Taylor Swift Allegedly Declined Meghan Markle's Handwritten Invite To Be On Her Axed Spotify Podcast

Global music sensation Taylor Swift reportedly declined a handwritten invitation from Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, to appear on her Spotify podcast. Reports claim Swift turned down her appearance on Archetypes via her representative.

The snub came as executives at the streaming platform allegedly rejected numerous ideas proposed by the royal couple, citing their lackluster appeal. Spotify ultimately axed its deal with the Sussexes.

Keep on reading to learn more.

An invitation, personally penned by Meghan, was sent to Swift, extending an offer to be a guest on the highly acclaimed podcast hosted by the Duchess on Spotify. However, Swift's representative promptly declined the offer, delivering a resounding "no" on behalf of the superstar, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"Archetypes" is a podcast hosted by Meghan and had its debut episode last August. On the show, the former "Suits" actress talked about social issues and the history of stereotypes leveled against women.

According to the news outlet, sources with insider knowledge shared that Spotify helped compile a list of potential guests for her "Archetypes" podcast, but finding the right kind of guest wasn't easy. This reportedly spurred Meghan to send a "personal letter" to Swift, but the "Bejeweled" singer declined.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Spotify decided to axe Meghan's podcast, "Archetypes," due to low productivity and a failure to meet the streaming platform's expectations. 

"Archetypes" was slated to be Meghan's grand entrance into the world of podcasting after her and Harry's highly publicized departure from their roles as working members of the royal family. The project aimed to explore "labels that try to hold women back." However, according to inside sources, the podcast failed to gain traction and struggled to meet the anticipated level of productivity, leading the streaming giant to cut off renewal for a second season.

Spotify and the Sussexes' audio production company Archewell Audio released a statement after the break in the relationship, stating they've "mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together."

According to WSJ, the Sussexes will also miss out on receiving the total payout of the $20 million deal they signed with Spotify for the project in 2020 because they didn't meet the benchmark.

Despite the setback of "Archetypes" being axed by Spotify, Meghan is reportedly determined to continue her foray into podcasting and content creation. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be actively planning to create more podcasts and is exploring options to find a new home for her series, per the Daily Mail.

Undeterred by the end of her partnership with Spotify, she is actively seeking new opportunities and platforms to bring her vision to life. It's been confirmed that they're working on a new show for Netflix, titled "Bad Manners," although it's not known if Netflix has commissioned it yet.

The former Royals are also still working on a documentary on the Invictus Games, which will tell the story of competitors around the world training for the game.

"The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify," Meghan's talent agency recently shared. "Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform."

The partnership between Netflix and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might also be on shaky ground, with rumors swirling that the streaming giant may be considering severing ties with the high-profile couple.

According to Daily Mail, insider sources have suggested that the relationship between Netflix and the Sussexes "hasn't always been great," adding fuel to speculation about the future of their collaboration.

"Harry is no problem but Meghan thinks she knows how to run Hollywood," the source shared, adding that their bombshell first interview with Oprah Winfrey on the CBS Network "ruffled feathers" at Netflix.

"There were some unhappy executives who felt Netflix should have been given the first bite of the cherry," the insider added.

The Sussexes' $100 million deal with Netflix, signed in 2020, was hailed as a groundbreaking move, with the couple venturing into the world of content creation to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films, and children's programming. The multi-year agreement was seen as a strategic move for the royal pair to establish their independent careers and support their philanthropic efforts.