Harry and Meghan’s departure from the royal family attracted significant attention. What’s most, the conflicts that arose from their decision to step down from their royal duties, along with the interviews they have provided to the media over the course of the years, the Netflix documentary and Harry’s book, Spare, has kept them in the spotlight.
As per many, it was their highly-publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey that marked the beginning of their rift with the monarchy. During this interview, the couple made shocking revelations about the royals, among the rest accusing them of racism.
Despite their departure from royal duties, financial opportunities continued to flow their way. In September 2020, they inked a lucrative five-year, $100 million production deal with Netflix, signed a four-book deal with their publisher that allegedly included a staggering $20 million advance and global royalties for Harry’s book Spare, potentially totaling over $120 million. Additionally, they secured a $20 million deal with Spotify, estimated to be worth around $35 million according to industry experts.
Their Netflix series achieved great success, and Harry’s book became a bestseller within days of its release. Meghan also launched her own promising Spotify podcast.
However, in June of last year, the couple faced a significant setback both professionally and financially when their media company, Archewell Audio, and streaming giant Spotify ended their contract. Despite the initial hype, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex only produced one series, Meghan’s podcast “Archetypes,” following the 2020 agreement.
“Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series that we made together,” a statement read.
Allegedly, Spotify expected more content from Archewell Studios.
The Sussexes didn’t want to produce content for one service exclusively. In their description, Archewell Audio’s company says its mission is “producing programming that uplifts and entertains audiences around the world,” as well as “spotlights diverse perspectives and voices. What’s most, they want to build “community through shared experience, narratives, and values.”
Bill Simmons, who founded Spotify and later sold it for around $200 million but now serves as the company’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, called the Sussexes “grifters.”
“I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation. The Fucking Grifters, that’s the podcast we should have launched with them,” Simmons said on the Bill Simmons podcast.
“I have got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It’s one of my best stories … Fuck them. The grifters.”
According to many, the reason behind all the interviews, podcasts, and even Meghan’s latest show featuring cooking, is the fact that the couple wants to stay relevant. What they do is certainly not a way to stay away from the media, something they stated as a reason when they left Britain and settled in the States.
Well, no matter how much they want to speak of others during interviews and podcasts, the Sussexes certainly don’t want others to talk about them.
In an episode of the adult television series South Park, the Sussexes found themselves the subject of a number of jokes, and apparently, they were far from happy because of it.
This isn’t the first time the series to mock celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Tom Cruise, and Donald Trump.
The episode in question starts with a scene from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and shows two characters, based on Harry and Meghan, walk past a candle that looks identical to the one talked about last fall, supposedly blocking Meghan from the cameras. Claims were that the royals had done it intentionally, and the scene in the series was clearly a nod to the Duchess.
South Park is without a doubt one of the most successful series there are. It first aired back in 1997 and it’s still on.
In the episode, the writers also included the Sussexes all-tell interview with Oprah, but this time, their animated characters were shown visiting Good Morning Canada. Further, they mocked the royals for wanting privacy, but yet, they tend to be under the spotlight. Meghan’s animated character is seen holding a sign which reads, “Do not look at us,” while Harry says, “We do not want privacy.” When the host asks Harry’s character if he hates journalists, the Prince answers, “That’s right, we just want to be normal people – all this attention is so hard.” The two then storm off the stage.
When meeting a “brand manager” in the episode, he labels Meghan as a “sorority girl, actress, influencer and victim,” while Harry is branded a “royal prince, millionaire, world traveller victim.”
The show then mocked the royals decision to leave Britain, and in the episode, instead of California, the couple moves to South Park, but the residents aren’t delighted because of that. “If we moved here, people would think we’re really serious about wanting to be normal,” Meghan’s character said.
One of the show’s characters, Kyle, then complains that the Duchess “bosses him around” and could be heard saying, “I’m sick of hearing about them! I can’t get away from them!”
Kyle also states: “They have this huge jet parked in front of my house and they keep on wanting me to buy their book,” referring to Harry’s all-tell memoir Spare.
However, as much as this episode brought laughter at the viewers, Harry and Meghan seemed to be left utterly upset.
A person close to the couple revealed that Meghan has been “annoyed by South Park but refuses to watch it,” and added that she was “upset for days” and “underwhelmed.”
According to royal expert Neil Sean, the couple has been so unhappy with the episode that they are even considering suing the writers of the show.
“Their legal team are casting an eye over the episode to see what is wrong, and what could be turned into something more sinister. This appears to be their course of action rather than laughing it off, enjoying the moment and showing the world that they get the joke,” Sean told Fox.
With everything happening within the family in recent years, royal fans and authors believe that the health issues Kate and Charles are going through may bring the entire family closer, and that includes Harry, Meghan, and their kids.
What’s most, royal author Tom Quinn said Kate and William were open to the idea of inviting the Sussexes to visit England.
However, Meghan allegedly passed on the offer.
“There is no way Meghan would bring the children to the UK,” Quinn told the Mirror in early April.
“William and Kate have suggested that Meghan and Harry bring the children and that the two couples and their families try to make up, but the suggestion is not leading anywhere so far.”
Harry is expected to return to the UK for a special Invictus Games service at St Paul’s Cathedral in May, and as much as both he and Meghan want that she accompanies him, she has made a shocking u-turn — and once again, it concerns her children.
Allegedly, Meghan doesn’t want to take her children to Britain because she’s concerned for their safety.
“It’s now got to the point where Meghan doesn’t want to come to the UK with the children. She just doesn’t feel safe. The situation is now about whether the family should attend with increased security or Harry should go it alone,” the source said. “Harry doesn’t want to keep making solo trips to the UK,” the source continued. “He would prefer it if the entire family made regular visits to see his family and build bridges, but there is so much going on behind the scenes that it just isn’t possible at the moment.”
A source for The OK! Magazine claimed that the Duchess doesn’t want to “be thrown back into an anxiety-fueled visit to England where she feels like she’s not wanted.” Harry on the other hand is torn between his wife and the royal family, especially Kate and his father.
It seems that a meeting between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals isn’t something we’d witness in near future.
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