Swift snubbed Meghan’s ‘personal’ podcast invitation

Meghan personally wrote to the pop star, asking her to appear on her Spotify podcast Archetypes as the couple are criticised for lack of direction.

Taylor Swift, the singer-songwriter, refused an invitation to appear on Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes. Picture: Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have left executives at Spotify and Netflix “underwhelmed” by their lack of productivity, it has been claimed.

Employees and associates at Archewell, the couple’s company, allegedly said that it “often lacks direction and that its founders at times seem surprised by the work required to finish entertainment projects”.

The Wall Street Journal made the claims in an article analysing the Sussexes’ successes, or lack of them, since signing deals with Spotify and Netflix after stepping down as working members of the royal family. Archewell sources told the WSJ that “most potential initiatives … follow a similar route: Big idea, subpar execution”. It was also claimed that Meghan had personally written to Taylor Swift, asking her to appear on her Spotify podcast Archetypes, but that the singer rejected the invitation through a representative.

Choosing the right kind of guest for the podcast was “often fraught”, while Meghan was said to have requested changes late in the editing process.

Conversations about a second season of the podcast had stalled before Archewell was told that the show would not be renewed, it was reported.

The road to getting the first series – described as an exploration of “the labels that try to hold women back” – on the air was said to have been “rocky”. It was also said that the terms of the Spotify deal had included each of them “voicing and being directly involved in a podcast” but that “Harry, in particular, struggled to land on an idea”.

This month it was announced that Spotify and the Sussexes’ audio company had “mutually agreed” to end their partnership. Archetypes has been the only series produced since the couple signed the deal with Spotify in 2020 for a reported $US20 million. In a joint statement, the two sides said that they were “proud of the series that we made together”.

Taylor Swift, the singer-songwriter, refused an invitation to appear on Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes. Picture: Getty Images

Harry and Meghan’s deal with Netflix, which runs until 2025, was also scrutinised. The WSJ article spoke of a “graveyard” of video projects that were never made.

As well as a children’s show called Pearl, which was cancelled, at least two television ideas have been rejected in the past year, sources claimed. While Harry & Meghan, the couple’s Netflix documentary about stepping down from the royal family, was popular and Harry’s memoir, Spare, has become a bestseller, the Sussexes are said to have “struggled to make content beyond their own experiences”. They are, however, said to be developing a show for Netflix called Bad Manners based on Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, the Charles Dickens novel.

Sources who have worked with the couple claimed that their work has been “undermined by their inexperience as producers and trouble finding material consistent with their brand, as well as problems beyond their control, including a retrenchment in the entertainment and podcasting businesses”.

Both Netflix and Spotify have been cutting shows to reduce costs because of slowing growth.

In 2021, Harry said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that the entertainment deals were “never part of the plan” but were needed to pay for the costs of their security. They lost their taxpayer-funded protection when they stepped back as working royals.

Harry & Meghan docuseries episode 4. Picture: Netflix

Representatives for the Sussexes have been approached for comment.

An Archewell spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal: “New companies often make changes in their start-up phase, both with people and strategy, and we are no exception. We’re more equipped, focused and energised than ever before.”

The spokeswoman said that the company had recently hired Tracy Ryerson, the actor and producer, as a new head of scripted content.

Netflix said: “We value our partnership with Archewell Productions. Harry & Meghan was Netflix’s biggest documentary debut ever, and we’ll continue to work together on a number of projects, including the upcoming documentary series Heart of Invictus.”

The Heart of Invictus series follows competitors taking part in the Invictus Games, the event founded by Harry for service members who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses. It is due to be streamed later this summer.

Spotify did not respond when asked to comment.

The Times