I have some shocking news to share regarding the Sussexes' nonprofit organization, Archewell. As you may know, Archewell was launched in 2020 by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the goal of driving compassion through various initiatives focused on arts education, mental health, and more. However, it seems the organization is facing some major turmoil behind the scenes that could seriously damage its reputation and credibility going forward.
According to reports, Archewell's former president, Kimberly Noel Granado, has gone public with allegations that she was effectively pushed out of her position due to Markle brazenly stealing and taking credit for her ideas and work. Granado says she felt she had no other choice but to step away from the toxic work environment at Archewell and tell her story. She has now coined the term "Megxit" to refer to her resignation from Archewell, playing on the well-known term "Megxit" used when Harry and Meghan left their royal duties in 2020.
Granado describes being brought on board as Archewell's president last year with the goal of helping launch the branding and establish partnerships. However, she alleges that almost immediately, Markle began taking credit for her ideas and contributions without acknowledgment. In one alleged instance, Granado had spent weeks developing a media literacy program for young girls focused on combating online bullying and promoting self-esteem. She claims Markle presented this exact program during the couple's Oprah interview earlier this year as though it was her own original concept and initiative.
Granado also details how she worked tirelessly to build strategic partnerships with major companies and organizations that would help further Archewell's mission. Yet, in each case, once an agreement was made, Markle would step in at the last minute to seal the deal herself, ensuring all recognition went directly to her as the face of the nonprofit. Granado felt this severely undermined the critical groundwork and relationship building she had contributed.
As more time passed, Granado says tensions grew within the organization as it became clear Markle wanted to be directly involved in every facet, from partnerships and press relations to programming decisions and workflows. Essentially, she was treating Archewell as an extension of herself rather than as a collaborative nonprofit. Granado recalls instances of Markle second-guessing or shooting down ideas without thoughtful consideration, and any professional criticisms or pushback from Granado or other team members were not taken kindly.
The culture had become, according to Granado, one of tyrannical control rather than collective impact. The pressure and stress began negatively impacting Granado's health and well-being. She had also grown increasingly worried about the sustainability and integrity of Archewell, given its apparent singular focus on advancing Meghan's personal reputation rather than substantive philanthropic initiatives.
Granado claims she tried on multiple occasions to address issues respectfully with Markle and suggest alternative leadership approaches, but was met only with indignation and rebuttal, such as "Don't forget who created this whole company." As the situation spiraled, Granado decided the ethical and healthy choice was walking away from her position as president last month, despite having signed an 18-month contract.
She made it clear in her resignation letter to Markle and the Archewell board that she felt she had been deliberately misused, had her contribution stolen without credit, and worked within a hostile environment dominated by Markle's demands for glorified control at the cost of actual meaningful progress and partnerships. Granado officially termed this forced exit as a "Megxit" that left her exhausted, distressed, and questioning the integrity of how Archewell functions under Markle.
Now, Granado has chosen to come forward publicly to expose what really went on behind closed doors at Archewell in hopes it provides needed transparency about the organization's leadership culture and priorities moving ahead. She feels an obligation to use her platform and experience to shed light on concerning practices, especially when the well-being of so many partners and those they seek to help could potentially be affected.
Granado worries Archewell risks becoming an unaccountable vanity project under Meghan rather than the force for good it purported to be. Naturally, these accusations are very serious and damaging if true. In response, a spokesperson for Archewell denied the veracity of Granado's claims, saying they do not accurately reflect her former role or experience at the organization. They maintain Granado left of her own accord for personal reasons after making a valuable early contribution to Archewell.
