Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has found herself at the center of controversy once again, this time over her podcasting skills—or lack thereof, according to some critics. In June 2023, Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of a talent management company, publicly stated that Meghan “is not good at podcasting,” a comment that sparked widespread debate and added fuel to the ongoing scrutiny of her media ventures. As of May 2025, with Meghan’s career evolving through new projects like her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, the criticism of her podcasting stint with Archetypes remains a point of contention. This article examines the origins of the backlash, the performance of Archetypes, Meghan’s response to the criticism, and what her podcasting journey reveals about her broader media ambitions.
The Rise and Fall of Archetypes
Meghan Markle launched her podcast Archetypes on Spotify in August 2022, a project born out of her $20 million deal with the streaming platform through Archewell Audio, the production company she co-founded with Prince Harry. The podcast aimed to explore and dismantle stereotypes that hold women back, featuring high-profile guests like Mariah Carey, Serena Williams, Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling, and Trevor Noah across its 12-episode first season. Meghan’s vision was to create a platform for meaningful conversations about gender, identity, and societal expectations, a mission that aligned with her advocacy work on women’s rights.
Initially, Archetypes showed promise, winning a People’s Choice Award for Top Podcast in 2022 and briefly climbing Spotify’s charts. However, its success was short-lived. On June 15, 2023, Spotify announced it was ending its partnership with Archewell Audio, effectively canceling Archetypes after just one season. In a joint statement, Spotify and Archewell Audio described the split as mutual, expressing pride in the work they had accomplished together. Yet, behind the diplomatic words, cracks in the collaboration were evident. Sources reported by Page Six in 2023 claimed that Meghan failed to produce enough content to justify the $20 million deal, a sentiment echoed by Spotify’s Bill Simmons, who, on his podcast The Bill Simmons Podcast, called Meghan and Harry “grifters” and criticized their lack of output.
Adding to the controversy, rumors surfaced that Meghan may not have conducted all the interviews herself, with some alleging that staff members handled portions of the recordings, which were later edited to sound as though Meghan was present. While Meghan never addressed these claims directly, Andy Cohen, a guest on the final episode of Archetypes, defended her, confirming to Variety in 2023 that he was interviewed by Meghan in person. Despite this, the allegations of inauthenticity damaged the podcast’s reputation, fueling the narrative that Meghan lacked the skills to lead such a project.
Jeremy Zimmer’s Harsh Critique
The most damning criticism came from Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of United Talent Agency, who didn’t mince words during a June 2023 interview. “Meghan Markle is not good at podcasting,” Zimmer stated bluntly, as reported by VnExpress. His comment came shortly after Spotify’s decision to end Archetypes, adding weight to the growing perception that Meghan’s foray into audio storytelling had been a failure. Zimmer’s critique wasn’t just a personal opinion—it reflected a broader sentiment in the entertainment industry that Meghan and Harry’s media ventures were struggling to deliver on their initial hype.
Zimmer’s remarks were echoed by other industry figures. Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of international sports content, had already expressed frustration with the couple, noting on his podcast that their projects only gained traction when they criticized the royal family—a pattern he found repetitive and unoriginal. Angela Levin, a royal biographer, told Page Six in 2023 that the cancellation of Archetypes could signal the beginning of the end for the couple’s “media empire,” predicting a “disastrous” future for their brand. Richard Fitzwilliams, a public relations consultant, called the podcast deal a “lucrative failure,” pointing out that its high cost did not match its impact.
Meghan’s Media Journey: A Pattern of Criticism
The backlash over Archetypes wasn’t an isolated incident—it fits into a broader pattern of scrutiny that Meghan and Harry have faced since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. After leaving the royal family, the couple signed multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify, aiming to establish themselves as media moguls. Their Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan (2022) and Harry’s memoir Spare (2023) drew significant attention but also criticism for their focus on royal family drama, with some accusing the couple of exploiting their titles for profit. A 2023 episode of South Park mocked their “Worldwide Privacy Tour,” portraying them as hypocritical for seeking privacy while remaining in the public eye—a satire that resonated with many detractors.
Archetypes was meant to be a departure from this narrative, showcasing Meghan’s ability to create meaningful content independent of her royal ties. However, its cancellation and the subsequent criticism highlighted the challenges she faced in transitioning from actress to producer. Meghan, who studied theater at Northwestern University and gained fame for her role in Suits, had limited experience in podcasting or content creation before Archetypes. Some argued that her lack of expertise in the medium was evident in the podcast’s execution, which, despite its star-studded guest list, was often described as formulaic and lacking depth. A 2023 review in The Guardian noted that the podcast felt “scripted and overly polished,” missing the raw authenticity that makes podcasts resonate with listeners.
The Bigger Picture: Industry Challenges and Bias
While the criticism of Meghan’s podcasting skills has been harsh, it’s worth examining the broader context. Spotify’s decision to end Archetypes coincided with a larger restructuring of its podcast division. In 2023, the company laid off 200 employees and scaled back its podcast ambitions after over-investing in the medium, as admitted by CEO Daniel Ek. Dawn Ostroff, Spotify’s chief content officer who had championed the deal with Meghan and Harry, left the company in early 2023, further disrupting their projects. This suggests that the cancellation of Archetypes may have been influenced by Spotify’s strategic shifts rather than solely Meghan’s performance.
Moreover, the intense scrutiny Meghan faces cannot be divorced from her identity as a biracial woman who married into the British royal family. Since her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan has been a polarizing figure, often subjected to criticism that carries undertones of racism and misogyny. In their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan and Harry revealed that a royal family member had expressed “concerns” about their son Archie’s skin color, a revelation that sparked global outrage and highlighted the racial bias Meghan endured. The criticism of her podcasting skills, while rooted in professional critique, often veers into personal attacks, with some detractors—like those on X in 2023—dismissing her as “inauthentic” or “narcissistic,” terms rarely applied to her white, male counterparts in similar ventures.
Meghan’s Response: Resilience Through New Ventures
Meghan has not directly addressed Zimmer’s comment or the cancellation of Archetypes, but her actions suggest she’s determined to move forward. In January 2024, she signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media to re-release Archetypes and develop a new series, though progress has been slow. By April 2025, posts on X indicated that the Lemonada podcast had “flopped in the charts,” according to The Sun, suggesting that Meghan’s audio ventures continue to struggle. However, a post by @GlowanneLee on April 28, 2025, highlighted a rare podcast appearance where Meghan was a guest on Jamie Kern Lima’s show, describing the interview as “fantastic, refreshing, and cute,” showing that some fans still support her efforts in the medium.
Meghan has since pivoted to other projects, most notably her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, which premiered on March 4, 2025. The show, filmed in a rented farmhouse in Montecito, California, features Meghan cooking, gardening, and hosting friends, aiming to “redefine the lifestyle genre,” according to its producers. Yet, like Archetypes, the series has faced criticism, with The Guardian and The Independent giving it one-star reviews, calling it “tasteless” and “narcissistic.” Critics pointed to scenes where guests excessively praised Meghan’s cooking, and the show’s focus on her luxurious lifestyle—highlighted by her $8 million filming location and $14.5 million home—felt out of touch, especially during a time of economic hardship for many.
Despite the backlash, Meghan has shown resilience. Her decision to delay the release of With Love, Meghan from January 15, 2025, to March due to Los Angeles wildfires drew mixed reactions—some praised her for focusing on relief efforts, while others on X called her “hypocritical,” arguing the delay was a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, Meghan and Harry’s visit to a Pasadena convention center on January 10, 2025, to support wildfire victims demonstrated their commitment to community service, a core part of their public mission.
What Does This Mean for Meghan’s Media Career?
The criticism of Meghan’s podcasting skills raises broader questions about her place in the entertainment industry. On one hand, Archetypes’ cancellation and the lukewarm reception to her subsequent projects suggest that Meghan struggles to connect with audiences in a crowded media landscape. Her lack of experience in content creation, combined with the high expectations tied to her royal status, has made her an easy target for criticism. A 2025 TIME100 Summit discussion, reported by @discernatively on X, revealed Meghan’s own admission of the pressure she faces, noting that even A-list guests were hard to book for her projects, reflecting the challenges of her ambitious workload.
On the other hand, the scrutiny Meghan faces is often disproportionate, shaped by biases that her white, male peers rarely encounter. Her podcasting venture, while not a commercial success, tackled important issues like gender stereotypes, and its People’s Choice Award win indicates that it resonated with some listeners. Meghan’s persistence in pursuing new projects—whether through Lemonada Media, Netflix, or her lifestyle brand—shows a determination to carve out her own path, even in the face of setbacks.
Conclusion: A Work in Progress
Jeremy Zimmer’s claim that Meghan Markle “is not good at podcasting” may hold some truth in terms of commercial success, but it oversimplifies a complex narrative. Archetypes’ failure was not solely Meghan’s fault—Spotify’s strategic missteps and the broader challenges of the podcasting industry played a role. Moreover, the criticism Meghan faces often reflects deeper biases about her race, gender, and royal status, complicating any fair assessment of her skills.
As of May 2025, Meghan’s media career remains a work in progress. Her podcasting journey with Archetypes may not have been the triumph she hoped for, but it was a bold step into uncharted territory. With new projects like With Love, Meghan and a forthcoming podcast with Lemonada Media, Meghan continues to push forward, undeterred by the naysayers. Whether she can overcome the criticism and redefine her place in the entertainment world remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Meghan Markle is not giving up without a fight.
