According to an anonymous source, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are attributing external factors, including the ongoing pandemic and the demise of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, for hindering their post-royal careers. This revelation comes from an LA-based insider who spoke with The Daily Mail.
Following the couple's controversial departure from their senior royal roles in January 2020, the duo has encountered several setbacks in their endeavour to establish a foothold in the private sector. They claim these adversities are due to global events beyond their control.
Meghan and Harry unveiled their decision to step back from their senior roles in the royal family just before the world grappled with the COVID-19 outbreak. Their explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 further added fuel to the fire, as they candidly discussed their discontent within the royal family and alleged a racially biased incident involving their son Archie.
Prince Philip's death in April 2021, merely a month after their bombshell interview, added another layer of complexity to their journey. Then, in August 2022, Markle debuted her podcast "Archetypes", which was unfortunately eclipsed by Queen Elizabeth's demise the following month.
Despite the podcast's impressive listenership, the Sussexes and Spotify ended their collaboration in June, a decision coinciding with the platform's move to eliminate 200 jobs to manage expenses. A reliable source confided to The New York Post that the couple failed to generate sufficient content to warrant their $20 million deal.
Simultaneously, some of Harry's proposals for further podcast content were met with skepticism by Spotify, including a proposed series featuring prominent figures like Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg discussing their childhood traumas. A previous insider had disclosed to Bloomberg that Spotify staff found the feasibility of these suggestions dubious, given the reticence of figures like Putin and Zuckerberg to publicly delve into their personal lives.
Bill Simmons, head of Spotify's international sports content and a renowned sportscaster, has publicly labelled the royal couple as "lazy" and "grifters" on his podcast.
Despite the scrutiny and setback, Harry shows no signs of backing down. As per an exclusive Page Six report last week, he is eager to undertake a documentary series in Africa for Netflix.
