On April 27th, 2023, it was announced that Meghan Markle had signed with WME (William Morris Endeavor).
Recently, speculation has resurfaced regarding her status with the agency, coinciding with the announcement on April 25th, 2024, that Archewell, the foundation founded by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, had hired two new PR professionals. Reports indicate that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have expanded their communications team with these new appointments: Charlie Gibson, previously an associate client director at Edelman, and Kyle Boia, formerly a corporate communications manager at United Talent Agency. Both individuals will report to Ashley Hansen, who serves as the couple's global press secretary.
These appointments aim to fill the void left by Miranda Barbot, who transitioned from her role as Director of Global Communications at Archewell to the position of Vice President of Programs and Media Operations. Gibson, based in the UK, assumes the role of Director of Communications and will serve as the couple's primary press contact in Europe. With over 15 years of experience in consumer PR and brand management, Gibson's career includes a decade at agencies such as Splendid Communications, Light Brigade PR, and Edelman.
Boia, stationed in Los Angeles, takes on the role of Deputy Press Secretary and Director of Communications for US media at Archewell. He joins from United Talent Agency, where he began as an assistant to the Vice President of Corporate Communications in 2018. Prior to that, he worked at the Las Vegas-based agency Kirvin Doak Communications for three years. Notably, Boia and Hansen previously collaborated within the corporate communications team at United Talent Agency between 2019 and 2021.
Earlier this year, numerous reports suggested that Meghan Markle had been dropped by William Morris Endeavor. Social media was abuzz with speculation as many noticed that Meghan's name was no longer listed on the talent agency's official website. However, her profile still appears on the Harry Walker Agency's website, the agency that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed with in 2020, which specializes in speaking engagements. Royal expert Angela Levin also pointed out Meghan's absence from the WME site, speculating that she might have been quietly dropped.
One fan fueled the speculation with a tweet that read, "Has WME really dropped Meghan Markle? She's nowhere to be found on their website, and there are several references to them dropping her on Quora and Reddit. If WME quietly dropped her, how would we even know? They certainly haven't made any money from representing her. Is she paying them? I truly believe that they've quietly dropped her, and an announcement is forthcoming." Another fan speculated that it could have happened months ago, while others expressed hope that the speculation was true. One fan wrote, "I hope they've dropped her as she needs a reality check," and another added, "She surely has to be the biggest flop they've ever had on their books."
Rumors have also swirled regarding alleged tensions between Meghan Markle and WME CEO Ari Emanuel, stemming from purported dissatisfaction over the agency's failure to secure significant deals during her contract. Speculation suggests that Meghan may have expressed frustration with the lack of substantial opportunities or projects brokered on her behalf by WME. Reports indicate that there might have been heated battles between Meghan and the WME CEO. According to several sources, Meghan has been struggling to rebuild her acting career since her departure from the royal family in 2020.
Earlier reports suggested that she lost a potential lucrative contract to "The Crown's" actress Emma Corrin as a result of her intensifying rift with senior members of the royal family. Several royal experts believe that Meghan is trying her best to secure lucrative deals; however, her alleged involvement in creating controversies against the royal family has made her efforts futile.
