Meghan Markle caught in pay row as Netflix staff earn £15 an hour to sell Duchess of Sussex’s jam




Meghan Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand has seen impressive sales, with her orange blossom honey selling out within minutes despite its £20.68 price tag. However, staff set to sell her products at Netflix’s new physical stores may not be able to afford them on their wages.Employees working at the upcoming Netflix House locations in Philadelphia and Dallas are expected to earn around £15 per hour, according to the Mail. This means some items in Meghan’s As Ever range will cost more than what staff make in an hour’s work.GETTY | Meghan Markle caught in pay row as Netflix staff earn £15 an hour to sell Duchess’s jamFor example, As Ever wine must be bought in multiples, with three bottles costing £72, six for £127, or a dozen for £240, plus an additional £14 for shipping and taxes.Meghan’s crepe mix is priced at £10.34, herbal teas at £8.86, and flower sprinkles at £11.08 per pack; all prices that are high relative to the hourly pay of Netflix’s retail employees.Netflix House, the streaming giant’s first brick-and-mortar stores, will offer fans merchandise, immersive experiences, and dining options related to popular Netflix shows. Despite Netflix’s lucrative deal with Meghan and Prince Harry ending in September, CEO Ted Sarandos remains confident about the As Ever products’ success. He said Meghan has “an underestimated” cultural influence, which motivated the partnership.NETFLIX | Meghan Markle’s released her eight-part Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’ in MarchJob listings for the Philadelphia store reveal positions such as “Crew Member,” responsible for customer service, ticket sales, managing queues, and merchandise sales.The pay listed is $20 (£15) per hour, with candidates needing to be at least 18 years old, knowledgeable about Netflix shows, and willing to work weekends and holidays.Given these wages, it could be difficult for employees working full days to afford multiple bottles of As Ever wine or other premium products after taxes.Netflix confirmed it will dedicate space to As Ever products in these two major US malls, but the full product range available in stores remains undisclosed.AS EVER | The prices on Meghan Markle’s As Ever website were finally revealed earlier this yearAS EVER | Meghan Markle’s As Ever rose wine launched last monthMeghan, who has rebranded herself as a homemaker and influencer after leaving royal life, has faced mixed reviews for her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, and her lifestyle brand, As Ever.Martha Stewart, America’s trusted lifestyle expert, offered a cautious comment: “I hope she knows what she’s talking about.”Stewart emphasised that “authenticity is everything” and praised Meghan and Harry’s neighbour Gwyneth Paltrow for her “very successful” career as an actress-turned-entrepreneur, saying: “She’s pretty powerful.”