Norwegian royal family accused of inaction on racism in Netflix documentary
In a new Netflix series, Princess Märtha Louise's husband Durek Verrett says he was judged, targeted with racist messages and only heard from the king after Meghan Markle's Oprah interview
Durek Verrett, the American spiritual healer who married Princess Märtha Louise of Norway last year, says members of the Norwegian royal family considered "everything I did was wrong" and did little to protect him from racist online abuse, according to a Netflix documentary released this week.
Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, a three-part series that follows the couple’s relationship and last August’s wedding in the village of Geiranger, includes scenes in which Verrett says he felt judged and unsupported by his future in-laws. In the film, he asserts that King Harald V contacted him only after the interview Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 prompted concerns that the royal household could again face similar public scrutiny.
Verrett, 51, who is of Norwegian, Indian and Haitian descent, says in the series that he was "bombarded" with hateful messages on social media after the engagement was announced in June 2022 and that he went into "deep, deep depressions". He tells the filmmakers that members of the royal family would "look at me like I was crazy when I said there was racism" and that they did not intervene when a publication used a racial slur in a story about him.
The documentary bills itself as taking an "intimate look" at the couple’s life and includes footage in which Verrett criticizes royal protocol and the atmosphere at official events as "flat". He recounts an incident at a royal dinner in Denmark in which a guest purportedly questioned his African heritage while pointing to portraits on the wall. Verrett says he found it difficult to navigate royal etiquette, and that some relatives disapproved of his appearance when he first met them.
Princess Märtha Louise, 53, stepped down from official royal duties in 2019 but retained her title. King Harald has said she will not represent the royal household in any official capacity and that she may not use her title in commercial partnerships. The princess, who has been open about spiritual beliefs that have drawn public scrutiny in Norway, told Swedish television earlier this year that she had received "the most criticism of anyone in Norway" for her views and that spiritual topics remain "taboo" there.
Verrett’s portrayal in the series arrives amid longstanding controversy surrounding his practices and public statements. He has promoted alternative products and therapies, including a medallion he called a "Spirit Optimizer" that he said could aid recovery from Covid-19. He has also faced accusations of sexual misconduct and was the subject of a police inquiry in Sweden after an alleged incident; he has denied assault charges. Norwegian newspaper Se og Hor published audio recordings in which Verrett says he "made a mistake" during sessions with clients; the recordings were shared with the paper by MTV personality Eric Nies, according to reporting.
When Märtha Louise announced her engagement to Verrett, critics and sections of the press characterized him as a controversial figure. The royal couple married in August in a ceremony that drew attention both for its remote setting and for the ongoing public debate in Norway over the princess’s role and associations.
According to the documentary, following a private meeting between Verrett and King Harald, the monarch issued a statement condemning racist attitudes, and Prince Harry is shown praising the king for "leading by example." The series draws comparisons in tone with earlier media moments involving the British royal family, including Meghan Markle’s 2021 interview with Oprah, and examines how public controversy has shaped the couple’s lives since their engagement.
The Netflix series mixes personal interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and archival material to depict the relationship and the backlash surrounding it. Producers and representatives for the Norwegian royal household did not provide comment for the documentary as part of the film’s on-screen material; the royal household has previously issued statements concerning the princess’s role and the limits on her official duties.
Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story is streaming on Netflix. The film presents the couple’s account of events and Verrett’s claims about experiences of racism and marginalization; some of the allegations and controversies it recounts have been the subject of prior media reporting and public debate in Norway and abroad.