In the past, Bill Simmons, Spotify’s former head of podcast innovation and monetization, publicly criticized the couple, calling them “grifters.”
“I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation. The Fucking Grifters, that’s the podcast we should have launched with them,” he said on his podcast.
“I have got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It’s one of my best stories … Fuck them. The grifters.”
The label has reportedly followed the couple since. Royal commentator Lee Cohen later noted: “It all started to change through so many factors, and then you have executives in Hollywood calling them… ‘expletive’ grifters.”
“Now that (was) just broadcast everywhere, and social media created hashtags calling them ‘Harry and Meghan are grifters’ – what a terrible label to have,” he added.
A Divisive Public Image
The Sydney retreat — and the added costs tied to it — has once again highlighted the mixed public perception surrounding Harry and Meghan. While some supporters see their events as empowering and meaningful, others view them as overly commercialized.
As their Australia visit continues, the couple remains firmly in the spotlight, balancing philanthropy, business, and public scrutiny in equal measure.
