The author’s concerns highlight larger issues related to intellectual property protection in the entertainment industry, particularly for less prominent creators.
Legal Actions and Responses
Following the announcement of the Meghan Markle Netflix animated series, Elliott’s legal team reportedly sent three separate letters to both Markle and Netflix expressing concerns about the alleged similarities. These letters sought to make the Duchess aware of the potential intellectual property issues and possibly establish a collaborative relationship.
From Elliott’s Legal Team
Elliott’s lawyers stated in one letter that the similarities between the proposed Meghan Markle Netflix animation and Elliott’s work were “too many and too striking to be mere coincidence.” They further warned that the proposed series might “infringe intellectual property rights belonging to my client and/or may give rise to a claim in passing off (or in the US, some form of unfair competition).”
According to Elliott, neither the Meghan Markle Netflix team nor the streaming platform responded to these legal communications. This lack of response has fueled the author’s frustration and led to her going public with her accusations, though the project’s cancellation has rendered some of these concerns moot.
Netflix’s Cancellation of the Project
In May 2022, Netflix announced the cancellation of several animated projects in development, including the Meghan Markle Netflix show “Pearl.” The official reason given was budgetary constraints, as the streaming giant was experiencing a decrease in subscriber growth and implementing cost-cutting measures across the company.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex speaks at a Friends @ Home Event during the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)
The timing of the cancellation raised questions about whether the intellectual property concerns might have played a role in Netflix’s decision to shelve the Meghan Markle Netflix project. However, there has been no official confirmation linking Elliott’s allegations to the show’s cancellation, and Netflix has not publicly addressed the plagiarism claims.
Mel Elliott’s Reaction to the Controversy
Despite the project’s cancellation, Elliott has expressed mixed feelings about the situation surrounding the Meghan Markle Netflix animated series. While she stated that she’s “glad that Meghan’s ‘Pearl’ show was dropped” and hopes she “had something to do with it,” she also revealed a sense of missed opportunity.
“What I really wanted was for it to have gone ahead and for me to have been acknowledged or invited to work as a collaborator on the series. Pearl was my dream project and now, annoyingly, if I reprise my own creation, it’s going to look like I have copied the idea from someone else.”
Elliott’s comments highlight a common challenge for independent creators whose work may be appropriated by larger entities with more resources and visibility. The author’s disappointment centers not just on the alleged copying of her concept for the Meghan Markle Netflix show, but also on the lost opportunity for collaboration and recognition.
Implications for Future Meghan Markle Netflix Projects
This controversy comes at a pivotal time for the Meghan Markle Netflix partnership, which recently achieved its first major success with her food and lifestyle series. The plagiarism allegations, even concerning a canceled project, could potentially affect public perception of Markle’s creative integrity and influence how carefully future projects are vetted for originality.
Current Status of Meghan Markle Netflix Partnership
- Food and lifestyle series renewed for second season
- Several other projects reportedly in development
- Original multi-year deal continues despite some setbacks
- Focus appears to be shifting to non-fiction and lifestyle content
While neither Markle nor Netflix has publicly responded to Elliott’s allegations, the controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough concept development and proper attribution in creative industries. As the Meghan Markle Netflix collaboration continues to evolve, increased scrutiny on the originality of its projects seems likely.
The Larger Context
The allegations against this Meghan Markle Netflix project reflect broader conversations about intellectual property in the entertainment industry. As streaming platforms continue to expand their content libraries and seek new concepts for development, ensuring proper safeguards for smaller creators becomes increasingly important. Whether or not the similarities between “Pearl” and “Pearl Power” were coincidental, the controversy highlights the vulnerability of independent creators in a competitive media landscape.
As the Meghan Markle Netflix partnership moves forward with new projects, this incident may serve as a valuable lesson in the importance of thorough research during concept development. For Elliott and other independent creators, the situation underscores the challenges of protecting intellectual property in an industry dominated by powerful players with extensive resources.
Published on April 21, 2025
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