Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, finds herself in hot water amid allegations of plagiarism regarding her animated Netflix series, now defunct, titled “Pearl.”
British author Mel Elliott has come forward to claim that Markle’s concept closely mirrors her own children’s book series, “Pearl Power,” which has been published in several installments since 2014.
Elliott expressed her disappointment, commenting, “Meghan portrays herself as a feminist championing women, so discovering the similarities between her show and my earlier work is bewildering.” Her concerns were sufficiently serious for Elliott to send legal correspondence to Markle, asking for acknowledgment of possible copyright infringement.
“Pearl,” which Markle announced in 2021, was positioned as the flagship project of the Sussex’s lucrative $100 million deal with Netflix.
It revolved around a 12-year-old girl who learns to harness her strength, drawing inspiration from historical female figures.
However, the series met a swift demise, with Netflix shifting its focus away from animated projects shortly after the show’s announcement.
Elliott’s “Pearl Power” series has gained traction since it was first released, and she asserts that her character enjoyed considerable commercial success and international translations.
It’s noteworthy that she started discussions to adapt her books into an animated series in 2019, well before Markle’s version gained publicity.
In her legal letter sent in July 2021, Elliott’s legal representation declared that the similarities between her work and the proposed animation were far too significant to be coincidental.
Despite this, Elliott’s attempts to engage with Markle’s team went largely unanswered, which she found disheartening.
“I wanted to be part of the project, not to halt it,” Elliott lamented.
“Having flagged these concerns, the fact that neither Netflix nor Archewell acknowledged my communications left me feeling disregarded.” She envisions “Pearl” as a collaborative venture but feels sidelined by the lack of dialogue.
With “Pearl” ultimately being shelved, Elliott reflects on the unfortunate timing, noting that if she were to reinvent her character now, it could unfairly appear as though she was copying Markle’s concept.
Her dreams of bringing her creation to life seem clouded by the controversy.
The Duchess’s track record has not been without critique; her subsequent projects have faced their own share of backlash, including allegations of imitation.
For instance, her recent cooking series was compared unfavorably to Pamela Anderson’s own show, leading to accusations of stolen ideas.
Beyond the realm of animated series, Markle has faced other claims regarding aspects of her lifestyle brand “As Ever,” which was said to resemble a local town’s emblem in Majorca.
Additionally, her upcoming podcast was similarly scrutinized for sharing a title with a pre-existing series.
Elliott, who holds a master’s degree from the Royal College of Art, is undeterred.
She continues her quest in the arts, urging producers to consider her “Pearl Power” for adaptation and is currently working on new literary projects, including her fourth children’s book set to be released in 2026.
Despite the turbulence surrounding the cancellation of “Pearl,” the Duchess seems poised to maintain her partnership with Netflix, as executives have indicated interest in future collaborations.
The ongoing buzz around Markle’s creative pursuits persists, leaving observers curious about her next moves in the entertainment landscape.
As for Elliott, she remains hopeful that her characters will one day find their place in animated storytelling, asserting, “There’s a wealth of inspiration from influential women waiting to be explored.”
