Inside Meghan Markle’s Uncomfortable Encounter at the Netflix Bash: What Really Happened?

Meghan Markle recently displayed an ‘exaggerated’ act of camaraderie with Nicole Avant, the wife of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, during a party in Montecito, as suggested by a body language expert.

Speculation has been rife about a potential rift with Netflix since the Sussexes’ multimillion-dollar agreement with the streaming giant concluded earlier this year. Adding fuel to these rumors, Sarandos unfollowed Meghan’s personal and business Instagram accounts.

Despite these whispers, the Duchess appeared in high spirits at the California event, warmly holding hands with Nicole Avant and embracing her in a tight hug at the Season Two Tastemaker event for the show “Beef.”

The party also presented some awkward moments for the 44-year-old Duchess. Notably, she donned a dress nearly identical to that of the event’s star, Carey Mulligan, while most attendees adhered to a monochrome dress code.

Body language expert Judi James observed Meghan’s “exaggerated” physical gestures, stating that her extended hug with Nicole Avant seemed intended to dispel any notion of discord between her and Netflix.

The gesture appeared ‘especially penned in underlined, bold italics’ as Meghan ‘performs to showcase her “bestie” to the camera’.

Highlighting how Meghan’s torso is ‘facing inward close and her arms are wrapped around Nicole in an entwined and prolonged hug’ that ‘signals emotional dependency and intensity’ between lifelong friends, Ms James added. 

She also noted Prince Harry and Meghan appear to be ‘photo-bombing’ Mr Sarandos and Nicole in group photos.

Meghan Markle put on an ‘exaggerated’ show of attachment at a recent Netflix party as she ‘performed’ her friendship with CEO Ted Sarandos’s wife

After photos from the event were shared online, some fans questioned whether Meghan had ‘disregarded’ the event’s dress code when they noticed she was wearing the same colour as Beef star Carey Mulligan

‘The way the Sarandoses continue their “couples” posing in the lineup makes it look almost as though Meghan is photo-bombing their pose,’ she said.

‘They adopt a tight, smiling, mirrored pose of couples’ unity, leaving Harry and Meghan to their side, but Meghan appears to want to share the affection, still having hold of Nicole’s hand here.’ 

Ms James pointed out Meghan’s ‘umbilical hand clasp’ with Nicole, as she added the ‘tight grip’ appears to suggest the Duchess is seeking ‘further support and encouragement from Nicole’.   

‘As a gesture, it could give the impression of someone needily seeking extra support with camera-shyness, although that could hardly be the case for Meghan,’ Ms James said. 

On Saturday night, Meghan and Prince Harry joined several A-listers, including Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Riverdale star Charles Melton and British actress Carey Mulligan, at the Montecito launch party for season two of Netflix hit Beef. 

Melton and Mulligan both star in the popular drama that returns to screens on April 16. 

After photos from the event were shared online, some fans questioned whether Meghan had ‘disregarded’ the event’s dress code when they noticed she was one of two guests wearing green amid a sea of black and white outfits. 

Ms James also noted how Prince Harry and Meghan appear to be ‘photobombing’ Ted and Nicole in group photos

Meghan was all smiles while posing with Netflix boss Ted Sarandos 

Ted Sarandos taking a selfie with the stars of BEEF and other guests, most of whom appear to have stuck to a monochrome dress code 

Meghan posed up a storm in a chartreuse silk dress from Heidi Merrick that was very similar to Mulligan’s green gown. 

The apparent ‘faux pas’ was criticised online, as X/Twitter users noted Meghan typically wears neutrals and questioned why she had opted for the olive green ensemble on this occasion. 

One person wrote: ‘I’d believe it was a mistake if it wasn’t THAT colour. That’s not a normal colour, and she never wears colour either, but the time she chooses to it just happens to be this really unique colour, the star of the party chooses?’

Another said: ‘This could be one of Markle’s biggest faux pas to date (and there have been very many).’ 

A third said Meghan’s green dress was the reason she wasn’t in any of the group photos from the event. 

Meghan and Harry’s appearance at the event came after Mr Sarandos quietly unfollowed the Duchess and her lifestyle company As Ever on Instagram – around the same time her brand was purged by the streamer, the Daily Mail revealed last month.

Netflix’s boss was one of the first big names to follow Meghan when she returned to social media at the start of 2025.

In March last year, her lifestyle business’s Instagram account launched, first as American Riviera Orchard and then as Ever, which Sarandos added to his list of around 450 accounts he follows.

But he unfollowed both Meghan and As Ever around February time – as did his creative chief, Bela Bajaria.

Both have been extremely positive about Meghan previously, with Sarandos calling her ‘the rock star’ as recently as last spring.

Mr Sarandos’ wife Nicole does still follow Meghan on Instagram – but not As Ever. A Netflix source previously told the Daily Mail: ‘Nicole and Meghan are still friends.’

Mr Sarandos has been co-CEO of Netflix since 2020, after being promoted from Chief Content Officer. He has been with Netflix since March 2000.