The reviews are in for Meghan Markle‘s lifestyle show on Netflix and they haven’t been great, to put it mildly. Some publications did call it “interesting and relatable” as it showed Meghan going “back to her roots.” But those reviews were far and few between with a slew of negative reviews on both sides of the pond, and the majority of Rotten Tomatoes users giving it a rating of one star and just half a star.

Moreover, many critics believe With Love, Meghan is just a “PR exercise” trying to get people to like the former working royal. But one expert says there is something the Suits alum could have done days before her show debuted that may have changed the public perceptions of her.

The event Meghan was advised to attend but didn’t

Just before the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, there were unconfirmed reports that Meghan was invited to the award ceremony. But the awards came and went with no appearance from the Duchess of Sussex.

It’s hard to imagine that if Prince Harry’s wife were actually invited to such an event that she would not attend. Either way, longtime PR guru Lynn Carratt weighed in on the subject and what a good opportunity the red carpet would have been for Meghan.

In an interview with Sportsbook Review, Carratt noted: “There’s no denying that Meghan has her fair share of critics, and any public appearance comes with the risk of opening herself up to scrutiny. In fact, some might argue that regardless of whether she attended, she would have faced criticism either way. However, Meghan is an actress — she knows how to command attention. The Oscars could have been the perfect stage for her to do just that.

“While it’s unclear what Meghan’s next move will be following her show’s release, I believe returning to the acting world in some capacity could be her best bet at winning back public favor. She’d be returning to her roots, and in acting, critics can’t accuse her of inauthenticity – she’s playing a character after all! All in all, when next year’s Oscars roll around, let’s hope Meghan makes an appearance.”

Why the expert believes not going was detrimental to the success of Meghan’s Netflix show

Carratt also says that if Meghan were invited and just chose not to go, that was a mistake on her part.

She explained: “Meghan Markle is no stranger to attending awards, and with speculation rife that she and Prince Harry were likely to attend this year’s Oscars, it might have come as a shame to some Sussex fans that the pair decided to skip the ceremony entirely. But while Meghan chose to stay home, I don’t think it was a smart move for the former Suits star – especially with With Love, Meghan premiering just days later.

“Not only would the ceremony have been the perfect place for Meghan to plug her latest venture, with only one project left as part of her and Harry’s five-year deal with Netflix, attending the Oscars would be a clever PR move by Meghan to boost viewing figures and ensure their final projects are a success.”

Carrett further opined: “Plus, it could have shown that not only is she focused on building her own brand away from the royals, especially if she attended solo, but that she had every intention of reinserting herself back into the world of entertainment in a nod to her past life.

“It’s fair to say that the release of her new series hasn’t been met with rave reviews, with some criticizing Meghan for appearing inauthentic and the show for being boring. If she had attended the Oscars — getting ahead of that negativity, presenting herself in the best light, taking part in interviews, and showing a genuine side to her on the red carpet — would have undoubtedly worked in her favor, giving people a fresh and positive image of her.”