Recent reports have shed light on the behind-the-scenes operations of Meghan Markle’s podcast interviews, following the news of the $20 million breakup between Spotify and the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry. According to sources cited by Podnews, it appears that members of Markle’s staff conducted the interviews, with Markle herself adding her questions in post-production.
Podnews, a podcast industry newsletter, received information from multiple sources indicating that some interviews on Markle’s podcast were actually conducted by her staff, while she recorded her questions separately to be edited in later. This revelation aligns with a previous report by the UK Daily Mail in November, where interview guest Allison Yarrow thanked Farrah Safarfi, the producer of Markle’s Archetypes podcast, for being an “excellent interviewer.”
Podnews has heard from multiple sources that some interviews on the show were done by other staffers, with her questions edited-in afterwards.
The original podcast deal between Spotify and the royal couple was signed in 2020, with the expectation of producing multiple shows over several years. However, the first podcast, titled Archetypes, didn’t premiere until 2022, significantly delayed from its initially planned release date in 2021. The show featured thirteen episodes with notable guests like Serena Williams, Mindy Kaling, and Paris Hilton. However, the podcast abruptly came to an end without any formal announcement regarding its future.
Eight months later, Spotify decided to terminate the podcast deal, ending their partnership with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The decision came with a particularly harsh remark from Bill Simmons, a prominent sports and pop culture podcaster at Spotify, who referred to the couple as “f**king grifters.”
These recent developments have sparked speculation and raised questions about the authenticity and involvement of Meghan Markle in her podcast interviews. While it is common for hosts to have production assistance, the revelation that her questions were added in post-production adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the couple’s media ventures. The termination of the podcast deal with Spotify and the candid comment from a Spotify executive only fuel the debate and speculation about the motivations and success of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s endeavors in the media industry.
