Meghan Markle risks being “seen as the enemy of staffers who are fleeing because of the devastating environment” in her U.S. operation, a PR expert told Newsweek.
The Hollywood Reporter quoted an unnamed current senior staffer suggesting the duchess is like a “dictator in high heels” who belittles people, while Prince Harry was presented as charming but an enabler.
Meghan’s team mounted a counter attack in Us Weekly, with staff members going on the record to defend her, and some describing past memories of a warm supportive relationship.
And it all comes on the back of longstanding allegations that Meghan bullied two PAs out of Kensington Palace in 2018, which she has long denied.
Meghan Markle arrives at the Ripple Awards Gala at the New York Hilton, in New York City, on December 6, 2022. She was accused of terrifying staff.
Gotham/GC Images
Eric Schiffer, chair of Reputation Management Consultants, told Newsweek the saga would be damaging to Meghan despite the counter narrative.
“Meghan’s challenges are immense because this now is a pattern of behavior outside of Britain that calls into question a level of horrible incompetence in leadership,” he said.
“She is now seen as the enemy of staffers who are fleeing because of the devastating environment. None of which is good for Meghan when she is still recovering from the reputational damage from across the pond.
“These are current allegations. What it says is that she’s either painfully deluded about her own behavior or there’s a series of people who are choosing to lie to reporters which doesn’t seem to ring as true.
“This scandalabra she’s facing is not just a smoking crater on her reputation but now begins to draw into question her judgement and her ability to control herself and her behavior.”
The Hollywood Reporter‘s editor told Access Hollywood that the magazine had spoken to 12 employees, and that one of them was a current senior staffer.
The source blamed Meghan’s behavior for a high turnover, or “churn,” rate at Archewell and the article referenced a number of employees by name.
Some of those contributed quotes to the Us Weekly fight back story, though the most significant contributions came from the couple’s current press secretary, Ashley Hansen, and former Archewell president Mandana Dayani.
“The Hollywood Reporter has great credibility and authority in reporting accurately the inner workings and behind the scenes truth of many of the most prominent people within entertainment,” Schiffer said.
“And their reporting is relied upon and looked to as a credible source of reliable information both by leaders within the industry, but also other respected media organizations.
“Meghan’s pushback is text book crisis management where she will leverage staffers that may have a different perspective or loyalty to her.
“That will allow her to reshape the narrative somewhat versus just one side where there’s no pushback.
“Either way, having a second set of allegations outside of Britain where there’s now a pattern is like the plague for her where she’s trying to show none of the original allegations were true.
“Patterns begin to then create questions that go to character and that is dangerous at a time when she is trying to ensure her personal brand—and together as a couple—is one that could be looked at in an elevated fashion.”
Dayani told Us: “Some of my favorite memories were during our weekly meetings in their Montecito home, where Meghan always served the most incredible lunches, snacks and her latest beautiful concoction.”
Hansen added: “When I told them [about having surgery], I was met with the kind of concern and care a parent would express if it were their own child.
“I was asked what I needed, how and if they could help, and told to take as much time as I needed.”
“Most profoundly to me,” she added, “Meghan would personally reach out to my husband daily to make sure that we both were OK and had support.”
Jack Royston is Newsweek‘s chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
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