Although some people did enjoy Meghan Markle‘s Archetypes podcast, it’s safe to say that the deal she and Prince Harry had with Spotify wasn’t quite the success that they had hoped it would be. As a result of this, it was announced last month that Spotify and Archewell Audio, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s podcast production company, ended their partnership, which a joint statement claimed was a “mutual” decision.
“Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together,” the joint statement by Spotify and Archewell Audio read last month, although they didn’t go into specific details as to why their partnership was ending.
Meghan Markle Was 'Distraught' Over Spotify 'Snub'
Although the statement suggested that the end of the partnership was a mutual decision, Closer reports that some insiders have hinted that it wasn’t quite that straightforward. What's more, an insider revealed that Meghan felt attacked by Bill Simmons, the Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetization at Spotify, as he branded the couple as "[expletive] grifters" on his own podcast, which she reportedly found "humiliating."
"Meghan is distraught over this Spotify snub and the fallout that has followed," the insider told Closer, adding, "It’s totally knocked her sideways." The insider went on to say that Meghan "can’t believe she’s been attacked so viciously and so publicly by one of their execs, and to be labeled 'grifters' is an utterly humiliating and gut-wrenching all-time low." The insider also said, "It’s served as a brutal reality check that things really do need to change to save their popularity."
Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Advised To Take On More Solo Projects To Save Her Career
Speaking of saving their popularity… Meghan was advised to "leave Prince Harry," to quote GB News, and take on more solo projects in order to salvage what's left of her career, as she and Prince Harry together – i.e., Brand Sussex – doesn’t appear to be the winning formula they hoped it would be.
"Her team have warned her that there’s 'no future' with Harry and that she needs to start working on her individual projects rather than being seen as one half of 'Brand Sussex,'" an insider also told Closer. "They feel that if Meghan does more on her own, she’ll have more opportunities to save her career," the source continued, adding, "It will give them breathing room and restore confidence – or at least that’s the hope."
The mom-of-two was successful in her own right before meeting and marrying Prince Harry, 38, having appeared on Deal or No Deal and Suits, so we see where her team are coming from!
Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Joint Projects
This isn’t to say that Meghan and Harry won't be working together at all! According to royal columnist Alison Boshoff, they are desperate to get the "green light" on new projects with Netflix. "Meghan and her team at Archewell will continue to try to get a green light on films and TV shows from Netflix, until the deal runs out in 2025," Boshoff wrote in the Daily Mail. "Sources at Netflix say Archewell have proposals in for scripted content 'across the board,'" she added.
We already know that the Sussexes could be working on a documentary about the late Princess Diana, but there's a lot more in the pipeline! "In addition to the already reported Great Expectations-inspired spin-off, there are TV sitcoms and movie romcoms in the offing," Boshoff continued, adding, "Meghan is modelling herself on her old boss Bonnie Hammer, an executive at NBC who gave her her big break in Suits."
