The challenges continue to mount for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as a TV executive has resigned from their production company, Archwell.
Since its establishment in 2020, Archwell has collaborated with major companies like Spotify and Netflix.
However, the couple seems to be facing a downward spiral as Bennett Levine, the manager of Archwell Productions, decided to leave the company this month.
Levine’s departure marks the 17th staff member to quit working for Meghan and Harry since their marriage in 2018.
PR expert Ryan McCormick, speaking exclusively to the Mirror, suggested that Levine’s resignation indicates chaos behind the scenes.
He emphasized that while the departure is significant, the bigger concern lies in the lack of content being produced by Meghan and Harry.
McCormick highlighted the importance of delivering value to Archwell’s organization, donors, and media partners, and expressed his belief that if this trend continues, other high-level employees may follow suit.
In 2023, the Mirror reported that Harry and Meghan dedicated just one hour per week to Archwell.
This minimal time commitment, equivalent to only 2.5% of a typical 40-hour workweek, reveals a considerable lack of effort and dedication.
It is unreasonable to expect employees to perform at their best if the leaders themselves are not setting a positive example.
This could potentially explain why Levine chose to leave.
Apart from the issue of staff departures, Meghan and Harry have also lost eight other members of their team since the inception of Archwell, including individuals specializing in scripts, marketing, and content creation.
Bennett Levine’s departure follows that of his former boss, Oscar-winning producer Ben Browning, who left the company last year.
According to the Daily Mail, approximately 17 staffers have left the Sussexes’ employment since their wedding in May 2018, with eight departures occurring after their move to California in 2020.
A recent source on Blind Item revealed that Meghan and Harry are facing financial constraints, which has led them to opt not to renew contracts for experienced personnel due to the high costs involved.
Instead, they have brought in unpaid interns from college, paying them only minimum wage or sometimes not at all.
While an intern with some experience might receive around $7.3 per hour from Meghan, others are not compensated.
It is worth noting that the minimum wage in California is $16 per hour, but it seems the couple may not be willing to pay that amount.
Even at $16 per hour, it remains significantly low considering the cost of living.
The Sussexes seem to value the experience gained from working with them more than monetary compensation.
Being a member of the Sussex Survivors Group could be viewed as a positive attribute on a CV, demonstrating resilience and the ability to handle demanding and unreasonable bosses.
If one can cope with Meghan, it is likely they can handle any other boss.
Currently, Meghan and Harry are managing their own public relations.
However, there is a noticeable difference between the earlier days when positive coverage prevailed, resulting in numerous interviews, photoshoots, and articles in print magazines, and the present situation where negative coverage dominates, primarily limited to celebrity and women’s magazines.
The current PR efforts seem to focus on superficial and speculative topics, such as Meghan’s fashion choices or her alleged involvement in a “Suits” reboot.
It appears that these stories generate minimal interest without much intervention from the PR team.
In conclusion, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry face mounting challenges as Archwell experiences setbacks.
With the departure of Bennett Levine and a significant number of staff members over the years, combined with the lack of content production, the future of Archwell remains uncertain.