Meghan Markle attended a party for the second season of Netflix series Beef in Montecito, California. At the event, she held hands with Nicole Avant, the wife of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, and hugged her tightly. These public displays of affection occurred against a backdrop of speculation about Meghan and Prince Harry's relationship with Netflix after their multi-million dollar deal with the streamer ended earlier this year.
Body language expert Judi James claimed Meghan Markle's display of friendship with Nicole Avant was exaggerated. According to Daily Mail - Home, Judi James described the gestures as aimed at showing there is no 'beef' between her and Netflix. The expert further suggested the hug signaled emotional dependency and intensity between lifelong friends, though she noted this interpretation might not align with Meghan's typically confident public persona.
Meghan's exaggerated, displayed attachment rituals here look aimed at showing there is no 'beef' between her and Netflix.
Rumors have swirled of a rift with Netflix following the end of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's lucrative deal with the platform. Adding fuel to these rumors, Ted Sarandos unfollowed Meghan Markle's personal Instagram account and her lifestyle company As Ever on Instagram. The timing of these social media actions has led to questions about the current status of the couple's relationship with Netflix executives.
The majority of other guests at the party stuck to a monochrome dress code, but some fans questioned online whether Meghan Markle disregarded the event's dress code by wearing the same color as Carey Mulligan. Other attendees at the party included Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Charles Melton, and Carey Mulligan. It remains unclear why Meghan chose a dress similar to Mulligan's and whether this was intentional.
The way the Sarandoses continue their 'couples' posing in the lineup makes it look almost as though Meghan is photo-bombing their pose.
The second season of Netflix series Beef returns to screens on April 16. The purpose of the event was to promote this upcoming release. Several unknowns persist, including whether there is an actual rift between Meghan Markle and Netflix or Ted Sarandos, how Ted Sarandos and Nicole Avant personally feel about Meghan's display of friendship, and whether Meghan's actions at the party were genuine or performative as alleged by the body language expert.
As a gesture, it could give the impression of someone needily seeking extra support with camera-shyness, although that could hardly be the case for Meghan.