Global musical sensation Taylor Swift reportedly declined a handwritten invitation from Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, to appear on her Spotify podcast. Reports claim that Swift turned down her appearance on Archetypes via her rep.
The snub came as executives at the streaming platform reportedly rejected many of the ideas proposed by the royal couple, citing their lackluster appeal. Spotify has finally terminated its deal with the Sussexes.
Keep reading to learn more.
Taylor Swift snubbed Meghan Markle’s podcast invite
An invitation, personally written by Meghan, was sent to Swift, offering an offer to be a guest on the highly acclaimed podcast hosted by the Duchess on Spotify. However, Swift’s rep quickly declined the offer, delivering a resounding “no” on the superstar’s behalf, according to the The Wall Street Journal.
“Archetypes” is a podcast hosted by Meghan and had its first episode last August. On the show, the former “Suits” actress spoke about social issues and the history of stereotyping against women.
According to the outlet, sources with inside knowledge shared that Spotify helped compile a list of potential guests for its “Archetypes” podcast, but finding the right kind of guest wasn’t easy. This reportedly prompted Meghan to send a “personal letter” to Swift, but the “Bejeweled” singer refused.
Spotify has removed Meghan Markle’s podcast
According to The Wall Street Journal, Spotify has decided to remove Meghan’s podcast, ‘Archetypes’, due to low productivity and a failure to meet the streaming platform’s expectations.
‘Archetypes’ was to be Meghan’s big entry into the world of podcasting following her and Harry’s much-publicized departure from their roles as working royals. The project aimed to explore “the labels that try to hold women back.” However, according to inside sources, the podcast failed to gain traction and struggled to reach the expected level of productivity, leading the streaming giant to halt the renewal for a second season.
Spotify and the Sussexes’ audio production company Archewell Audio released a statement after the relationship broke down, saying they have “mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we have made together”.
According WSJthe Sussexes will also miss receiving full payment for the $20 million deal they signed with Spotify for the project in 2020 because they failed to hit the benchmark.
Meghan Markle isn’t letting Spotify’s botched deal get to her
Despite the setback of ‘archetypes’ being removed by Spotify, Meghan is said to be determined to continue her foray into podcasting and content creation. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be actively considering creating more podcasts and exploring options for finding a new home for her series, according to the Daily mail.
Undeterred by the end of her partnership with Spotify, she is actively seeking new opportunities and platforms to bring her vision to life. It has been confirmed that they are working on a new show for Netflix, titled “Bad Manners”, although it is not known if Netflix has already ordered it.
The former Royals are also still working on an Invictus Games documentary, which will tell the story of competitors from around the world training for the game.
“The team behind Archetypes remains proud of the podcast they created at Spotify,” Meghan’s talent agency recently shared. “Meghan continues to develop more content for the Archetype audience on another platform.”
Is Netflix close to severe ties with the Sussexes?
Netflix’s partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could also be on shaky ground, with rumors circulating that the streaming giant may be considering severing ties with the high-profile couple.
According Daily mailInside sources have suggested the relationship between Netflix and the Sussexes “hasn’t always been great”, fueling speculation about the future of their collaboration.
“Harry isn’t a problem but Meghan thinks she knows how to run Hollywood,” the source shared, adding that their explosive first CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey “ruffled some feathers” on Netflix.
“Some disgruntled executives felt that Netflix should have been given the first bite of the cherry,” the insider added.
The Sussexes’ $100million deal with Netflix, signed in 2020, has been hailed as a groundbreaking move, with the pair venturing into the world of content creation to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature-length films and children’s programs. The multi-year deal was seen as a strategic move for the royal couple to establish their independent careers and support their philanthropic efforts.