Ted Sarandos Praises Meghan and Harry’s Influence on Emma Grede Podcast

Emma Grede welcomed Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos to her Aspire podcast, where she pressed him about the streaming giant’s growing consumer strategy. She referenced her earlier interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and asked about how ventures like As Ever fit into the mix of Netflix’s consumer and entertainment strategy. Grede’s question shows how celebrity-driven brands can intersect with entertainment platforms.

Sarandos responded by pointing to Netflix’s greatest advantage: cultural relevance. He explained that when people gather at a dinner party, the odds are high someone mentions a Netflix program that everyone can watch at home later. That, he argued, is the unique strength that sets the company apart.

Sarandos singled out Meghan’s cultural and consumer impact as extraordinary. He described her influence as “remarkable, remarkable,” noting that even a short trailer featuring Meghan and Harry sparked intense global reaction. Audiences dissected each frame, proving how much attention their content commands.

The effect extended far beyond viewership. Items seen in the trailer sold out worldwide. Handmade $20 shoes from a small village and a $1,500 blanket draped over a chair both sold out across global markets. For Sarandos, that reach demonstrated Meghan’s power to shape both cultural conversation and consumer demand at once.

Netflix and the Sussex Partnership

The conversation then turned to what this influence means for Netflix’s strategy. Sarandos emphasized that the Harry and Meghan documentary became one of the platform’s most watched productions. He said the project succeeded “by every measure,” both in cultural relevance and commercial reach.

He explained that Netflix sees the Sussex partnership as one that could grow into something more holistic, combining entertainment success with consumer impact. While consumer products and lifestyle ventures like As Ever operate differently from shows, their success still depends on strong entertainment foundations. For Netflix, the Sussexes offer both: record-breaking content and a unique ability to drive global consumer engagement.

Media Spin Versus Reality

Sarandos’ comments arrive after a summer of media inaccuracies. Several outlets falsely claimed Netflix was unhappy with the Sussexes and had dropped them, only to walk those stories back when Netflix revealed new projects were already in motion. His words underscored not scandal or controversy, but the couple’s measurable influence and cultural power.

When the media narrative drifts negative, the reality from Netflix’s leadership looks very different. For Ted Sarandos, Meghan and Harry are not a liability. They are an undeniable force shaping culture, commerce, and the future of entertainment for the company.

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