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Prince Harry comes under fire following the release of his Netflix Polo trailer, executive-produced alongside his wife Meghan Markle. Earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced two new series in the works as part of their multiyear deal with Netflix. While the first centers around Meghan’s interest in culinary and gardening, the other spotlights the world of Polo from a more personal standpoint. After much anticipation, the streaming giant offered a first glimpse into the Polo documentary, in a 148-second-long trailer.
The Netflix Polo trailer featured no appearances from Prince Harry or his beloved wife Meghan Markle, centering instead on the Duke’s friend Nacho Figueras, 47, as he geared up for the US Polo Championships.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Slammed Over Latest Netflix Series
In the trailer, several players are seen preparing for the tournament behind the scenes, with their respective families sharing insights into what it feels like to have a loved one dedicate so much to the sport. The clip also showed snippets of players on the field, riding on magnificent horses while striving to hit the ball with their sticks, whip in hand.
The main attraction though seemed to be a father and son facing off against each other at the finals. Speaking to the camera, the son in question revealed the stakes involved in the game, saying,
“A bunch of dangerous things can happen. It’s not a motorized vehicle. It’s not a car. I have a 1200-pound animal.”
On cue, the camera zoomed in on one of the ponies on the field, looking worn out as it dripped with sweat in the heat of the game. The Netflix Polo trailer has since sparked fury among royal fans, with many slamming Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for glorifying “animal cruelty” in their new Netflix series. One horrified YouTube user fired,
“All I see when I watch this clip is how much pain and suffering the horses have to tolerate.”
Another shot,
“We can see the horse overworked and dripping with sweat. We’ve seen horses bleeding after Harry rode them. This is a celebration of animal cruelty. These aren’t athletes, they are animal abusers.”
A third user commented,
“Having never watched polo I didn’t really get how abusive it is to horses. Absolutely despicable. If the point of this trailer was to show how this sport is awful and cruel, it has succeeded.”
A fourth added,
“How about treating the poor horses better? That horse at the end was sweaty and panting..nacho is disgusting.”
Ethical Concerns Over Prince Harry’s Polo Show Prevails
The streaming giant wasn’t spared from the backlash either, as fans criticized them for giving the Sussexes and Polo elites a platform to showcase such “monstrosity.” Several streamers threatened to boycott the platform as a result, urging others to follow suit and discontinue their Netflix subscriptions. An enraged viewer commented on YouTube,
“Watching a series that glorifies animal abuse is utterly despicable. The Real Housewives of Horse Abuse will be a hard pass for me. Shame on you Netflix.”
A second added,
“I nearly threw up. Those magnificent animals. The brutality of the entitled cretins brutalizing them. Shame on you Netflix. Get these disgusting horrors off the screen.”
A third wrote,
“Netflix has really hit bottom on this one. I’m done being a customer.”
Prince Harry’s five-part Polo documentary will hit Netflix on December 10, offering viewers a complete look into the world of polo. The ball game traditionally played on horseback is one of the oldest known team sports, yet often criticized for its tendency towards animal cruelty. The sport involves jockeys riding on horseback, with a long wooden mallet in the right hand, while the left hand holds the polo whip and reigns, with the aim of hitting the ball into the opposing team’s goal.
The animal charity, Peta, previously condemned the sport for being “hard on horses.” At the time, the charity raised awareness about the prevailing brutality horses go through in the field, both accidentally and otherwise. These incidents often result in injuries ranging from bruises to broken limbs. Notably, while such incidents do occur, the official rules of Polo have guidelines in place that protect the welfare of horses, including avoiding excessive use of force, which could attract sanctions. Regardless, the potential dangers of exposing these ponies to traumatic injuries during the match remain a cause for ethical concerns.
