Is As ever all over? Starting to feel like it.

[AtIusvue]

It’s been 14 hours since the launch of the 2024 Rose. Nothing has sold out. This is despite it being designed again as a scarcity drop, so it can’t be argued she’s finally got her stock levels right.

• As ever stated the wine launch going ‘live’ at on the 5th August. Language designed to get you to rush and buy. Just like all this SM shopping you get now.
• Meghan put out a message many hours ago, stating that they have so much more stock (sad clapback to stuff not shifting) but hurry and be quick because it’s selling fast!!! (It’s clearly not)
• This launch however, has attracted very little press compared to previous drops

The scarcity gimmick is already tired and because she’s been absent from SM for 2 months…save for a few stock images/videos- she’s lost any momentum she had. She’s putting in bare minimum and her customer base feel it. She’s checked out.

There’s been talk of another series of WLM 3 and Meg getting a new NF contract, but I think that is just to fill the void until she can get WLM2 out. At which point, we will find out if there is any truth in any further deals.

The reason why I doubt WLM3, is that for continuity, you would need the same venue. But the home is now being used to to host weddings etc, it’s no longer a private rental but one open to the public to rent. There’s no way Meg would film in that location now. In addition she would need to have gotten the go ahead already for WLM3 and be filming right now to be able to stick to a schedule. The fact that it isn’t already confirmed, it’s giving the signal that WLM is over (in addition to knowing NF deal is done)

Now if WLM is over, I don’t think she has the draw to pull people to As ever. She doesn’t engage with her fan base enough, she does the bare minimum of SM posts, which she hasn’t even achieved the last few months. The Shopmy page is dead too. This is why the new wine launch has barely registered and hasn’t sold out 14 hours later. Yes, there will be more stock but it’s been designed for a sell out so there won’t be huge numbers.

As ever I think will be slowly wound down. There will be WLM2, with maybe another 18 months of drops. Then like everything else, it will be dropped quietly. Everyone is starting to get a bit bored by the half hearted, very beige effort she’s put into her ‘business’ and have tuned out.

She will have to launch yet another version of herself very soon. We’ve had actress, feminist, activist, producer, philanthropist….now female founder. God knows what’s next!

Wonder will she be including carol singing in her xmas special🤔

Most definitely - and the thanksgiving, easter, etc ones. They couldnt have been run prior to the delayed series 1 of WLM. But 100% they are in the can. Its hardly a unique idea to run seasonal one offs - and much cheaper to have fimed with everything set up. I wonder who she has invited to her thanksgiving session - looks like their only family member Doria has parted ways.

I can’t believe you are putting the Obamas in the same category as the grifters !
H and M’s deal sounds like a “ we’ll call you” deal. Netflix are just keeping a connection for the divorce interview.

It’s utterly ridiculous. One Obama was the President of the US and the other a top lawyer. They were (both) international statesmen/women, highly intelligent, cultured and educated and they got there through their own abilities.

There is simply no comparison to be made.

It’s a don’t call us, we’ll call you

Don’t get me started on this, Whitehorses. There’s that notorious incident and some truly awful videos from the IG pre-event in Canada where M uses disabled vets and a wheelchair-using child for her phot ops…just dips down, grinning for the cameras, then walks off without even acknowledging the child or their family . Horrible to see. But she got the money shot of her being Diana-like, so what’s not to like?

The Obamas have a successful, award winning production company.

The same can’t be said for Archewell. What will the numbers be, with the docu on the kids in Africa going viral with their dancing??????

Add to that Uvalde - proof checking shots of herself with her camera crew at the graveside/memorial of the massacre of children.

It's the aspect of Meghan's behaviour which most upsets and shocks me, and makes me realise that on one level the woman can't help it; she's empty inside and has no real empathy with anyone if it doesn't serve her purposes. I've genuinely come to that conclusion - if you criticised her for these things she'd be truly baffled as to what real interest, care and sympathy for another person involves.

You can see it on the rare occasions she is forced to listen to someone - she performs listening, but I don't think she's actually taking notice of what's being said. It doesn't penetrate her psyche. It's as if she's on set and the director has said 'Let's have a caring expression and some sympathetic nods in this shot, Meghan'. And Meghan has come to think that's what sympathy is.

I’ve noticed this when watching her carefully during interactions whilst doing Royal duties. There is a look of slight desperation under the forced fake smiles. She’s looking around for an escape . You can clearly see she’s deeply in comfortable and not really listening . No wonder she wanted to leave.

I was surprised they got a deal at all - that was all the headlines I saw then today they are more muted.

Reading articles is not a great deal - but still something. I don't know if it's someone doing PR lower expecations to rock bottom and then anything looks good - or industry face saving or hope they'll manage to pull something good - or if they were happy with the cooking/lifestyle stuff Meghan did.

They still have a chance - a foot still in the door - which anyone else with their track record probably wouldn't so will be interesting to see what they end up doing with that.

The way I see it, the only point in NF continuing with them is in the hope that their names/celebrity/image will attract viewers. So producing a film or show where they don't appear (Meet Me at the Lake, for eg) isn't going to cut it. Anyone else could do that. Also, Polo flopped because it's such an elite, niche sport and the only chance it had was for Harry to present it, do the interviews, be seen playing, talking about the finer points etc. But he didn't. And he didn't even do much to promote it.

So what should they come up with? This is where I thing there lack of personal passions and cultural interests really shows up. I've been criticised before (by Spectre) for suggesting that they should have some cultural interests, but I believe affluent, well-educated people who seek to be publicly prominent can't get away with just going to Beyonce concerts. Nothing wrong with that, but isn't Meghan passionate about theatre, film, dance, music, art, literature, and isn't Harry mad about the environment, sustainablity, wildlife, natural history...or maybe more relatable activities than polo: sports, athletics, horse-riding in general, bushcraft...you name it. The resounding answer, to their shame, is a massive NO!

Then they could present a celebrity look at some of these areas if we believed they really cared a hoot. But I genuinely believe H is dim and ignorant and just plays X box when not 'working', and Meghan cannot conceive of any interest which isn't basically Meghan. It wouldn't be coming from an authentic, personal place. So I don't know what their options are.

think their, not thing there...

Sorry.

I wouldn't be surprised if the kids feature in the xmas edition ! Desperate times lead to desperate measures.

I almost feel sorry for her when she's meeting people, she really does seem all at sea. There's a couple of videos I've seen, one where Harry is shaking someone's hand and she grabs the same hand so that they're both shaking it at the same time and another where it looks like Harry is going to introduce her to someone, she goes in for a hug but the person turns away.
I've never seen such a socially awkward person.

I think in all honesty, it was just too much for them. They were offered a low key wedding, and a gentle start, but they wanted to have the status and the fame, get the headlines etc. It's just really beyond both of them, they've both obviously not very resilient or strong personalities.

I liken it to the X Factor when a wannabe pop start (who can't sing) hands a cd to Simon Cowell to listen to in the hope of getting a recording contract.

With the caveat that we've not seen the contract, I can't believe the comedown involved in people saying "Well at least it's something" when you consider the hullabaloo around their original "$100 million deal"

Let's face it, if this added up to any more than "We'll pay you only if you come up with something we want" they'd be shrieking from the rooftops about it, but for now best hope they can offer something new (the children?) to keep the money rolling in

Compared to the last deal- we were told it was a 5 year deal and worth X millions

now….notice how they don’t say for how many years…so I’m guessing 2 at most and there’s no mention of retainer or anything else

She also talks to herself if caught on camera while H is in conversation with someone else. She doesn’t know how to be, when the attention isn’t on her. Being a royal is very much about standing or sitting, listening intently, remaining calm and NOT drawing attention to yourself and Meghan was never going to manage that.

Yes I agree and can’t understand why people can’t cut her a bit of slack. She may be used to being in front of studio cameras but actors are notoriously insecure! Having to appear with your in-laws on royal occasions with so many cameras trained on you was bound to be unnerving. And being pregnant etc.

She described herself as nerdy at school so it’s quite possible that she has developed a much harder persona to propel her through Hollywood when she is lacking in confidence in reality.

That’s why she comes across as inauthentic sometimes because she feels she has to try hard every minute as you would on set. And that feeling must only get worse with everyone piling on to criticise her and a whole industry having grown up around picking her apart, which would only make you more self conscious I think, so it becomes a vicious circle.

I don’t agree with everything they have done but I do feel sorry for her actually.

Yeah, @Ploachedplorridge , it's like I said, I think it was all a bit much and not really roles that suited either of them. I think they were right to decide to leave and try other things, although I think they made a huge mistake with all the complaining. It's important for both of them to try move on now. It's hard, because all they can sell is their royalty.

If she had an ounce of humility or authenticity she would be a much more likeable person. She’s really not a nice person .

I don’t agree with everything they have done but I do feel sorry for her actually.

@Ploachedplorridge

I don't believe she was nerdy at school. That's a trendy boast of many glamorous celebrities who want to appear 'deep' and intellectual. I know - it's just my opinion, but I'm not feeling it!

I think they've both behaved shockingly in the past few years, hurting and betraying close relationships and damaging other people. I can't like them because of that and I don't feel sorry for them.

But I don't want them to fail - I'm squeamish about 'train wreck' scenarios in general. I find their recent enterprises embarrassing and yes, comical in some ways. I wish a comfortably wealthy life for them and their children, away from the glare of publicity, and necessarily away from LA and its ruthless celebrity culture.

So I genuinely wish them well as a family but I don't like the way they're carrying on at present - messing up relationships with charities (and damaging the charities) and trying to pretend that Meghan makes up lunch boxes etc for the kids. They've just advertised for 3 separate nannies, so it doesn't exactly speak of hands-on parenting. Poor kids - 3 nannies and their parents to accommodate every single day. I think they're phoneys.

3 Nannie’s? 1 for Archi, 1 for Lilly and 1 for Harry?!