Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is under scrutiny after British author Mel Elliott accused her of plagiarism. Elliott, known for her "Pearl Power" children's book series, claims Markle's animated Netflix series "Pearl," which was canceled before release, copied key elements from her work.
Elliott highlights the shared name of the main character, Pearl, and the overall theme of female empowerment as evidence of the alleged plagiarism. She stated that the similarities between her book series and the proposed Netflix show were too significant to ignore.
The animated series "Pearl" was part of Archewell Productions' slate of content for Netflix. The project was reportedly shelved as part of cost-cutting measures at the streaming giant. While the series never aired, details about its plot and characters were publicly available.
Markle's representatives have not yet released a statement addressing Elliott's claims. The accusations come at a time when Markle and Prince Harry's media ventures are under increased public attention. The potential legal ramifications of the plagiarism claim remain unclear.
Meghan Markle Faces Plagiarism Claim Over Canceled 'Pearl' Series
Meghan Markle is facing accusations of plagiarism from children's author Mel Elliott. Elliott, creator of the "Pearl Power" book series, alleges that Markle's now-canceled Netflix animated series, "Pearl," borrowed heavily from her original concept. The author claims similarities in the character's name and overall theme. Markle's representatives have yet to respond to the allegations.