Meghan Markle 'distraught' over Spotify snub as pal says grifters remark was 'humiliating'
It was announced last month that Meghan Markle's deal with the audio giant had come to an end and that her podcast Archetypes would not get a second series.
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Meghan Markle has been left "distraught" over a Spotify executive's criticism that her and Prince Harry are "grifters", according to an inside source. Following the end of their partnership with the audio streaming service the Sussexes are continuing to produce new content with Netflix, however the source added that the couple may need to rethink their approach as a joint brand if they want to keep making money.
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In a statement both Spotify and Archewell Audio, Harry and Meghan's production company, said they had mutually agreed to part ways, but there were soon concerns that the streaming giant had been unimpressed with the couple's lack of output, as only 12 episodes of Meghan's podcast Archetypes were ever released.
In another podcast episode one Spotify exec said of the pair: "I wish I had been involved in the 'Meghan and Harry leave Spotify' negotiation. The F***ing Grifters. That’s the podcast we should have launched with them."
In the US "grifters" is a term used to describe someone who engages in petty swindling or low-level deception.
Meghan was less than impressed with a source telling Closer magazine: "Meghan is distraught over this Spotify snub and the fallout that has followed. It’s totally knocked her sideways.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are 'ignoring jealous critics' after Spotify deal ends
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be "ignoring" their "jealous critics" after their Spotify deal came to an end after one series. According to a source, the couple are focusing on "building their brands" following the collapse of their £20 million deal with the streaming giant.
"She can’t believe she’s been attacked so viciously and so publicly by one of their execs, and to be labelled 'grifters' is an utterly humiliating and gut-wrenching all-time low – it’s served as a brutal reality check that things really do need to change to save their popularity.
"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'.
"They feel that if Meghan does more on her own, she’ll have more opportunities to save her career. It will give them breathing room and restore confidence – or at least that’s the hope."
The couple are still producing new projects with Netflix following the huge success of their docu-series Harry & Meghan last year, although some claimed they had "ruffled feathers" with the platform's bosses.
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The Duke and Duchess's long-awaited documentary Heart of Invictus is scheduled to be released on Netflix in August, following wounded and sick Armed Forces members as they compete to take part in Harry's beloved Invictus Games.
A new series called Bad Manners, a prequel to the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations fousing on the character Miss Havisham, is also thought to be in production with Harry and Meghan at the helm.
The couple are said to be "ignoring" their "jealous critics" and looking to rebuild their own brands, with a source telling RadarOnline: "People can call them money hungry and even 'grifters'. Harry and Meghan think it's all just jealous and mean people flinging stones.
"Meghan's going to be the queen of Hollywood before long, and she and Harry will be raking in millions. To hell with the critics is their attitude."