Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) executive and head of podcast innovation Bill Simmons has dubbed Meghan and Harry “grifters” following the streaming service's end to a US$20mln deal with the couple.
Simmons, founder of the Ringer podcast network, which was bought by Spotify for US$196mln in 2020, criticised Meghan and Harry after they produced only 12 episodes in the space of three years.
Speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, he said: “I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation.
“ ‘The f—ing Grifters’, that’s the podcast we should have launched with them.”
The former royals signed the Spotify deal in 2020 and subsequently launched the Archetypes podcast, where Meghan interviewed guests such as Serena Williams and Trevor Noah.
It performed well on release, but with only 12 episodes streamed, it is believed the couple will not receive the full headline payment as they failed to meet the productivity benchmark.
In January 2022, Simmons expressed a similar criticism towards the couple, claiming that audiences were only interested in what they had to say about the royals.
Spotify has been streamlining its podcast division in 2023, having cut 200 jobs from the arm earlier this month.