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.