Recent claims of Meghan Markle being dropped by WME have stirred controversy in Hollywood.
Despite multiple sources citing her dismissal, WME maintains that they still represent Meghan and her foundation, Archewell, Page Six reported.
The first swirl of rumors surfaced with an insider report stating that Meghan, due to her high demands and difficult interactions with staff, was no longer a client of WME. This report was backed by several sources, further claiming that Meghan's last meeting with WME’s top powerbroker Ari Emanuel occurred over a year ago. However, she has continued her interactions with regular day-to-day agents within the agency.
Supporting these claims, an incident was highlighted where Meghan allegedly had an outburst just after January 2024's festivities. She was reported to have demanded immediate meetings with anticipated presentations and strategic plans. Following this episode, Emanuel reportedly concluded his professional relationship with her.
Yet, contrary to these insider narratives, WME has officially stated, “WME continues to represent Meghan and Archewell.” This statement came after the agency was questioned about the ongoing speculation surrounding their relationship with Meghan. Further complicating the story, a Hollywood source mentioned that though WME handles certain projects for Archewell, it does not manage Meghan's business endeavors.
This contradiction raises questions about the depth of the relationship between Meghan and her agency. Notably, Meghan has pivoted towards new ventures, such as her Netflix lifestyle show "With Love, Meghan," which is scheduled to premiere next week. In tandem with this, she has rebranded her lifestyle business to "As Ever" due to trademark issues.
Challenges for Meghan in personal branding and product launches seem to trail her, as her newly branded lifestyle products, including a jam, will not be available for sale for months post her Netflix show debut. Such delays could affect the expected impact of her brand's relaunch.
Meghan's professional and personal life continues to be a subject of discussion not just in Hollywood but also with royal connections. The formation of the “Sussex Survivors Club” by former employees of Meghan and Prince Harry hints at ongoing discontent about management and interpersonal relationships under their employment. This mirrors earlier reports, including a once embattled investigation by Buckingham Palace into allegations that Meghan bullied palace staff, a claim she has denied.
Her former press secretary, Jason Knauf, had even confirmed episodes of bullying during his appearance on "60 Minutes Australia," asserting, “The duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year.” This described treatment has been called “totally unacceptable” by Knauf, highlighting severe strains in professional relationships attributed to Meghan.
The narrative around Meghan's professional demeanor also expanded beyond palace doors as former staff and collaborators have openly criticized her behavior. A source on the Archetypes podcast described their experience working with Meghan as “really, really, really awful” and “very painful,” echoing sentiments similar to those from her royal aide days. The portrayal by a former staffer in Vanity Fair branded her akin to a “‘Mean Girls’ teenager.”
As these narratives unfold, the upcoming launch of "With Love, Meghan" could either bolster her public image or deepen the criticisms depending on her ongoing professional relationships and public perceptions.
Meanwhile, WME’s continued involvement in some of Meghan's professional endeavors, particularly regarding Archewell, despite distancing from her branding efforts, shows a nuanced layer of professional engagement that keeps industry watchers guessing about the true nature of their connection.
In Hollywood, where the personal often intertwines with the professional, the realities behind the scenes can be as dramatic as those portrayed on screen. As Meghan ventures further into her post-royal career, the industry's eyes remain fixated on how her narrative with Hollywood power brokers evolves.
