The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, appear to be facing a difficult period in their careers after leaving the royal family. According to various reports, the couple has been criticized by entertainment industry executives for their business difficulties and lack of content production.
Royal journalist Richard Palmer said on Twitter that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "are currently being sought after by people in the entertainment industry." ”
The remarks were a response to reports that the Sussexes had fallen out of favor in Hollywood. The couple's remaining deals with big companies like Netflix and Spotify appear to be hanging in the air, as the companies expect the couple to produce more.
The latest blow came from Jeremy Zimmer, co-founder and CEO of United Talent, who slammed Meghan as "not a great audio talent, nor necessarily any kind of talent." ”
Speaking at Cannes 2023, Jeremy Zimmer said: "Just because you're famous, doesn't mean you're great at something. "The CEO of the agency, who has represented big-name stars such as Mariah Carey, Brian Cranston and Kevin Hart, seems to have directly attacked the Duchess of Sussex.
Jeremy Zimmer's sharp comments come after news that Spotify has ended its partnership with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's podcast production company, Archivel Audio. In a joint statement, the two sides announced that after airing a season of content, the agreement was terminated "by mutual consent."
Under the $20 million multi-year contract, Spotify expects more programming from Archewell Audio, according to sources. But nearly three years after signing this lucrative contract, only one TV series has borne fruit.
People familiar with the matter also told the Wall Street Journal that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle failed to meet the productivity requirement to get full payment from Spotify. The streaming service apparently wants more content to justify the huge amount promised in the contract. The single podcast series released so far is a women's special featuring inspirational stories, which is not enough to meet the terms of the agreement.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also rumored to be under pressure from Netflix, which has signed a big deal to produce movies, documentaries and children's programming. However, a Netflix spokesperson denied the claim, saying the company would "continue to collaborate on a number of projects." Details of the Netflix contract have not been publicly disclosed but are believed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Against the backdrop of deal troubles and criticism from industry insiders, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be facing a difficult transition to show business. After leaving senior royal positions in 2020 to pursue financial independence, the couple struck major deals with Netflix and Spotify aimed at kick-starting their post-royal careers.
Nearly three years on, however, those lucrative deals seem precarious, as Netflix is reportedly waiting for more output to justify the huge investment.
The failed partnership and Jeremy Zimmer's public bashing show that big corporations are no longer willing to let Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stardom come to fruition. They hoped that the royal brand would convert to subscribers and viewers, but they were disappointed by the lack of deliverables.
While a Netflix spokesperson denied claims that the streaming giant was putting pressure on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, industry insiders suspected the couple could face demands to accelerate output to fulfill their contracts. There are doubts about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ability to produce quality enough content to match their sky-high deals.
The struggles suggest that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to make broader adjustments as they transition from royalty to celebrity. In addition to the difficulties of producing content, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle must contend with lifestyle changes, public scrutiny and diminished privileges – all in an effort to monetize their reputation.
It remains to be seen whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can overcome criticism and meet the demands of their business partners. But for now, Jeremy Zimmer's rhetoric and Spotify's fiasco reflect Hollywood's harsh reality — fame alone isn't enough, and even the biggest stars must come up with tangible results to justify their lofty expectations.
One multibillion-dollar question is whether the two royals, determined to be "financially independent," really have what it takes to survive in the highly competitive show business.
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