Meghan Markle reportedly puts her podcast on hold, further delaying the release of new Archetypes episodes with Lemonada after failed Spotify deal. The Duchess of Sussex sparked curious reactions earlier this month following the announcement of her intentions to delay the premiere of her Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan. Initially slated for a January 15 release date, the show unveiled its new date as March 4, attributing the delay to the ravaging LA wildfires. That unexpected move which stirred mixed feelings among fans ultimately improved the public image of Meghan and Netflix owing to their compassion in the face of a national disaster.
Reports suggest the 43-year-old made a similar move with her podcast, Archetypes, set to launch new episodes as part of her lucrative deal with Lemonada Media. The Suits alum signed the deal with the podcast network in February 2024, after losing her deal with Spotify for “failure to meet production benchmark.” Although Meghan Markle has failed to release any project under the network since the signing, Lemonada snagged the rights to the first season of Meghan Markle’s failed podcast Archetypes, which they have since distributed via audio.
Meghan Markle Pushes Back Release of New Archetypes Episodes
Fans continue to anticipate brand-new episodes of the now-defunct podcast, especially as Meghan Markle has yet to release any new project under Lemonada. Just when it seemed Meghan was trailing the same path she took with Spotify that led to her axing, Lemonada teased the prospects of new episodes on the horizon. Taking to social media earlier this month the network teased the release of new episodes of several podcasts writing “We are SO Back!” Spotting the cover image of Meghan’s podcast in the lineup, fans expressed excitement, flooding the comment section with calls for the network to fastrack the release of new episodes of Archetypes.
A report from Hello! Magazine suggests the wait could take even longer than expected. The outlet revealed that new episodes of Meghan Markle’s Archetypes have been pushed back as a result of the LA wildfires. Unlike her Netflix show, no new dates were announced.
Meghan Roped Into Bullying Allegations Again Amid Spotlight Return
The news of the Lemonada podcast delay comes amid new claims of bullying dumped on Meghan Markle by her former co-workers at Spotify. In an explosive Vanity Fair article headlined American Hustle, former employees accused Meghan of making life miserable for her coworkers with her bossy and unpleasant attitude. The article also claimed some of these workers had to seek therapy at some point, or time off work to recover from the traumatizing impact of Meghan’s mistreatment. Additionally, the article shed more light on the mother of two’s failed Spotify deal, claiming her reluctance to use curse words on her podcast contributed to its failure.
Although Meghan and Harry’s team has dismissed these bullying claims, calling them devastating, the resulting backlash from the takedown has put the Sussexes in a volatile spot, which could threaten any projects launched in the heat of it all. Hence, more than being a show of solidarity to the victims of the LA wildfires, the delay in releasing new episodes of Archetypes conveniently serves as an effective damage control method until the heat of the Sussexes’ takedown blows over.
