The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at the center of controversy once again — this time in the world of podcasting.
Following Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markles’ dramatic fallout with the British royal family in 2020, the couple’s production company Ashwell Audio has reportedly signed a deal worth $20 million with Spotify. there is Signing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple aimed to bring more “stories of hope and compassion” to their audio streaming platform.
But after more than two years and their deal with Spotify being terminated, the duo’s positivity-oriented podcasting effort seems to have left a negative impression on some people.
Last Thursday, in a joint statement, Archewell Audio and Spotify said they “mutually agreed to part ways” nearly three years after the former royal couple signed an audio show deal with streaming giant Podcast. I did,” he announced.She’s the only audio series released by Archewell Audio since the deal was signed – hosted by Duchess Meghan “prototype” -and 30 minute 2020 Holiday Special.
“We are proud of the series we created together,” Spotify and Archwell said in a joint statement shared with The Times.
On Friday, hours after news of the Sussexes’ split from Spotify spread, Ringer founder Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, blamed the couple.
Ringer founder and CEO Bill Simmons hit out at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a recent episode of his self-titled podcast.
(Chris Pizzero/Invision/Associated Press)
“I wish I was in the ‘Meghan Markle and Prince Harry quit Spotify’ negotiations,” he said on his show Friday. Self-titled podcast.
He continued: “‘The F—Grifters. yeah.”
Simmons, who sold podcast network The Ringer to Spotify in 2020, also said in January: “Embarrassed to share Spotify” with Prince Harry.
“You live in Montecito, but you’re just selling documentaries and podcasts and nobody cares what you have to say unless you’re just talking about the royal family and complaining.” he said. The remarks were aimed at the wealthy coastal communities of California that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to after leaving the UK, presumably in a 2021 inflammatory interview with Oprah Winfrey and a recent Netflix documentary series, Prince Harry’s best-selling “Spare,” and a series of bombshell statements that followed.
Simmons wasn’t the only one to raise questions about the Sussexes’ business practices as their deal with Spotify fell through.
Pod News reported on Monday Former ‘Suits’ star Meghan allegedly fabricated interviewArchetypes Podcast. The website reported that multiple interviews were allegedly conducted by “other staff members” and that Meghan’s questions were later edited into the final piece. The media did not specify whether the conversation with the celebrity was the interview in question or whether it was the source of the “archetype” expert.
Representatives for Meghan Markle and Archwell did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.
The audio series, which launched in August 2022, aimed to “investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that hold women back.” With guests ranging from heiress Paris Hilton to tennis star Serena Williams, “Archetypes” released Spotify’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” within a month of her first. made it into the list of the most listened to podcasts in six regions.
Archewell produced one season (12 episodes) of the podcast “Archetypes”. The final episode featured former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, Bravo’s Andy Cohen and filmmaker Judd Apatow.
Members of the Archetypes team took to social media to defend the podcast amid reports of alleged editing of Meghan’s interview.Former Gimlet Editor and Film Director Andrea B. Scott tweeted on monday “We had occasional interviews with producers, but never the main interview.”
Scott added, “We never edited her questions into interviews conducted by producers.”
Twitter users also got visual evidence through an Instagram receipt, tweeting a photo of Meghan posing with several notable guests who were guests on the podcast. Including TV star Mindy Kaling and Journalist Lisa Lin.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s contract termination with Spotify comes more than a week after the Stockholm-based company announced a series of layoffs. The platform has cut 200 jobs, about 2% of its workforce, during the restructuring of its podcast division.
“Archetypes” may not have a future on Spotify, but fans may hear more of the series just on a different platform.
according to wall street journalwhich broke news of the Spotify split, “conversations are ongoing about other homes of Archwell’s content.”
The drama is nothing new for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have been tabloid fodder for their relationship since they began dating in 2016. Most recently, in May, the pair claimed they were being pursued in a “nearly devastating car chase” in New York. ‘Very aggressive paparazzi’ – Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, recalls the moments leading up to her death in 1997.
An Archwell spokesperson said at the time, “Being a public figure involves a certain amount of public interest, but it should never be at the expense of anyone’s safety.”
The New York City Police Department said it had not reported “collisions, summons, injuries or arrests” in the alleged pursuit. Celebrity photography agency Backgrid USA also disputed the couple’s account, but said it “takes Prince Harry’s allegations seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.”
Times staff writers Wendy Lee, Nardine Saad and Christy Karas contributed to this report.
