Jacinda Ardern Cuts Ties with Harry and Meghan Over Netflix Docuseries

In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has distanced herself from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their involvement in a new Netflix docuseries that features her.

The announcement comes after the streaming giant released a trailer for the seven-part series titled “Live to Lead,” which aims to celebrate inspirational leaders around the globe.

Ardern's office quickly issued a statement clarifying her participation in the project, emphasizing that she was unaware of the Sussexes' involvement.

It appears that the Prime Minister was approached by the Nelson Mandela Foundation back in March 2019 to contribute to a project focused on leadership attributes aimed at young leaders worldwide.

This initiative stemmed from a one-hour interview conducted with her on November 8, 2019.

Initially, the Prime Minister's team was informed that the outputs would take the form of digital books, short films, and audiobooks.

A book titled “Jacinda Ardern, I Know This to be True” was published in March 2020, based on her interview.

Other notable figures featured in the broader project include the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, feminist activist Gloria Steinem, climate advocate Greta Thunberg, and basketball star Stephen Curry.

Fast forward to March 2021, when the Nelson Mandela Foundation notified Ardern's office that they had secured a deal with Netflix to air the series, which would include her interview.

However, it wasn't until May of this year that the Prime Minister learned that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be introducing the series.

This revelation came nearly two and a half years after her interview, leading to some confusion and frustration.

As the news broke, industry insiders revealed that at least one other participant was also taken aback by the connection to Harry and Meghan.

Those involved in “Live to Lead” had initially expected the narrators to be individuals genuinely engaged in international activism, with names like the Clooneys being floated as potential leads.

Participants in the project expressed feelings of embarrassment and disappointment over the Sussexes' association with the series.

Many believe that the couple's philosophies clash with the original vision of the project, which was intended to inspire and empower young leaders rather than serve as a platform for self-promotion.

The sentiment among these contributors is clear: they feel misled.

They were under the impression that Netflix would uphold the integrity of the project, only to find it branded as a Harry and Meghan production.

This shift has left them feeling exploited and questioning the motives behind the collaboration.

So far, details about how Harry and Meghan became attached to the project remain murky.

Was this always part of the plan, or did something change along the way that caught the rest of the production team off guard?

The uncertainty has left many participants feeling used and disillusioned.

As the release date approaches, the controversy surrounding “Live to Lead” continues to unfold.

With Ardern's distancing from the Sussexes and the discontent among other participants, it raises questions about the future of such collaborations in the realm of documentary filmmaking.

The docuseries, which is set to debut on December 31st, promises to highlight significant figures and their contributions to leadership.

But with the backdrop of this controversy, one wonders how audiences will receive it and what impact it will have on the reputations of those involved.