Navigating the treacherous waters of public perception can be quite the challenge, especially for someone like Meghan Markle.

With her reputation under constant scrutiny, the stakes are high when it comes to choosing the right alliances.

One would think she’d be more strategic in her associations, steering clear of anyone who could further damage her already delicate image.

Yet, recent events suggest that her strategy might be a bit off the mark.

During a recent outing in the Hamptons, Meghan seemed to grapple with her efforts to connect with influential figures she once aspired to impress.

Despite her team’s insistence that all is well, murmurs indicate there were no significant private meetings with the big names she hoped to engage.

If any noteworthy encounters had taken place, you can bet Meghan would have been quick to flaunt them to the media, showcasing both her own star power and the prestige of her companions.

As excitement builds around her upcoming Netflix series, which promises to delve into topics like lifestyle, cooking, and friendship, many are left wondering about her choice of collaborators.

It’s not uncommon for celebrities to think their fame will act as a protective shield against backlash.

However, this overconfidence often leads to missteps, as demonstrated by Meghan’s previous collaboration with Sir Elton John and David Furnish on the now-defunct Netflix project, Pearl.

Despite their considerable influence, that venture was quietly shelved, proving that not every high-profile partnership guarantees success.

But wait—there’s more drama in Meghan’s world.

Her latest attempt to polish her public image involved pitching a collaboration to Ellen DeGeneres, an effort that was met with a resounding no.

Ellen, who stepped away from her talk show amid allegations of workplace bullying, has seen her brand take a significant hit.

Warner Bros. ultimately ended her show due to plummeting ad revenue and skyrocketing production costs, largely fueled by her tarnished reputation.

So, what’s behind Meghan’s ill-fated pitch to Ellen?

Given Ellen’s recent controversies, it raises eyebrows that Meghan would seek her involvement.

Reports indicate that Ellen flatly refused to participate in Meghan’s project, adding another layer of complexity to Meghan’s ongoing public relations challenges.

It seems Meghan may have been trying to return the favor after Ellen’s less-than-flattering antics on her former talk show, which included some cringe-worthy moments for Meghan, like dancing in public and pretending to be a cat.

Those awkward skits didn’t do much to bolster Meghan’s image, and now, with Ellen stepping back from the collaboration, things look bleaker than ever.

This rejection highlights the hurdles Meghan faces in securing the endorsements of influential and respected figures.

It also underscores the risk she took by approaching a once-celebrated yet now-controversial personality, only to be turned down.

Meghan Markle’s endeavor to feature Ellen DeGeneres in her new Netflix series has spectacularly backfired.

Ellen’s refusal to appear serves as a stark reminder of how challenging it has become for Meghan to garner high-profile support.