Meghan Markle Accused of Plagiarism in Cancelled Netflix Project
A British author recently claimed that Meghan Markle’s animated show was canceled by Netflix after she pointed out similarities between the proposed series and her children’s books.
Back in July 2021, Markle and Netflix had announced plans for a show called “Pearl,” which was set to follow a young girl named Pearl as she discovers her power and finds inspiration from famous women throughout history. This show was part of the $100 million deal that Markle and Prince Harry signed with Netflix a year earlier.
However, in May 2022, Netflix announced that they were scrapping the series after author Mel Elliott alleged that it bore “striking similarities” to her own books. Elliott expressed disappointment that the show seemed to echo her own creation, Pearl Power, which she had developed years prior.
Elliott, known for her successful children’s book series about a young British girl named Pearl Power, had been in talks about turning her books into an animated TV show since early 2019. Her original books focused on themes of female empowerment and equality, intending to incorporate historical elements in the animated series by featuring famous women like Billie Jean King and Maya Angelou.
Despite sending multiple legal letters to Markle and Netflix about the alleged similarities, Elliott claimed she never received a response. She even posted test animations online and shared her ideas on a platform for creators to connect with producers in hopes of bringing her vision to life.
Overall, the author expressed relief that Markle’s show did not make it to air, believing that the cancellation was the right decision given the circumstances.
