After a surprising severance from Spotify, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are poised to voice their own narrative in response to the criticism that followed the breakup. The streaming giant and the royal couple decided to dissolve their partnership earlier this month, a relationship that began with a whopping $20 million contract signed three years prior to create "Archetypes," a podcast hosted by the former "Suits" actress, and additional content.
A source divulged, "While Spotify's termination was a blow, Harry and Meghan are not shying away. They acknowledge their missteps, but they're gearing up for their next venture."
The separation from Spotify has sparked chatter in Hollywood about the stability of the Sussexes' brand. "Harry and Meghan are the talk of the town, with discussions centered on their faltering brand," the source shared.
Bill Simmons, an executive at Spotify, criticized the pair in his personal podcast, suggesting they had been challenging collaborators. He humorously suggested, "I would have loved to be in on the Meghan and Harry departure conversation at Spotify. 'The skilled manipulators.' That should have been our starting point with them." He further teased about sharing his experiences from a Zoom call with Prince Harry, which he labeled as one of his "best stories."
Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of United Talent Agency, also chimed in with his critique while attending the 2023 Cannes Lions advertising festival, casting doubt on Meghan's audio talent. Zimmer emphasized, "Just because you're a celebrity doesn't mean you're skilled in every domain."
The Spotify fallout was not the only recent roadblock for the Duke and Duchess. There are rumors of tension with Netflix concerning their $100 million deal. With the couple having already received approximately $53 million USD, Netflix reportedly mandated more engaging content before disbursing the remaining sum.
A knowledgeable source revealed, "Netflix was eager to have Harry and Meghan on board and expects innovative proposals from them. The continuation of the agreement is contingent on their generation of appealing content, a standard procedure for contracts of this scale."
The source also shared insights with In Touch about the Sussexes' intentions to publicly address the Spotify ordeal.