The decline of Hollywood as a cultural force is a direct consequence of the industry's embrace of “woke” ideology.
Donald Trump’s re-election witnessed a complete plunge in relevance for celebrities who, some for pay, threw their endorsements behind the abysmal candidate Kamala Harris, who ticked all the right woke, identitarian boxes.
In this era of plummeting Hollywood relevance, few figures exemplify the fallout more than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Once seen as symbols of modernity and change, they have become two of the saddest casualties in the war against celebrity virtue signalling.
Their downfall mirrors Hollywood’s own unraveling, as both fall victim to the same pitfalls of hypocrisy, self-interest, and a growing alienation from the very audiences they sought to influence.
Harry and Meghan are a symptom of wokeness gone wrong, says Lee Cohen
PA
Hollywood has long obsessively pushed progressive thought, yet its current cultural overreach has alienated millions throughout the world. The obsession with virtue signalling—through films and advertisements prioritising diversity quotas over compelling storytelling, or shows pushing political agendas instead of offering an escape—has left the industry out of touch with its audience.
As Hollywood retreats into its bubble of self-congratulation, its influence wanes, and the cultural void it leaves behind is increasingly being filled by other voices. Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election landslide was, in many ways, a repudiation of this brand of politics, signalling a shift away from entertainment that preaches and divides toward something more authentic and relatable.
In this broader cultural shift, Harry and Meghan have unwittingly become the embodiment of Hollywood’s failed experiment in celebrity activism.
Initially, they sought to redefine royal duties by advocating for mental health, racial justice, and women’s rights, but their progressive intentions have been overshadowed by self-serving media deals and a relentless pursuit of personal branding.
This shift from idealism to opportunism has made them emblematic of a larger problem in Hollywood: the dangers of performative wokeness.
The Sussexes’ recent ventures have met with utter failure. Their $20 million Spotify deal collapsed after producing just a dozen podcasts over two and a half years. Their latest Netflix series POLO, a documentary about the sport, has been widely panned by critics, with marketing experts calling them "box office poison" and suggesting their $100 million Netflix deal could be in jeopardy.
Public perception of the couple has soured considerably in Hollywood. Once heralded as new voices for a progressive future, they are now seen as out of touch with the public and their own industry. In fact, they have been dubbed “the most unpopular kids in school” in Hollywood.
Film industry publications like The Hollywood Reporter have not held back, noting that Sussex high-profile staff members have been resigning at an alarming rate, citing a toxic management style, with sources even claiming that "everyone’s terrified of Meghan."
Despite their efforts to maintain relevance, the couple continues to struggle. Their brand—once full of promise—is collapsing, destroying the opportunities they were given due to Harry’s pedigree. As their projects continue to receive negative reviews, their position in Hollywood seems increasingly tenuous.
Harry and Meghan’s downfall is not merely a reflection of their own poor decisions, but a symptom of Hollywood’s broader crisis of relevance.
As the entertainment industry grapples with its identity crisis, Harry and Meghan’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of celebrity activism.
Their fall from grace is a stark reminder that in an era where authenticity is prized above all, cultural relevance demands more than just a narrative of virtue—it requires consistency, sincerity, and a commitment to something greater than oneself.
In the end, Hollywood’s influence is fading, and Harry and Meghan have become some of its first casualties. Their attempt to carve out a progressive path has only revealed the hollowness of their activism. With each passing day, their credibility erodes as their contradictions mount, and their once-hopeful narrative collapses under the weight of their self-interest.
The public, increasingly sceptical of their sincerity, has moved on. The era of Harry and Meghan is quickly fading, and they now stand as a grim reminder of the perils faced by celebrity activists out of touch with the views of their audiences.
The future looks bleak for them, and they may well serve as an early warning for others who seek to wield influence in an age that values authenticity over image.
