King Charles was outside on Thursday – he toured Apple’s UK headquarters with Tim Cook, and he toured the Curated Makers Christmas Market. Both events were associated with the King’s Trust (formerly the Prince’s Trust), which has offered support to various entrepreneurs who were involved with the Christmas Market. Charles always manages to look genuinely delighted whenever he’s in markets, shops or grocery stores. He always manages to look mildly horrified whenever they make him do photo-ops with computers or anything tech-related too.

Anyway, Charles is preparing for Christmas and trying to make his Christmas-hosting sound much bigger and better than his late mother’s Christmas hosting. Per usual, Charles will celebrate Christmas in Sandringham with his family. Reportedly, it’s supposed to be a larger gathering than usual, and Charles and Camilla have both made a point of asking their families to come to Norfolk for the holiday. Tom Parker Bowles spoke about it extensively in an interview with the Telegraph last weekend – Tom usually spends Christmas Day at his ex-wife’s house, with their two kids. This year, Camilla asked Tom and his kids to come to Sandringham. I assume Camilla’s daughter Laura will also be there. Obviously, Charles did not not invite both of HIS kids to Christmas. We heard that weeks ago, that the Sussexes did not receive an invitation to Sandringham. But someone wanted it emphasized, so Richard Eden got a call.

The King is determined to make this Christmas a big celebration for the extended Royal Family. Indeed, Prince William told families at a Christmas event for the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment in Wiltshire this week that he was looking forward to spending it with 45 relatives ‘all in one room’!

Among those present for the first time will be the King’s stepson, Tom Parker Bowles, who revealed last weekend that he would be taking his two children to the royal retreat in Norfolk.

Despite the profound significance of this year’s celebrations, and the King and Queen’s intimations of mortality, there will be four conspicuous absences at the Christmas dinner table. While the King’s stepson will be there – the first time a monarch’s stepchild has ever stayed at Sandringham – his younger son will not.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will instead be in California. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is likely to be the only member of either family to join them as they carve their turkey.

I am told that it is unlikely Prince Harry and his family were even invited to Sandringham this year.

‘Relations between Harry and his family are not sufficiently close for an invitation to be sent,’ a royal source tells me. ‘It’s very sad that things are that bad. We know that Harry wants to mend fences, but there is an awfully long way to go.’

[From The Daily Mail]

“Relations between Harry and his family are not sufficiently close for an invitation to be sent… We know that Harry wants to mend fences, but there is an awfully long way to go.” First off, the way it’s worded, they’re assuming that Harry was desperate for an invitation, but they can’t say that Harry requested an invitation (because he would deny that lie swiftly) or that he offered to come (again, he could deny that lie). It’s more likely that Harry and Meghan sent Christmas cards or holiday messages to Charles and then began planning their Christmas feast in Montecito. The fact that Buckingham Palace keeps pursuing this storyline – Desperate Harry Wants Reconciliation, Only To Be Brutally Snubbed By Charles – says more about Charles than Harry. It’s also a confession that all of this “big family gathering at Sandringham” PR is just another storyline for an audience of one: Prince Harry. “Look at us, Harry, we’re enjoying Christmas without YOU, aren’t you jealous?!?!” Psychotic.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

In an era in which society has moved away from legacy broadcast media and onto streaming platforms, there have been some great, independent, interview-style shows popping up via YouTube. One of the absolute best shows to come from YouTube is Hot Ones, which is produced by the studio First We Feast and now has more than 14 million subscribers and many more million views per episode. I’m sure you’ve all watched at least one episode. It’s a fantastic show with well-researched questions. Sean Evans is an amazing host.

Buzzfeed bought First We Feast back in 2021 as a part of a larger media acquisition of a company called Complex Networks. In February 2024, the company sold Complex Networks off but kept First We Feast. Well, Buzzfeed needed to reduce more of its debt, so it just sold First We Feast to a group of investors, including Evans, Chris Schonberger (FWF’s founder), Crooked Media (Pod Save America), Rhett & Link’s Mythical Entertainment (Good Mythical Morning), and George Soros’ Soros Fund Management. The deal was for $82.5 million. Schonberger will serve as CEO while Evans will become the company’s first chief creative officer.

BuzzFeed announced a deal to sell First We Feast, the studio behind the popular YouTube chicken-wing-eating celebrity talk show “Hot Ones,” for $82.5 million in cash to a group of investors. The consortium of buyers includes First We Feast founder Chris Schonberger and “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans, alongside podcast media company Crooked Media, Rhett & Link’s Mythical Entertainment and Soros Fund Management, the investment firm founded by billionaire financier George Soros. First We Feast said additional investors will be announced at a later date.

“Hot Ones,” first launched in 2015, now has more than 14 million subscribers on YouTube and 4 billion views to date on the platforms. Hosted by Evans and “known for its deeply researched questions,” the show has featured dozens of high-profile guests including Gordon Ramsay, Jennifer Lawrence, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Holland, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart, Post Malone, Millie Bobby Brown, Paul Rudd, Margot Robbie, David Beckham, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Earlier this year, First We Feast was engaged in talks with Netflix to produce live “Hot Ones” shows for the streamer.

With BuzzFeed’s sale, First We Feast will become an independent company led by Schonberger, who will assume the role of CEO, and Evans, who is taking on the newly created position of chief creative officer in addition to his ongoing tenure as host of “Hot Ones.” Sarah Honda, SVP of operations and brand strategy, will continue to oversee operations and serve as a co-executive producer of “Hot Ones” and SVP of client partnerships Brendan Kelly will continue to head up brand partnerships and ads sales for the business.

Today’s announcement marks an exciting new chapter in First We Feast’s history,” Schonberger said in a statement. “Being part of this incredible journey has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Our proven expertise in developing compelling formats, iconic IP, and best-in-class interviews makes us uniquely positioned to build on the brand’s momentum and supercharge our growth.”

The new investment in First We Feast will let it expand into new areas, Schonberger said, including new platforms, live events and talent acquisitions.

Evans, who noted that he hosted the very first episode of “Hot Ones” in March 2015, said, “As we approach the 10th anniversary of ‘Hot Ones’ next season, I’m constantly amazed by the passion and loyalty of our fans, who have made this journey so special. Not only is ‘Hot Ones’ a hit show, but it’s an experience — a cultural touchpoint that audiences want to be a part of, whether they’re watching, tasting the sauces, or sharing in the challenge with friends.”

He added: “The future is spicy, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

[From Variety]

That group of investors is interesting. Soros and Rhett & Link’s financial involvement didn’t surprise me at all. Crooked Media did a little bit, though, because Pod Save America’s interview with VP Kamala Harris’ campaign team a few weeks ago broke the “news” about why we never got that Harris/Walz Hot Ones appearance, which is that the show didn’t want to get political. I’d love to know what went on behind-the-scenes there because this deal had to have been in the works when it was recorded. (FWIW, I don’t think their involvement is anything other than another financial investment, so I don’t think we’re going to be seeing any sudden hard political turn from FWF.)

Anyway, good for Evans and Schonberger! They’re living the dream right now. The first content that will be produced post-sale is the Hot Ones annual holiday special on December 19. I hope First We Feast is super successful as its own independent entity. And while I don’t think they’re going to suddenly get political, I do wonder what new and creative shows they’ll produce now and whether or not any of the current shows will change now that they don’t answer to a parent company. It sounds like they’ve got some big plans to expand the brand and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos credit: Ferrari – Look/Look Press/Avalon/Avalon, Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Avalon, Getty and screenshot from YouTube/First We Feast

Austin Butler will play Patrick Bateman in a new version of American Psycho, directed by Luca Guadagnino. Will Patrick Bateman sound like Elvis?? [JustJared]
Chris Pine’s girlfriend looks like Emma Radacanu in some angles. [LaineyGossip]
Wait, Benny Blanco has a net worth of $50 million? [Hollywood Life]
Mariah Carey got the flu during the Christmas szn! [Seriously OMG]
Tennessee Republicans want to hand out $5 million fines to abortion-pill providers. Yeah, Republicans are really mad about abortion pills. [Jezebel]
Scary secrets about various industries & professions. [Pajiba]
Cate Blanchett’s ugly tartan. [RCFA]
Are you watching Pop Culture Jeopardy? [Buzzfeed]
Spotlight on model Matthew Djordjevic. [Socialite Life]
A LEGO remake of The Substance. [OMG Blog]

Embed from Getty Images
A few weeks ago, Kylie and Jason Kelce announced that they’re expecting their fourth daughter. Baby Girl #4 will join big sisters Wyatt, five, Elliotte, three, and Bennette, 20 months. Last Thursday, Kylie’s new podcast, “Not Gonna Lie” premiered. The episode has already surpassed Joe Rogan as the #1 podcast on both Spotify and Apple Charts, which is pretty cool.

During the first ep, Kylie did a segment called “Five-ish Questions” in which she answered a few questions that were taken from fans. The first question was about Bennette crying in the picture of the pregnancy announcement (she’s still upset because she doesn’t like to share her mama with anyone else) and the second one was about pregnancy in general. Kylie shared that she “cannot stand” being pregnant because she’s nauseous for most of it and rather than having cravings, she gets food aversions. Pregnancy is not a “good time” for Kylie.

“I always say I am so incredibly grateful to be able to get pregnant—unbelievably grateful,” she said in the Dec. 5 premiere episode of her new Wave Sports and Entertainment podcast Not Gonna Lie. “I have realized in my adult life that it is not as easy to get pregnant as we were originally led on to believe in high school.”

However, Kylie—whose brother-in-law Travis Kelce and his girlfriend Taylor Swift have already shown their love for the sweet news—continued, “But it is a means to an end when I tell you that I cannot stand being pregnant. I mean it. I don’t have a fun time.”

Because for the 32-year-old, pregnancy comes with a number of uncomfortable symptoms.

But Kylie isn’t the only Kelce family member to have mixed emotions about her pregnancy. In fact, her youngest, Bennett, has not yet come around to the fact she’s going to have a younger sister.

“When I tell you that Benny feels deeply and personally victimized by the fact that we chose to give her another sibling,” she said, “I mean that with my whole chest.”

Kylie went on to explain that Bennett can get a little possessive of her mom.

“When other babies or little kids come over and they try to sit in my lap, she physically removes them,” she shared. “So, we are about to ruin her day.”

[From E! News Online]

I’m sorry to hear that Kylie is so miserable while she’s pregnant. In terms of nausea, I was lucky with both of my pregnancies and only threw up once, with my second one. Similarly, my only food aversion was tapenade (and that son, funnily enough, now LOVES olives). Anyone have any really weird ones? I got so lucky in those regards. I was in a lot of physical pain with my younger son, though, and by the end, could barely sit up. I ended up having hernia surgery under my belly button when he was eight months old. Women really do go through so much with pregnancy, even the easier ones. I wish society would recognize this and respond with more compassion than it does now. Hopefully, this pregnancy will be an outlier for Kylie and she’s more comfortable.

I listened to the entire episode and it’s pretty good. She’s humble, funny, and likable. She also lightly trolled her husband’s podcast. I laughed when she joked that she and Jason “don’t have that formula” to make a boy. Kylie pledged to keep every episode under 45 minutes because she knows that a lot of women do not have time to listen to a podcast that’s hours long. I appreciate that! Kaitlin Olson is her guest for the second half of it. You can tell Kylie’s nervous and hasn’t quite found her footing yet, but it’s only the first episode. She’ll find her groove. I listened to it through the Podcasts App on my phone, but you can also watch it in video form here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce (@nglwithkylie)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kylie (McDevitt) Kelce (@kykelce)

Prince Harry’s trial against News Group Newspapers will happen in early 2025. The trial will not be a brief affair – there will likely be weeks of testimony and legal-bickering, and I’m a little bit worried that the trial will still be happening when Harry and Meghan arrive in Vancouver and Whistler for the Invictus Games on February 8. Obviously, Harry doesn’t have to physically be in court for the entire thing, but he will have to testify, and he will likely have to/want to testify in person rather than via Zoom or whatever. Well, NGN’s lawyers are trying to intimidate Harry, I think, and they’re saying that Harry will be under a microscopic cross-examination for days. Don’t threaten him with a good time!

The Duke of Sussex could face four days of “extensive” questioning in the High Court in his upcoming trial against the publisher of The Sun over allegations of unlawful information gathering. The Duke, 40, and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson are bringing legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), which is set to head to trial in January 2025.

The Duke was also accused of trying to turn his legal battle into a public inquiry after he said last week he would never settle the case to achieve closure for the hundreds of thousands who had settled.

Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said 30 articles will be included in the trial in the Duke’s case and he would need to be questioned on each one. The barrister said Harry will be questioned about whether or not his claim should be dismissed because it was brought too late, adding: “That is going to require an extensive cross-examination of the Duke on actual and constructed knowledge.”

Mr Hudson continued: “If we said anything less than up to four days, we would be at risk of running out of time.”

David Sherborne, representing the Duke and Lord Watson, said the Duke had been questioned for only a day-and-a-half in his claim against Mirror Group Newspapers. He continued: “The idea that Mr Hudson could allow himself four days because he doesn’t want to feel rushed, that could apply to every witness.”

Mr Hudson KC also told the court the Duke’s comments in a New York Times interview last week proved he was trying to turn the case into a public inquiry. “It shows what’s really going on,” he said. “This is not about the trial of these individual claims, certainly not about the Duke’s. It’s about something very different. What it’s clearly about… it’s almost by definition a public inquiry.”

[From The Telegraph]

I genuinely wonder if the average British person understands what Harry is doing here and what he’s going up against, and how NGN and the British tabloids have run a high-level extortion scheme on hundreds of celebrities, royals and politicians. After all of this, after years of motions and hearings and threats and intimidation tactics, Prince Harry is still marching these f–kers to trial. I think he will be more than happy to be cross-examined for four days about all of this horses-t, if it comes to that.

Some NGN/Sun covers from the years where this case has been slow-walked to trial.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, The Sun.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kelly McKee Zajfen (@_heartmom_)

For months now, the deranged royalist storyline about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been “professional SEPARATION!” They think if they continue to scream “separation,” that will somehow encourage Harry and Meghan to split up. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have just continued to do whatever they want, going to some events separately while they ignore the narrative. Well, here’s more evidence that Harry and Meghan are not joined at the hip: Meghan went to a baby shower without Harry! Baby shower separation!!

Meghan Markle will dress on theme to celebrate her friends! On Dec. 11, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, was photographed alongside friends Kelly McKee Zajfen and Markus Anderson to celebrate their friend Samantha Stone’s baby shower. Zajfen, the cofounder of Alliance of Moms, posted a sweet Instagram photo alongside Meghan, Stone and Anderson — each in baby pink attire.

Meghan wore a light pink Posse Alice linen midi dress to the celebration. She was photographed candidly smiling beside Zajfen, Anderson and Stone, the Soho House & Co. Chief Membership Officer.

Stone wore a pink halterneck gown with ruffles on the neckline, while Zajfen wore a tweed babydoll dress. Anderson, the Soho House director, wore a pink polo with a pink sweater draped across his shoulders and tan trousers.

[From People]

For years, the tabloids have tried to find out everything they can about Meghan and her friends, but I’ve yet to hear how Meghan became so tight with literally everyone behind-the-scenes at Soho House & Co. Long before she met Harry, she was tight with Marcus Anderson and Samantha Stone and all of the Soho House people. How did those friendships even start? Anyway, it’s cute to see Meghan out and about with friends. I think some – not all, but some – of the “professional separation” angst is because those people are mad that Meghan has a close circle of friends who never sell her out. The tabloids are mad that Meghan has friends and that she’s able to move around and live her life, basically. Anyway, Meghan looks cute in the photo and she looks great in pink.

Photos courtesy of Instagram, Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Donald Trump is Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. He beat out the Princess of Wales, Elon Musk, Kamala Harris and Joe Rogan for the title. It honestly would have been bizarre if Kate was POTY given everything else. I’m sure the fact that Kate would have refused an interview was a factor as well! As for the cover… it looks like Trump got a fresh wig, and it’s weird that they shot the photo from below, given Trump’s waddle and double chin (which were photoshopped on the cover). I have very little tolerance for any of this sh-t at this point, but if you want to read his POTY interview, you can see it here. Here’s a short excerpt:

Trump has a ready explanation for his improbable [political] resurrection. He even has a name for its climactic final act. “I called it 72 Days of Fury,” he says as the interview gets under way. “We hit the nerve of the country. The country was angry.” It wasn’t just the MAGA faithful. Trump harnessed deep national discontent about the economy, immigration, and cultural issues. His grievances resonated with suburban moms and retirees, Latino and Black men, young voters and tech edgelords. While Democrats estimated that most of the country wanted a President who would uphold the norms of liberal democracy, Trump saw a nation ready to smash them, tapping into a growing sense that the system was rigged.

If America was craving change, it is about to see how much Trump can deliver. He ran on a strongman vision, proposing to deport migrants by the millions, dismantle parts of the federal government, seek revenge against his political adversaries, and dismantle institutions that millions of people see as censorious and corrupt. “He understands the cultural zeitgeists,” says his 2016 campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who remains a close adviser. “Donald Trump is a complicated person with simple ideas, and way too many politicians are the exact opposite.”

Trump also promises to attack the sources abroad that he blames for the country’s malaise: economic interdependence, transnational criminals, traditional allies he sees as free riders on America’s long-running global beneficence. He believes he has tools to fight back: punitive tariffs, bare-knuckle negotiations, and threats to withdraw U.S. military, humanitarian, and economic support. Willing to upend the nation’s postwar role as a bulwark against authoritarianism, he promises to usher in a foreign policy rooted in “America First” transactionalism.

[From Time]

Yeah, it’s going to be a real sh-tshow. The American Experiment is over, not with a bang but a whimper. I hope everyone who voted for the Leopards-Eating-Faces Party gets everything they voted for. Beyond that, I hope all of the sensible people out there can find ways to protect themselves and the people they love.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, cover courtesy of Time.

A few weeks ago, Buckingham Palace clearly gave extensive briefings as to the Windsors’ Christmas plans. There were confirmations that the Princess of Wales would join the family for Christmas, as would Prince Andrew. Someone also made sure to tell everyone that Prince Harry and Meghan did not “receive an invitation” to Sandringham this year, which means the Sussexes will spend their fifth Christmas in a row outside of England. The palace tried and failed to strike a balance between “the poor, cancer-stricken king wants to be surrounded by family for the holiday” and “obviously, the king still hates his younger son and Black daughter-in-law!” Anyway, I guess we need to be bashed over the head with that message, because Katie Nicholl had this Vanity Fair exclusive:

The Royal Family are preparing for a “bumper” Christmas at Sandringham after a year of personal challenges. King Charles will honor the late Queen’s tradition of hosting Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk and it is expected that around 40 family members will attend this year in what sources are describing as “one of the biggest family Christmases ever.”

Sources tell Vanity Fair that Kate Middleton and Prince William will be joining the royals despite rumors that they could opt for a more low-key Christmas at Anmer Hall.

“Actually the plan is for them to all be at Sandringham for a very special big family Christmas. William and Catherine and the children will be there. The king and queen want their nearest and dearest with them to celebrate,” a royal source tells Vanity Fair. Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s son, revealed in an interview with the Telegraph published Saturday that he has been invited to join the royals for Christmas for the first time and is looking forward to a “different” Christmas to usual.

King Charles is said to be keen for the royals to conduct a walkabout after church on Christmas Day in what will be seen as a show of unity and togetherness. The last time the royals were seen en masse was on Christmas Day last year. Just weeks later the palace revealed that the Princess of Wales and King Charles were to undergo surgery followed by the shocking news that they had both been diagnosed with cancer. Neither royal has disclosed the type of disease they have been battling.

“It has been a very difficult and challenging time but the feeling is they are over the shock and the worst of it, and everyone is feeling very optimistic about 2025,” adds the insider. “The king is having ongoing treatment, which he is tolerating very well. When I last saw him he was looking amazing and very excited about the family being together for the festive season.”

“The queen is doing a lot better, she just needs to rest and take things a bit easier,” said the source. “She is very much looking forward to having some of her family at the Christmas table this year, it is going to feel extra special.”

[From Vanity Fair]

Nah, Queen Elizabeth used to host some huge family gatherings for Christmas, and this feels like Charles trying to copy that and failing miserably. It’s so funny how badly they’ve f–ked up the messaging on Christmas, one of the most important Christian holidays for the head of the Church of England, you know? Forgiveness, brotherhood, family, togetherness… but the king is too hateful and petty to invite his son. And the credibly accused rapist is invited, as is the king’s former-cokehead stepson.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

This week, we learned that Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly broke up again over the Thanksgiving holiday here in America. Apparently, she found something on his phone and she broke things off and they haven’t seen each other since. She’s also about six months pregnant with their rainbow baby, and this is not the first time they’ve broken up or broken off their engagement. Megan and MGK’s relationship has always been a giant ball of chaotic drama, and sources told People Mag that Megan and MGK will probably get back together at some point:

Megan Fox was caught off guard by the latest rift in her on-off relationship with Machine Gun Kelly. The Subservience actress and the musician broke up in late November, just weeks after announcing that they are expecting their first baby together.

A source close to Fox says the actress was “blind-sided” by the recent split, adding, “She’s been distraught.” Still, Fox is “trying to focus on” preparing for the baby on the way: “It’s her priority.”

Reps for both stars have not responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment. Fox and Kelly, a.k.a. Colson Baker, met while making the movie Midnight in the Switchgrass together, and got engaged in January 2022. They’re both already parents: Fox has Noah, 12, Bodhi, 10, and Journey, 8, with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, while Kelly is dad to daughter Casie, 15.

Another source said Fox and Kelly’s romance “has always been bumpy” and there’s a possibility they’ll reconcile soon.

“They love each other but don’t have compatible personalities. They’re both hot-heads, dramatic and stubborn. When they’re good together, they’re great,” said that source, adding, “They will very likely get back together. They’ve split in the past and then worked things out.”

Still, they have “both been ecstatic about the baby,” said that source: “They really wanted this baby.”

[From People]

Some people mentioned Megan’s previous marriage with Brian Austin Green, and how she left BAG only to get pregnant with Journey and return to BAG for a few more years. Megan has trouble leaving relationships cold – it takes her years to finally cut things off for good, so I agree with this source that there’s a very high probability that Megan and MGK will get back together. Meanwhile, TMZ had this interesting report on how Megan bought herself a house even before the breakup:

Megan Fox is sold on taking time apart from former fiancé Machine Gun Kelly … we’ve learned the actress has just purchased her own home — without the rapper. Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Megan and MGK haven’t actually been living together for the past year. We’re told he bought a house a couple years ago and always had a lot of people over … which left the “Transformers” star concerned about safety and resolved to have her own space.

Sources say Megan has been bouncing from rental to rental this past year … but is ready to settle down in one place — and she’s since scooped up a large home, worth about $8 million, in a popular celeb-filled neighborhood in the Los Angeles area. We’re told she’ll be moving in soon. However, don’t expect MGK to join her … we’re told Megan purchased the house before she and her baby daddy broke up — and there was never a plan for him to move in. The new pad was always just for her.

Sources say Megan and MGK have never been a good match living together … so, they ultimately decided it was better to live apart.

[From TMZ]

I’m all for separate spaces, but it’s just like… girl, add it to the list of reasons why you should be done with this guy. It’s not worth all of this! Megan doesn’t want to live with him, she doesn’t trust him around her things, she doesn’t trust him to NOT invite complete randos over, and he’s probably been cheating on her this whole time? Throw out the whole man, for goodness sake.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Deranger math is “Prince Harry & Meghan got a $100 million Netflix contract in 2020, and if Netflix doesn’t renew the contract in 2025, the Sussexes will be broke!” That has been the raison d’etre of the British tabloids for five years: to somehow engineer “Harry & Meghan need lose all of their money!” They’re tried screaming about their money, they’ve tried shaming Harry for “writing a bestseller” and “selling out his horrible family.” They’ve mocked every single thing Harry and Meghan have done. And they still believe, in their tiny little peabrains, that the Sussexes are just one Daily Mail column away from being broke and having no other option than “crawling back to the UK and begging to do royal work.” Speaking of, did you know that the British papers published “bad reviews” of Polo, the Netflix series? Well, now the Mail is speaking to some guy who says, for sure, the bad reviews mean that Netflix won’t renew their contract with the Sussexes, and you know what that means!

UK brand and culture expert Nick Ede has revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Polo may be the ‘nail in the coffin’ for their £80million Netflix deal. Prince Harry, 40, who served as an executive producer alongside Meghan, 43, promised the series, released globally this week, would showcase the ‘true depth and spirit of the sport’ as well as the ‘intensity of its high-stakes moments’.

However, the five-part docuseries, which centres around the build-up to the polo World Cup in Florida and mainly focuses on players such as Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, Timmy Dutta, and Nacho Figueras, struggled to impress critics. It’s a reality that Ede considers threatening for the Sussex’s Netflix deal, he told MailOnline: ‘The new polo documentary hasn’t received good reviews, and this is another foray into producing from Meghan and Harry. All eyes will be on whether the show rates and makes the very important top ten. It could, like the Invictus documentary, start well due to the public’s fascination with the pair and with polo potentially. But it’s more than likely to [fare] badly when up against blockbusters like Black Dove and safe Lindsay Lohan Christmas films.’

‘This could potentially be a nail in the coffin for their deal with the streaming giant who now use algorithms to make sure their programming is perfect for their subscribers.’

The series hardly features Harry and Meghan and has been nicknamed ‘the Nacho show’ behind the scenes because it focuses primarily on the Argentinian player – another drawback for Ede. He said: ‘With very little airtime, we don’t get to see the pair much and also hardly any PR around the series, this looks like it’s Oh No! Rather than Polo!’

The brand expert concluded: ‘We are still waiting for the new food show from Meghan and with the hype around this new show simmering rather than boiling, TV bosses will be starting to get worried about their big investment.’

[From The Daily Mail]

I haven’t watched the entire series, but Nacho is just providing commentary and explaining the sport and the characters. It’s called color commentary and he’s good at it, but no, it’s not The Nacho Show. Despite the predictable “bad reviews” in the British outlets, I get the feeling that most haters have greeted Polo with disappointment – Harry & Meghan aren’t centered in the series, it’s built around interesting (but barely-known) professional polo players and it’s set up like a standard sports docuseries, meaning sports-centered soap operas and Real Housewife-esque family moments. I’m saying that as a compliment – it’s a slick, well-done series which is very watchable. Now, will it be another sports docuseries success like Full Swing, or will it bomb like Break Point? Possibly somewhere in-between – Break Point sucked because the people working on it didn’t give a sh-t about tennis or what was actually happening on the tour. Full Swing worked because of the drama, personalities and authentic relationships.

As for the Sussexes’ Netflix contract… I’ve seen some suggestions that Harry and Meghan actually want to move on to other things. I don’t know. Given Meghan’s cooking show and how American Riviera Orchard is being built around it, I suspect that Meghan actually wants to stay with Netflix. Whatever happens, I hope they learn how to promote their damn projects.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Netflix.