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MEG-A MOVE
Real reason Meghan ‘deliberately’ shunned Hollywood event amid career comeback – as Kate’s popularity in US rises
A PR expert says they predict the Sussexes to now make selective public appearances
SHE was absent from the Golden Globes and is unlikely to attend the Oscars, but Meghan Markle’s decision not to walk the red carpet could have been “a deliberate and strategic one”.
According to one expert, Meghan, 42, and her husband Prince Harry, 39, are likely to have taken a temporary step away from the bright lights of Hollywood to plot their big career comeback.
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Over the last 12 months, they’ve seen lucrative TV and film deals canned - and brand and PR expert Ed Hopkins thinks they could be planning a career relaunch behind the scenes.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, he said: “Meghan and Harry's future in Hollywood and beyond depends largely on how they reposition themselves.
"A successful relaunch would likely involve aligning their projects more closely with their personal values and public causes, leveraging their unique position as figures who straddle the line between royalty and celebrity.”
Meghan was notably absent from the recent Golden Globe Awards, where her former Suits castmates Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty and Gina Torres reunited to present the Best Drama Series Award, and it’s believed she’ll also duck out of the Oscars on March 10.
After moving to America in 2020, the Sussexes landed a number of big money deals, only for them to be axed.
Meghan’s animated kids’ Netflix series Pearl was dropped because "few children would care if the show they were watching had been produced by a duchess," and her Archetypes podcast was also terminated, marking the end of her multi-million pound deal with Spotify.
And last November, it was reported the couple were warned they could lose their Netflix deal, rumoured to be worth $100million, if they don’t “come up with the goods.”
More recently, Meghan’s cameo in an advert for coffee brand Clevr Blends was labelled “cringe” by royal biographer Tom Bower.
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Following a disastrous run of PR, brand expert Ed says he expects the couple to now make selective public appearances while they work out their next steps in cracking Hollywood.
“Meghan's choice to forgo attendance at high-profile events such as the Golden Globes can be interpreted as a deliberate and strategic decision,” he said.
“This may signal her intent to reshape her public persona, pivoting towards engagements that better resonate with her personal ethos and philanthropic ambitions.
“The reported loss of their Spotify deal is significant. This platform was a major avenue for them to maintain public relevance and engage with a global audience.
"And the critique of Meghan's coffee advertisement suggests a disconnect between their brand and public expectations. This kind of negative feedback can have a tangible impact on their marketability.
"For Meghan and Harry, recalibrating their brand strategy is crucial. A career relaunch could take many forms, but it should ideally play to their strengths.
"This might involve documentary work, public speaking, or even book deals that focus on topics they are passionate about (but not autobiographies!)
"The key is to find a niche where they can be both influential and genuine.”
In contrast, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Hollywood star continues to shine.
The Princess of Wales scored 47% per cent in a recent US popularity poll, and was disliked by just 7% of the population.
Meanwhile, Meghan scored 38 per cent but was disliked by 21 per cent of Americans.
The Waleses soaring popularity across the pond seems to have coincided with their hiring of a top Hollywood producer, Dame Pippa Harris.
The 56 year old - whose production company made Oscar nominated Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio - became director of the couple’s Royal Foundation last year.
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Ed said: “The popularity of Kate and William in Hollywood, and their hiring of a professional with Hollywood connections for their Foundation, underscores the importance of strategic networking and brand alignment in these circles.
"It highlights a more traditional yet effective approach to celebrity and charity work, which contrasts with Meghan and Harry's more independent path.”
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