Meghan Markle holds hand with wife of Netflix CEO as Sussexes move on from professional separation

Svar Nanan-Sen
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:45:25 +0000

Meghan Markle was photographed in an affectionate moment with Nicole Avant, the spouse of Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos, at a Montecito gathering on Friday evening.

The warm display came merely weeks after the Duchess ended her business relationship with the streaming giant over her As Ever lifestyle venture.

Meghan was pictured holding hands with Ms Avant and sharing a close embrace at the Beef Season Two Tastemaker event, which was hosted by the Netflix boss himself.

The apparent closeness between the two women suggests their personal friendship has endured despite the Duchess of Sussex's recent professional separation from Mr Sarandos.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were among a star-studded guest list at the California event.

Fellow attendees included actor Orlando Bloom, pop star Katy Perry, and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Riverdale's Charles Melton and British actress Carey Mulligan also joined the gathering.

Both Mr Sarandos and Ms Avant have previously spoken highly of the Duchess, with the Netflix chief describing her as "the rock star" last spring.

The Duchess launched As Ever in April last year as a joint venture with Netflix, offering products including jams, wine and flower sprinkles.

However, the brand encountered difficulties, with stock frequently selling out and leaving customers frustrated.

Her programme With Love, Meghan was cancelled by the platform following two series that received harsh critical reception.

The Duchess of Sussex reportedly grew dissatisfied with Netflix's "cautious" approach and sought to expand sales internationally rather than limiting distribution to American markets.

A source previously indicated that the split occurred because As Ever no longer required Netflix funding, and Meghan wished to make decisions more swiftly without consulting the company.

Despite the breakdown of the As Ever partnership, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to work with Netflix through their production company, Archewell Productions.

The couple maintains a "first look" arrangement with the streaming service, ensuring their projects receive priority consideration.

Last month, it was revealed that the Sussexes would create a polo-themed television drama for the platform.

The untitled series will be set in Wellington, Florida, home to America's national polo centre, and will chronicle the story of two competing teams and the families behind them.