Meghan Markle’s collaboration with podcasting giant Lemonada Media has hit a roadblock, signaling a setback in her podcasting aspirations.
The Duchess of Sussex found herself without a platform after Lemonada reportedly terminated their deal to revive her Archetypes project, casting doubts on the success of her podcasting endeavors.
Markle’s venture into podcasting kicked off with great promise.
In 2020, she inked a deal with Spotify to delve into the realm of female stereotypes through her Archetypes project.
However, the show failed to sustain its initial momentum, with just over 10 million downloads and a dwindling listenership post-launch, falling short of Spotify’s expectations.
Critics were quick to criticize Archetypes, labeling it as unfocused and lacking in depth.
Despite the underwhelming reception, Markle made a bold move by parting ways with Spotify and joining forces with Lemonada Media, renowned for championing marginalized voices.
Stephanie Whittlebach, Lemonada’s founder and esteemed journalist, expressed her initial excitement about collaborating with Markle, hailing her as a valuable addition to their community.
Nevertheless, the recent turn of events saw Lemonada pulling the plug on their partnership with Markle, citing creative disparities as the reason behind the decision.
While specifics of the fallout remain undisclosed, speculations are rife.
Some attribute the rift to Markle’s alleged controlling demeanor and insistence on creative control conflicting with Lemonada’s collaborative ethos.
Others believe that Lemonada’s reservations stemmed from Archetypes’ lackluster performance, signaling financial concerns.
The news of the split sparked a heated debate online, polarizing Markle’s supporters and critics.
Supporters view the termination as a biased move against strong female voices, pointing to positive reviews from certain quarters and hinting at potential sabotage by unidentified entities.
On the contrary, critics argue that the cancellation was a consequence of the podcast’s flawed execution, citing repetitive content, self-promotion tendencies, and a lack of authentic engagement with the subject matter.
The collapse of the Lemonada deal sheds light on the challenges confronting Markle as she navigates her post-royal path.
While her celebrity status opens doors, it also invites intense scrutiny and skepticism, hindering her ability to translate short-term opportunities into enduring success.