Insiders believe that the photos of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry taken at a recent Netflix party that were mysteriously removed were taken down after receiving a negative response.
A source told Daily Mail on Saturday that all photos taken at Netflix events by Getty are typically approved by the streamer after the event has concluded. But, a 24-hour delay in posting is unusual and likely signifies that Netflix was taking strides to appease its guests.
A request to remove pictures after their publication is “highly unusual, if not unheard of” according to the insider, who alleged they believe the ask could only have come from the Sussexes.
Online commenters were quick to criticize the snaps — which showed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex cozying up to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and his wife Nicole Avant — as “cringe” and “unflattering.”
The photos were also said to make Markle appear “needy” and “desperate” for an allyship with Sarandos and Avant.
A rep for the Sussexes did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
As Page Six previously reported, the pictures were originally taken last Friday at the royal couple’s Montecito, Calif. home, where the streamer hosted an event for its forthcoming “Beef” Season 2 installment.
The snaps were uploaded by a photographer on assignment for Getty, but insiders exclusively told us that Netflix requested the photos be taken down the following morning.
The only remaining photos of the couple at the party on the Getty site are one pic of the Sussexes with Sarandos and Avant, and another where Markle can be seen in the bustling crowd.
At the time, sources told us at least three pictures were removed because they were not great quality.
This wouldn’t be the first time the Sussexes have been at the forefront of a photo mystery.
The couple previously made headlines last November after they were pictured attending Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday, only for their reps to ask for photos to be deleted from the Instagram accounts of both Jenner and her daughter, Kim Kardashian.
The mother-daughter duo later cleared up the “innocent” confusion behind the swiped pictures on an episode of Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, “Khloé In Wonder Land,” in January, saying the couple “didn’t want to be seen at a party” on Remembrance Day.
“So we took them down to respect Remembrance Day,” Kim said, referring to the holiday that honors armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.
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