Bill Simmons, the International Sports content head at Spotify, didn't hold back his criticism of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, referring to them as de facto charlatans during their Spotify exit.
Simmons expressed his belief that the couple contributed very little, if anything at all, to the platform. On his podcast, Simmons openly mocked the pair, stating, "They are grifters.
That's the podcast we should have launched with them." He further described Meghan and Harry as lazy.
Following Simmons' comments, numerous media outlets joined in the mockery, with many speculating that the couple would resort to their next move, potentially repeating the same pattern.
Royal correspondent Kinsey Schofield, speaking on GB News, suggested that Meghan might turn to being an online influencer as her primary avenue for making money, given the reported cancellation of their Spotify deal and rumored challenges at Netflix.
On the same network, political broadcaster and commentator Dollar shared insights from individuals who had Zoom conversations with Meghan and Harry about the content they should produce. Dollar found their ideas to be ridiculous, stating that people are not interested in hearing such content.
He also highlighted Meghan's control over her public image, which he believed has hindered her. Dollar continued, remarking that the Sussexes could have pursued various avenues, including adopting a royal persona in America, but they seemed determined to take a lofty social change stance that lacked commercial appeal.
Stephen A. Smith, known for his outspoken nature, also criticized Harry and Meghan on his show. He highlighted their recent news of being dropped by Spotify and their departure from their $20 million podcast deal after just 12 episodes. Smith humorously remarked, "Ladies and gentlemen, I can do 12 episodes in my sleep. Twelve episodes, $20 million, 20 minutes."
Addressing Simmons' comments, Stephen A. Smith acknowledged Simmons as his contemporary and former colleague at ESPN, recognizing his success with The Ringer podcast network.
Smith noted that Simmons seemed pleased with Meghan and Harry's departure, speculating that as an executive at Spotify, Simmons possessed inside knowledge or a basis for calling them grifters, justifying his criticism. However, Smith personally found Simmons' choice of words excessive, though he deferred to Simmons' deeper understanding of the situation as someone working at Spotify.
Simmons' criticism of the couple is not new, as he had previously voiced his discontent with Harry during his time under contract with Spotify.
In January, Simmons even expressed embarrassment over sharing affiliation with the same company. Simmons' remarks drew mixed reactions, with some listeners expressing frustration and disinterest in his opinions, particularly when they pertained to the royal family.
