Is the house that Harry and Meghan built falling apart?
The news broke recently that Harry and Meghan have lost another key member of their Archewell production company; Bennett Levine. The rising media hotshot joined the counter-royal enterprise in 2021 and lasted until January of this year. The prince and his young wife were clearly happy with his early performance when they promoted Levine from the position of co-ordinator for the business in 2021 to the role of Archewell production manager in 2022. The addition of Levine to the Windsor-Markle A-Team seemed like the perfect creative business union.
Levine came out of the prestigious William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia with a BBA degree. It was clear from the beginning he wasn’t short on talent and chutzpah. He first landed a job in Cornerstone Research, Washington D.C. before being snapped up by large media organizations for plummy roles including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Picturestart, and FimiNation Entertainment. A great career off to a dreamy start one would think. Until suddenly, Levine found himself blasted off from what must have in comparison seemed like the dull mediocrity of the Hollywood carousel into the global media stratosphere of Royal show business. Fresh from the success and acclaim of their soul-bearing if not soul-searching Oprah interview, America’s newest royal couple invited the young media tenderfoot to join their novel and daring new media venture poised to take over the world.
All great so far. The handsome prince and his tv starlet wife ready to show Barrack and Michelle how it’s done. The Obamas simply wanted to “cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world.” The Windsor-Markle duo operating on a much higher plane; strived to utilize “the power of storytelling to embrace our shared humanity and duty to truth through a compassionate lens”, that would enable them to “build community through shared experiences, powerful narratives, and universal values.” Riveting surely!
Shored up with Netflix funds to the tune of $100 million, nothing could go wrong and the world was their oyster! Alas, the enervating, thankless world of public servitude shared with us through the piercing, fulsome lens of one’s own stalking production crew was not enough to grant the regnant twosome the Hollywood acceptance and guaranteed longstanding, financial backing they clearly desired.
One is inclined to ask at this point, where did it all go wrong? Bumper budgets, world wide name recognition, media darlings, and an endless enthusiasm for doing good in the world. Could it possibly be tied in with Harry and Meghan’s questionable intra-personal relationship skills. Family fracas aside, there has been no shortage of drama amongst the hired Sussex Squad through the last few years.
Even before breaking off from the British Royal family in January 2020, the Sussex’s business plan and management style was already starting to show cracks. The Daily Mail makes note of at least eight staff members with major roles who resigned or disappeared before the anointed ones made like the Mayflower and headed stateside. Many, if not all, of their most important hires to Archewell Productions have left; some for new opportunities and some, like Rebecca Sananes head of audio at Archewell, well …. just for a bit of peace it would seem. The Sussexes, and Meghan in particular have strenuously denied accusations of bullying.
Since then the multi-million dollar deals have either fallen apart as we saw with the Spotify deal, or appear to be hanging on by a finger nail, such is the case with the Netflix deal. The accusations, recriminations and behind the hand snickering have been going on for quite some time. From Bill Simmons of Spotify who called the Sussexes “Grifters” to Jeremy Zimmer, chief executive of United Talent agency who said “Meghan Markle was not a great audio talent, or necessarily any kind of talent”. Not to mention the excoriating South Park episode and countless comedic sideswipes.
What makes it so hard for hapless duo to hold onto good staff? And not just good staff; but energetic young people with prestige and pedigree, well qualified to successfully navigate this new world of insta-warrior, humanitarian-entrepreneur, service-orientated, financially profitable, politically elevated, salad speaking, wanna-be eco-warriors. It would seem that what we have is two very difficult, awkward people. Unfortunate and much maligned no doubt, but the reasonable conclusion would seem to be that these are two individuals incapable of building and sustaining successful, longstanding, professional relationships. To paraphrase Lady Bracknell, to lose one member of staff, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose so many looks like downright carelessness!
But who knows, the save Sussexes could prove us all wrong if they manage to make this a winning year for themselves and Netflix. News abounds this week that there are many projects in the works. Can Harry and Meghan get out of their own way and let their talented team do their thing? Time will tell.
