Meghan Markle’s Hollywood Reputation Takes a Hit: Criticism from Ex-Vanity Fair Editor and Award-Winning Director
It seems Meghan Markle is developing a reputation for having less-than-ideal working relationships in Hollywood. Not only has she been publicly criticized by a former *Vanity Fair* editor, but she's also been called out by an award-winning director—and there’s even more to unpack.
Many of you might remember that iconic *Vanity Fair* cover featuring Meghan Markle back in 2016 or 2017 when the news first broke that she and Prince Harry were together. Well, fast forward six or seven years, and things are looking quite different. Tina Brown, the ex-*Vanity Fair* editor, has now put Meghan on blast, ripping into her in a recent podcast appearance—and headlines everywhere are picking this up.
She said Meghan has “the worst judgment of anyone in the world” and went so far as to claim that Meghan consistently “gets it all wrong” with her ideas. Brown shared these harsh opinions during an appearance on *The Ankler* podcast, hosted by Janice Min, where she promoted her new Substack newsletter *Fresh Hell*. Brown, who famously called "Megxit" a disaster in the past, seems to have doubled down on her critiques, accusing Meghan and Harry of being “addicted to drama.”
But can anyone really disagree? Apart from her loyal fans, it’s hard to argue with what Brown said. Meghan’s high-profile missteps, like her failed attempt to trademark "Archewell" (because it’s a geographical location!), only add to the growing list of examples where she’s—well—gotten it all wrong.
Remember her "American Archewell" project that launched months ago? Yeah, nothing has really come out of it for public consumption. From her rumored luxury jams to the odd dog biscuit product, everything she’s tried to sell has faced intense criticism. One of the more ridiculous rumors? She allegedly planned to sell a jar of jam for $250! It’s no surprise people are raising eyebrows when they see what she’s pushing out into the market. So, yes, Tina Brown might have a point when she says Meghan can’t read the room.
Tina Brown isn't the only one with something to say about Meghan’s Hollywood reputation. Enter Exhibit Two: an award-winning director who exposed Meghan for being difficult to work with.
Before she met Harry, Meghan was the face of a Canadian department store, Reitmans. One of the directors who worked on a commercial for the brand, Jean Malek, allegedly called Meghan "the meanest person" he’d ever met. Malek posted this on Facebook, according to Tom Bower’s book *Revenge*, shedding light on some serious diva behavior.
Malek wasn’t the only one to comment. Another director, John Grammatico, emailed the ad agency working with Reitmans, stating that while Meghan had valid points, she bulldozed her way through, demanding changes left and right. Despite her occasional correctness, it was clear she made life difficult for those around her. One crew member reportedly said Meghan was always “fed up,” rolling her eyes and sighing at the crew. No one dared to stand up to her because they feared losing their jobs.
And the Hollywood shade doesn’t stop there! The now-infamous end of Meghan and Harry’s Spotify deal also sparked criticism. Bill Simmons, head of podcast innovation at Spotify, didn’t mince words when he called the couple “f***ing grifters” on *The Bill Simmons Podcast*. He even hinted that there’s more behind-the-scenes drama, teasing that he could tell stories from a Zoom meeting he had with Harry that left him unimpressed.
In a previous episode, Simmons had already gone off about the couple, saying that no one cares what they have to say unless it’s about the royal family. Ouch.
With mounting criticism from high-profile figures like Tina Brown, Jean Malek, and Bill Simmons, it’s starting to seem like Meghan’s ability to build positive relationships in Hollywood might not be as strong as she’d like it to be. And if these stories are making their way through the industry, it’s possible others in Hollywood are noticing the pattern too. Could this mean trouble for Meghan’s future projects? Only time will tell.
But one thing’s clear: whether it’s magazine editors, directors, or podcast execs, Meghan is finding it tough to escape the criticism.
