Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Labeled As 'F**King Grifters' By Spotify Exec After Collapse Of Podcast Deal

Spotify employees have reportedly slammed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after the streaming service canceled their podcast deal.

The duo were branded as "f**king grifters" by an exec of the company, who discussed his interactions with them in a podcast.

With the loss of the deal, it is alleged that the couple might find their teeming bills more difficult to manage despite still having a deal with Netflix.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have recently come under fire from Spotify staff members after their podcast deal was canceled by the company, per Page Six.

Bill Simmons, the president of Spotify's foreign sports content, referred to the pair as "f**king grifters" in a recent podcast episode where he discussed his working relationship with them.

He also trolled the couple, saying, "I wish I had been involved in the 'Meghan and Harry leave Spotify' negotiation. That's a podcast we should've launched with them."

The axed deal was worth $20 million, although it is unknown how many years Meghan and Harry agreed to when the arrangement was inked in 2020.

The couple only produced 13 hours of content since the signing, which includes 12 episodes of Markle's "Archetypes" podcast and a one-time holiday special.

It is believed that the Sussexes won't receive anywhere near the entire amount they could have received under the arrangement because of the apparent lack of material and the deal being terminated before it expired.

A source close to the Sussexes' deal claims it didn't live up to its potential despite the high hopes at the beginning.

"Although 'Archetypes' did well and got a couple of awards, when you go into a deal like this, to have just one series over that course of time is not great," the source said, according to Page Six.

Speaking further on the deal, the insider shared that "the Obamas and their production company, Higher Ground," who also had a deal with Spotify, delivered "multiple new series."

Another insider added some context as to why Spotify might have terminated the deal they had with the former royals.

The insider said, "Spotify wants to focus on people who drive strong audiences, like Alex Cooper, Dax Shepard, and Emma Chamberlain. There are a lot of great creators who are very eager."

"Meghan and Harry are the outlier on all of this; I think they have come off as being lazy and difficult."

The loss of the Spotify deal has led to a sharp decline in the couple's finances since they quit being full-time royals and moved to California with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The duo currently has a number of money-sucking obligations, including a sizable mortgage for the massive Tuscan-style mansion they purchased in June 2020 for $14.7 million.

Harry and Meghan also have to pay an annual property tax of nearly $200,000 on the property in addition to paying for staffing and maintenance.

The cost of the couple's private security detail is estimated to be around $2 million a year. Harry's ongoing legal battles with the British press have also cost the couple a hefty amount in attorney bills.

Regardless of their financial issues, a source said the couple is not "broke, but they're going to have to keep spending their money instead of banking it."

In the meantime, PR guru Mark Borkowksi commented on the Sussexes' move to America, saying that the spotlight is no longer on them.

He shared that Meghan and, by extension, her husband, Harry, need to go back to the drawing board and work out new plans.

"This is an opportunity for Meghan to take stock. There are more lessons in failure than success," Borkowksi said, per Page Six.

He added, "It's important to note that failure is a natural part of life, and it does not define a person's worth or potential. Time to employ a critical friend."

It is reported that Meghan currently has some new projects in the works that she is keeping under wraps.

She and her husband are still on contract for a five-year deal with Netflix, which has produced their Netflix docu-series "Harry and Meghan" and an upcoming one named "Invictus Games."