The News
Meghan Markle Faces Blacklist After CBS Fallout
Nearly a year has passed since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's sensational interview with Oprah Winfrey sent shockwaves through the royal family and dominated headlines globally.
In that explosive conversation, Meghan made serious allegations regarding racism and a lack of support from the monarchy.
While the interview proved to be a significant ratings success for CBS, drawing in millions of viewers, the network seems to be distancing itself from Meghan in the aftermath of the controversy.
Reports indicate that CBS has unofficially blacklisted Meghan, opting not to work with her in the future due to the chaos that ensued following her revelations during the Oprah chat.
Sources close to Meghan reveal that she is livid about this sudden change of heart from the network.
Feeling betrayed, she believes CBS only valued the ratings and sensationalism her story brought, discarding her once the initial buzz faded.
Those familiar with the situation say Meghan feels used.
She significantly boosted CBS's viewership with her candid discussion, but now she perceives herself as having been thrown aside.
During the negotiations for the interview, CBS emphasized the historic nature of the tell-all, but behind closed doors, executives now regard the fallout as a public relations disaster.
Concerns are mounting within CBS about Meghan's unpredictability in any future projects.
Some executives felt blindsided by the extent of her accusations during the Oprah interview, which went beyond what they had anticipated.
This unpredictability raises alarms about the potential for her to air even more grievances about the royal family or other personal matters if given another platform.
Moreover, CBS appears wary of upsetting the British monarchy and government, which faced intense criticism as a result of Meghan's allegations.
Although the ratings soared, the ensuing scrutiny placed the network under a glaring spotlight that they seem eager to avoid in the future.
Consequently, CBS executives now view Meghan as a liability, someone whose presence could spark further controversy.
The rift between Meghan, Prince Harry, and the royal family remains unresolved, adding another layer of unpredictability to any future collaborations.
The network aims to distance itself from someone who has stirred such significant discord within Britain's most prominent institution.
To compound the situation, the BBC has also decided to step back from working with Meghan after the fallout from her Oprah interview.
This retreat by both major networks reinforces Meghan's feeling of isolation.
Friends close to her indicate that she finds CBS's decision particularly painful, especially given the deeply personal nature of what she shared during that widely viewed interview.
She had trusted CBS with sensitive aspects of her life as a working royal, only to feel abandoned when they no longer saw her as beneficial.
Sources suggest that what angers Meghan most is the perception that CBS exploited her vulnerability.
They capitalized on the attention surrounding her claims of racism, mental health struggles, and feelings of isolation, only to abandon her once the initial excitement wore off.
Meghan had hoped to empower others through her story, but now it seems her voice is being silenced.
Her desire to initiate a broader conversation about equality and diversity within the monarchy appears to have been dismissed.
This has left her feeling not just hurt, but also frustrated by the cyclical nature of how women who speak out against injustices are treated.
Meghan reportedly believes that institutions often use such voices for publicity and then discard them once they've served their purpose.
Reps for Meghan have declined to comment on CBS's blacklisting decision.
However, friends emphasize that she envisioned using her platform to foster positive change within the monarchy, particularly concerning marginalized groups.
The abrupt shutout from CBS has clearly left her disheartened and questioning the very foundations of her advocacy.
As the fallout continues, it remains to be seen how Meghan will navigate this complex landscape.
The challenges ahead are significant, and the ramifications of her past revelations linger, shaping her future endeavors in a world that seems increasingly reluctant to embrace her voice.