Harry and Megan dubbed "fucking grifters" by Spotify exec and podcaster

[Qbish]

No great surprise there... Would love to hear his story about Zooming Prince Harry, I can only imagine his frustration with the whining ninny!

Leading Spotify figure lashes out at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after end of podcast deal | The Independent

Absolutely I think when you have the $ and staff to be polite and kind, you should do it at every opportunity.

A person like this has infinite correspondence going out the door that was written in their own voice and looks like it bears their signature.

But if you find manners to be quaint and something to shed the more famous you become, I’m sure you are in good company.

Eh?

So many names that I don’t recognize this morning. So many who clearly don’t recognize mine.

What? Why would people recognise your name or you want to know others. Isn’t there millions on here?

I’d guess that’s the problem, Meghan probably spent her time writing notes and designing the website logo rather than getting stuff that mattered done

(rather like Elizabeth Holmes who spent
more time worrying about the box than what was inside it)

I view a handwritten note to someone you don’t know as just an attempt to put them under an obligation to respond. And they should be under no more obligation to respond to you than they would if you’d communicated in a more usual manner. It’s (mild) manipulation.

It annoys me in the same way I get annoyed when I get cold all marketing emails that start “ Hi Serenster, how are you doing? Let me tell you about our fab new offering…”. You don’t know me, and your behavioural economic tactics to get my attention and try and get me to feel obligated to respond aren’t going to fly.

Yeah, that’s a distinct possibility.

And I’m sure given the subject, “shitty things people have called you”, it was never going to be a big draw for anyone who have a long career still ahead and a reputation to fiercely protect. Think about it; Mariah Carey is slowing down and thinks Diva is a compliment. Serena is retired.

I am again wondering why they/she kept the topic so narrow. Wouldn’t you realize you’d run out of steam quickly? It’s marketing 101.

I never thought of it like that… I guess, it’s a bit like getting their number and calling them to put them on the spot. I don’t know. I guess my overriding sense is that it would have been good manners to respond personally (even if having someone else write it for you and you sign it).

Maybe. But asking any other way would be weird, no? Via email? Via staff?

I view a handwritten note to someone you don’t know as just an attempt to put them under an obligation to respond. And they should be under no more obligation to respond to you than they would if you’d communicated in a more usual manner. It’s (mild) manipulation.

I agree with this. It would be a different thing all together if it were a written request to a close friend or acquaintance.

I do think though that if you receive a generous gift, there should be some sort of effort made with regards to a thank you note. Even if it is just a signature on a typed note. No one is that busy.

A thank you note from a staff member doesn’t cut it.

God knows how many requests someone like Taylor Swift receives. Its just more 'I'm a Princess look how important I am' to expect a personal response from someone incredibly famous that she doesn't actually know. I suspect a lot of requests don't get answered at all.

And Meghan had been cold calling senators already about the working mothers bill. I do remember some of them were pissed off that their personal numbers had been passed to her.

Stars have agents for a reason. All requests go through them. It makes it easier when sitting in a restaurant and someone random
person hands you a script. The star can say, send it to my agent. Again the agent (of the successful star) will review the request and suggest if it’s a good or bad idea

Interesting how people see communication in different lights.

I thought the cold calls to Senators private lines were really rude. In that case would have called the office myself and asked if we could schedule a call.

Thinking about it more, I’d be surprised that a handwritten note got to the right place in a timely manner with TS or anyone else with that many fans.

I suspect she was trying to start a personal connection, and thought this would kick start it, Ie Taylor might also write back

the reality is Taylor is a huge star, she’s the Madonna of today, she will get literally hundreds of requests from acrosss the globe weekly, and I’m sure many hand written, Taylor didn’t owe anything to Meghan, and Meghan is just a b /c list actress that married into royalty and is now trying to make as many a list connections as possible for personal gain.

Taylor was quite right in not responding personally and just treating it like any other interview request. I’m also absolutely positive her camp didn’t leak it as she’d not wish to be drawn into this fiasco

If the award winning, no 1 (for about 10 minutes) podcast was such a success, why have Spotify dumped it?! There's no smear in reporting facts.

As for the dreadful Piers Morgan, that is the level of celebrity that H&M find themselves at now, ironically.

I’m also absolutely positive her camp didn’t leak it as she’d not wish to be drawn into this fiasco

Yes - Taylor “I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative” Swift is very unlikely to willingly put herself into the middle of this.

Agree but wasn’t the bicycle, an unsolicited gift, just an attempt to make a connection and force a reply?

I thoroughly agree that Meghan liked the idea of a podcast, and all their other visible activities. Outfit planning, choosing “the look” - hair and make-up etc etc - but actually grafting for hours at something - no, no time for that.

The Invictus Games doc has had to be heavily edited as there was too much Meghan, apparently. It is now more about the participants and not a fashion showcase. There was considerable argy-bargy over Meghan charging her wardrobe to Netflix.

Yeah but I mean they accepted the present, they didn’t return it or donate it or anything.

I think the Sussex’s should quit Hollywood and move to Canada. I think they’d be far happier

? why the belief that they are unhappy?

How would we know?

They seem happy enough to me. And I know as much as anyone here - in regards to their happiness level.

“If the award winning, no 1 (for about 10 minutes) podcast was such a success, why have Spotify dumped it?! There's no smear in reporting facts.”

I’m surely someone is furiously working on figuring this out now. Racism? Royal Family paid them? Murdoch Connections? Jealousy?

I think they should have sent it back or donated it and then sent a real thank you note.

Not because it was owed, though.

@AliceOlive

Its probably the illuminati seeking revenge on behalf of Prince Phillip 😜 🤣

She does

I mean, I don't know how she spends her time and what is at the "expense" of other activities,. But she said herself (on The Tig, and it's been reported elsewhere too) that one of her skills is calligraphy - was even a side hustle whilst she was a less successful actor (pre-Suits).

She probably knocks out quite a lot of stuff by hand, and it'll be beautifully presented. Which sometimes will stand out in the mass of Stuff that flows in to offices, but (as with the example that's doing the rounds now) sometimes won't.

For him or on him? We will never know.

Agree but wasn’t the bicycle, an unsolicited gift, just an attempt to make a connection and force a reply?

It may well have been an attempt to make a connection. It may have been an attempt for publicity. It may just have been an unsolicited gift.

The latter though should have been done without fanfare and the thank you note kept private but maybe that is just me.

An unsolicited gift is still a gift though. Which they chose to accept/keep.

That deserves a thank you note from them. Not staff.