‘Lies’: Conspiracy theory over Meghan and Harry’s ‘sold out’ film premiere emerges

Harry and Meghan’s most devoted supporters have jumped to the couple’s defence after online critics questioned whether their Sundance Film Festival screening was truly a sell-out.

The online fan community known as the “Sussex Squad” pushed back against claims that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry failed to fill the theatre for a screening of their latest documentary, after images circulated online showing empty seats inside the venue.

A surprise appearance at Sundance

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unexpected appearance in Park City, Utah, on Sunday to introduce Cookie Queens, a documentary executive-produced under their Archewell Productions banner.

The film follows a group of Girl Scouts as they learn about entrepreneurship through cookie sales.

Harry and Meghan attended the screening at the Eccles Theatre, where they posed on the red carpet alongside the film’s director, Alysa Nahamias.

Meghan, who was once a Girl Scout herself, later shared moments from the festival on Instagram, including a photo of her and Harry watching the documentary together.

Questions over empty seats

Although tickets for the screening were listed as “sold out” online, social media footage appeared to show noticeable gaps in the balcony shortly before the film started, prompting claims that the event had not reached full capacity.

According to Page Six, the screening began about 10 minutes late, with “roughly 150 unoccupied spots remained in the balcony, plus some scattered chairs on the ground” when the film started.

That number reportedly “tighted to about 60” once people on the waitlist were allowed to take seats that had originally been reserved for premium pass holders.

The report suggested that many high-level Sundance attendees, whose express badges can cost around USD$7000, chose to skip the early-morning screening despite the Sussexes’ in-person appearance.

By contrast, the same venue had been full the night before for the premiere of Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, starring Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, with staff reportedly turning away ticket holders due to unassigned seating.

Supporters push back online

Fans of Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, were quick to reject the suggestion that the documentary struggled to attract an audience, describing the criticism as a coordinated online attack.

Many pointed to the Sundance website, which showed all Cookie Queens screenings marked as sold out.

“LIARS, LIARS, LIARS! ALL screenings SOLD OUT!” one X user wrote, while another said: “Why lie about something so easily debunked? The screenings were packed and SOLD OUT!”

Another supporter claimed the film received a rare “two-plus-minute standing ovation.”

“A big deal at Park City’s Eccles Theatre, where crowds usually sit back down in seconds, unlike the long ovations at Cannes or Venice,” the user added.

Critics respond with skepticism

Critics were just as vocal, with one X user commenting: “Cringe! They had to give away some $6000 seats to people on the waiting list for a lesser price. Don’t nobody want to pay all that money to see two untalented people.”

Another shared a screenshot of the balcony, writing: “You can clearly see from the video that the balcony area, especially to the left. There’s even a woman standing while walking in the top left of the balcony area where all the seats are empty. It’s not packed. There’s plenty of empty seats as they stated, but don’t let the truth get in your way.”

One user also noted that a sold-out ticket listing does not necessarily guarantee full attendance.

“All the tickets sold out, that’s a fact. If 100% of the ticket holders did not show up, it doesn’t change the fact that it sold out,” they said.

Meghan addresses the audience

Before the screening, Meghan spoke directly to the audience, an uncommon move for an executive producer at Sundance.

“My husband and I and Archewell Productions, we are so proud and privileged to be able to support and uplift ‘Cookie Queens’,” she said.

Prince Harry was later seen greeting and hugging attendees believed to be connected to the film before the lights went down.

Behind-the-scenes details

According to Tom Sykes’ The Royalist Substack, the Sussexes reportedly became involved in the project only after the documentary had already been completed.

Speaking to the press on the red carpet, Meghan explained how her own childhood influenced her support for the film and addressed whether Princess Lilibet might one day follow a similar path.

“It really embeds such great values from the get-go,” she told Deadline.

“I was a Girl Scout, my mom was a troop leader, and I think the value of friendship… and self-belief is an integral value that comes with being a Girl Scout.”

When asked if four-year-old Lilibet might join a troop in the future, Meghan replied: “I think we’ll continue to explore whatever feels right.”