I have some shocking news to share regarding the Sussex's nonprofit organization, Archewell. As you may know, Archewell was launched in 2020 by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the goal of promoting compassion through various initiatives focused on arts education, mental health, and more. However, recent reports suggest that the organization is facing significant turmoil behind the scenes, which could severely impact its reputation and credibility going forward.
According to these reports, Archewell's former president, Kimberly Noel Granado, has made public allegations that she was effectively pushed out of her position due to Markle's alleged theft of her ideas and work, without giving her proper credit. Granado claims that she had no choice but to step away from the toxic work environment at Archewell and share her story. She has even coined the term "Megxit" to refer to her resignation, playing on the well-known term used when Harry and Meghan left their royal duties in 2020.
Granado describes her experience as Archewell's president, stating that she was brought on board last year to help launch the branding and establish partnerships. However, she alleges that almost immediately, Markle started taking credit for her ideas and contributions without acknowledging her. Granado cites an instance where she had developed a media literacy program for young girls to combat online bullying and promote self-esteem. According to Granado, Markle presented this exact program during the couple's interview with Oprah earlier this year, as though it were her original concept and initiative.
Furthermore, Granado worked tirelessly to build strategic partnerships with major companies and organizations that would support Archewell's mission. However, she claims that once agreements were made, Markle would step in at the last minute to ensure that all recognition went directly to her as the face of the nonprofit. Granado felt that her hard work and relationship-building efforts were undermined, and she increasingly felt that her work was being stolen to fuel Megan's celebrity brand.
Granado states that tensions grew within the organization as it became evident that Markle wanted to be directly involved in every aspect, treating Archewell as an extension of herself rather than a collaborative nonprofit. She recalls instances where Markle dismissed or rejected ideas without thoughtful consideration, and any professional criticisms or pushback from Granado or other team members were not well-received. According to Granado, the culture at Archewell became one of tyrannical control rather than collective impact.
The pressure and stress took a toll on Granado's health and well-being. Moreover, she became increasingly concerned about the sustainability and integrity of Archewell, as it seemed to prioritize advancing Megan's personal reputation rather than substantive philanthropic initiatives. Granado claims that she attempted to address these issues respectfully with Markle and suggest alternative leadership approaches but was met with indignation and rebuttal.
In light of these circumstances, Granado made the difficult decision to walk away from her position as president, despite having signed an 18-month contract. In her resignation letter to Markle and the Archewell board, she expressed her belief that she had been deliberately misused, with her contributions stolen without credit, within a hostile environment dominated by Markle's demands for control. Granado officially termed her forced exit as a "Megxit" that left her physically and emotionally drained, while also raising questions about the integrity of Archewell under Markle's leadership.
Now, Granado has chosen to come forward publicly to expose what really transpired behind closed doors at Archewell. She hopes that her disclosure will bring much-needed transparency to the organization's leadership culture and priorities moving forward. Granado feels an obligation to use her platform and experience to shed light on concerning practices, particularly when the well-being of the partners and the individuals they aim to help may be at stake. She worries that Archewell could become an unaccountable vanity project under Markle, rather than the force for good it was intended to be.
Naturally, these accusations are serious and potentially damaging if true. In response, a spokesperson for Archewell has denied the veracity of Granado's claims, stating that they do not accurately reflect her former role or experience within the organization.
