Insiders Say WME Dropped Meghan Markle, Agency Pushed Back

Meghan Markle’s Hollywood ties are underneath scrutiny as a number of sources declare she has been dropped by WME, the powerhouse expertise company that signed her in 2023.

Nonetheless, WME is pushing again in opposition to the experiences, insisting that they’re nonetheless working with Meghan Markle.

In accordance with Page Six, Markle has not held a gathering with WME’s high-profile CEO, Ari Emanuel, since January 2023. Whereas she is believed to have met together with her day-to-day brokers, sources counsel she was quietly let go for being “too demanding” and “troublesome to work with.”

“WME continues to signify Meghan and Archewell,” a spokesperson for the company acknowledged, including that they’re nonetheless concerned in a few of her tasks underneath the Archewell umbrella, which she runs with Prince Harry.

Regardless of WME’s assertion, business insiders paint a distinct image.

A supply claims that in January 2024, simply after the vacations, Markle allegedly had a tense change with WME, demanding a gathering and anticipating “decks and plans,” although it stays unclear whether or not this was for her private model or Archewell. The scenario reportedly escalated, with Emanuel deciding he was “accomplished together with her,” an incident that has since been confirmed by one other insider.

The timing of those claims comes simply as Markle prepares to debut her Netflix lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” on Tuesday. She has been within the midst of relaunching herself on Instagram at the side of her Netflix present and new way of life model.

Nonetheless, her enterprise ventures have already hit roadblocks. Markle was recently forced to rename her brand to As Ever following trademark points together with her unique title, American Riviera Orchard. Moreover, Web page Six experiences that merchandise from her new line, together with her broadly hyped jam, received’t be out there on the market for months after her present’s launch.

Whereas WME was initially anticipated to information her model growth, one other Hollywood supply claimed, “I don’t know what these tasks are, however WME is unquestionably not engaged on Meghan’s private enterprise.”

The alleged rift with WME isn’t the primary time Markle’s work relationships have come into query. Through the years, she and Prince Harry have struggled to take care of a steady staff, with a few of their former workers referring to themselves because the “Sussex Survivors Membership.”

Including to the controversy, Buckingham Palace beforehand carried out an inquiry into allegations of bullying leveled in opposition to Markle throughout her time as a working royal. Whereas the findings had been by no means publicly launched, Markle’s former press secretary, Jason Knauf, just lately spoke out on “60 Minutes Australia,” reaffirming his previous accusations.

In a message reportedly despatched to Prince William’s press secretary in 2018, Knauf wrote, “I’m very involved that the duchess was capable of bully two PAs out of the family previously yr. The remedy of X was completely unacceptable.”

His message continued, “The Duchess appears intent on all the time having somebody in her sights. She is bullying Y and searching for to undermine her confidence. We now have had report after report from individuals who have witnessed unacceptable conduct.”

The criticisms don’t cease there.

A Vanity Fair report printed in January described Markle as having a “Imply Women teenager” perspective, whereas a former Spotify worker who labored on her Archetypes podcast referred to as the expertise “actually, actually, actually terrible” and “very painful.”

In accordance with Kinsey Schofield, host of the “To Di For Each day” podcast, Markle’s fame took a significant hit following her and Harry’s explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the place they detailed their struggles inside the royal household and made surprising allegations. The interview, watched by almost 50 million individuals worldwide, set the tone for the way the couple could be perceived of their post-royal life.

“America was presupposed to be a contemporary begin for the Sussexes,” Schofield informed Fox News Digital. “[But] they set the tone for the way their viewers perceives them.”

As an alternative of capitalizing on their newfound independence, Schofield claims the couple grew to become consumed with grievances. “Harry and Meghan spent the primary three years of their new life in America bitter, indignant, and complaining,” she stated.

The skilled believes {that a} totally different method might have yielded higher outcomes. “Retaining issues constructive is mostly the very best method. This builds belief and likability. Individuals are extra prone to join with those that encourage, uplift, or supply options reasonably than complain,” she defined.