In a surprising turn of events, it seems that a potential collaboration between Taylor Swift and Meghan Markle for the now-defunct podcast Archetypes was never in the cards.
Insider reveals why Taylor Swift rejected Meghan Markle podcast invite
Reports have surfaced indicating that the pop sensation turned down Markle’s personal invitation to be a guest on the show.
While details are scarce, it appears that Swift declined the offer without directly responding herself, instead opting to have a representative decline on her behalf.
Some speculate that this move could be interpreted as a snub towards the Duchess of Sussex.
Unfortunately for Markle, any hopes of a do-over have been dashed.
Was Meghan Markle podcast dropped by Spotify?
Recently, she and her husband, Prince Harry, announced their departure from Spotify, the streaming platform that hosted their podcast.
This decision came just three years after signing a substantial $20 million deal. An insider close to the situation revealed that the couple’s lack of consistent content production played a significant role in severing ties with the platform.
Despite their podcast, Archetypes, reaching the top of the charts last year, it seems that the series failed to deliver enough content to justify the hefty price tag.
However, difficulties in finding suitable guests for Markle’s podcast were not the only challenges faced by the couple.
Reports suggest that Markle often made last-minute requests for changes during the editing process, occasionally involving high-ranking Spotify executives to push for alterations.
Spotify executives also grew frustrated with the time it took for Archewell, the couple’s production company, to develop ideas for Archetypes and assemble a production team.
While Meghan Markle faced her own struggles with the podcast, Prince Harry also encountered obstacles in his quest to launch his own show.
The Invictus Games founder explored various subjects but failed to find a compelling way to tackle them in podcast form. Among his outlandish concepts was the idea of interviewing figures such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg about their childhood traumas.
These proposals left Spotify executives perplexed and skeptical, as individuals like Putin and Zuckerberg rarely open up about their personal lives in interviews.
Since the dissolution of their deal with Spotify, the California-based royals have faced criticism from fellow podcaster Bill Simmons. The sports commentator, who also heads Spotify’s international sports content, didn’t mince his words when discussing the couple, labeling them as “lazy” compared to the Obamas, who also have a contract with the streaming platform.
This latest setback adds to the financial pressure facing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who stepped down from their senior royal duties in January 2020.
With a substantial mortgage on their Montecito estate and reportedly spending around $2 million per year on security, the collapse of their podcast deal further compounds their financial challenges.
