After Spotify’s recent split with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, rumors started swirling that Markle may not have conducted interviews for her podcast, “Archetypes,” as previously believed. An anonymous source claimed that some of the interviews were actually done by Markle’s staff, with her voice added later to make it seem like she was asking the questions. However, neither Markle nor Archewell Audio has responded to these allegations.
The revelations came after Spotify and Archewell released a joint statement announcing the end of their partnership and expressing satisfaction with their collaboration.
According to an undisclosed source, Archewell, the media company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, allegedly failed to produce enough content to fulfill the terms of their $20 million deal signed in 2020.
A representative from Archewell Productions mentioned that Meghan is working on new content for the “Archetypes” audience, but it will be released on a different platform.
Bill Simmons, a well-known sports journalist and podcaster, criticized the couple, describing them as inauthentic. He also shared his previous meeting with Prince Harry to discuss podcast ideas.
Speculation about Markle’s involvement in conducting interviews arose when writer Allison Yarrow expressed her excitement about being part of the series. Her social media post included thanks to an anonymous “Archetypes” producer and a photo taken in front of a Gimlet Media sign, an audio production company.
Yarrow, author of “90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of Gender Equality,” appeared on an episode titled “To ‘B’ or Not To ‘B’.” Unconfirmed reports suggested that Markle’s statements and Yarrow’s comments were blended together seamlessly during the final podcast production.
The “Archetypes” podcast is the sole outcome of the Spotify deal signed approximately two and a half years ago. It consists of 12 episodes, featuring deep conversations with celebrities like Jameela Jamil, Serena Williams, Paris Hilton, and Mindy Kaling. Additionally, experts, academics, and authors contributed their insights on various topics, including individuals like Yarrow, Laura Kray, and Nancy Wang Yuen from the field of sociology.
The extent of Markle’s direct interactions with these experts remains unclear, as their audio clips were carefully edited and mixed with Markle’s voice. Neither Markle nor Archewell Audio has addressed these specific details or provided any official comment regarding the allegations of faked interviews.