Celebrity Chef Claims Threats of Legal Action from Netflix Over Meghan Markle Show Criticism
A renowned celebrity chef, Jameson Stocks, has alleged that he received a warning from Netflix after speaking out against Meghan Markle’s recent Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. The show, which was released last month, follows the Duchess of Sussex as she cooks and hosts family and friends at her California home.
According to Stocks, he was threatened with legal action after denouncing the series as "terrible" and "hard to watch". In an interview with MailOnline, Stocks claimed that he received a lawyer’s letter from Netflix, warning him to cease his criticism. "I got a lawyer’s letter from Netflix after I spoke out against her, warning me. I proper p***ed them off. Netflix did not like it and came after me," he said.
Stocks, a 41-year-old food connoisseur who once cooked for King Charles, had previously criticised the show on GB News upon its release in March. He admitted that he had been "sceptical" about the project before it even went into production. "I felt that even if she produced a really great programme, which I was quite skeptical of anyway, that I might get a little slammed for it, for being a part of it," he said.
However, a Netflix spokesperson has disputed Stocks’ claims, telling The Independent: "No legal letter was sent to Jameson Stocks from Netflix." This contradicts Stocks’ allegations that he was threatened with legal action.
Stocks also questioned Markle’s culinary skills, stating that he didn’t think she could cook and shouldn’t be teaching people to cook either. "How can she get all this money from Netflix? I don’t think she can cook and I don’t think she should be teaching people to cook either," he said. He urged Markle to return to her former profession, stating: "I think she should just go back to acting. She’s quite a good actress in real life, or obviously on screen. I think people should just stick to what they do best."
Mit Liebe, Meghan, as the show is also known, is the fifth project to come from the $100m deal Markle and Prince Harry cut with Netflix back in 2020. The show was filmed in the home that Markle shares with Prince Harry and their three children. Guests on the series included The Office actor Mindy Kaling, her Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, and two other celebrity chefs — Alice Waters and Roy Choi.
Stocks’ culinary skills were discovered by Marco Pierre White when he was just 15, years after he had run away from home. His life story is set to be turned into a film produced by Brad Pitt. With Love, Meghan has received a second season commission, set to air in 2026.
The show has not been without controversy, with critics panning it upon its release. Despite this, Markle and Prince Harry’s deal with Netflix has yielded several successful projects, including the six-part docuseries Harry & Meghan and the documentary Polo. As a prominent public figure, Markle’s ventures are subject to scrutiny, and Stocks’ comments add to the ongoing debate about her role in the entertainment industry.
This is not the first time that The Independent has reported on the controversy surrounding Markle’s Netflix show. As a trusted source of news and analysis, The Independent will continue to provide updates on this story as it develops.
