The Meghan Markle drama train has once again left the station—and this time, it’s a high-speed express with no brakes in sight.
According to a bombshell Vanity Fair exposé, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has earned herself a less-than-flattering new title: “Queen of Mean.” The revelations come courtesy of a former staffer who worked closely with Meghan on her now-defunct Spotify podcast, and the tea they spilled is not just hot—it’s positively scalding.
Working with the Duchess of Sussex, or as some insiders have dubbed her, the Duchess of Deflection, reportedly felt like surviving a reboot of Mean Girls—only set in middle age and far less “fetch.” It has been five years since Meghan and Prince Harry famously stepped back from their royal duties, but their professional ventures remain under the spotlight. And according to multiple sources, the workplace environment they cultivated was anything but serene. Meghan, described initially as “sweet as pie,” full of warmth, compliments, and encouragement, apparently turned ice-cold the moment things didn’t go her way. One insider likened her sudden shift in demeanor to “flipping a switch,” stating that she would grow distant, calculating, and, as they dramatically put it, start playing metaphorical checkers—though not chess. “We’re not giving her that much credit,” they added with biting sarcasm.
The toll of working on Meghan’s podcast was reportedly so severe that one unfortunate staffer claimed their experience was “really, really, really awful”—emphasizing the point with not one, but three “reallys.” The same individual accused the Duchess of being both manipulative and quick to throw colleagues under the bus. “Imagine being just a pawn on her game board,” they quipped. “Once you’re no longer useful? Straight to the wolves.”
This wasn’t an isolated complaint, either. Another source shared that Meghan’s energy could be so intense that it felt like being yelled at—without her voice ever actually rising. “It’s a skill,” the insider remarked. “Imagine feeling scolded without a single shout.” While that might sound impressive in theory, in practice, it was anything but pleasant. The hostile atmosphere drove at least one team member to quit after only three episodes of Meghan’s Spotify podcast, citing the need for a leave of absence to recover. Others, according to reports, took extended breaks or left their jobs entirely, a testament to just how emotionally draining the experience was.
Therapy after working on a podcast? Critics have likened the experience to a live-action reenactment of The Devil Wears Prada—but without the cinematic glamour. To add another layer of intrigue, Vanity Fair alleges that some staffers were required to sign strict nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) just to survive the so-called Markle Circus. Nevertheless, a handful of brave souls broke their silence, risking potential legal repercussions from a couple known for their litigious tendencies. “Heroes, absolute heroes,” one commentator proclaimed, marveling at the courage it took to speak out.
As the revelations pile up, many are left wondering: What about that infamous palace bullying report? It remains sealed, despite public interest in the findings. Isn’t it time to release the receipts? If nothing else, Vanity Fair has opened the floodgates, and the internet shows no signs of letting this saga die down quietly.
Some have pointed out that Meghan’s “grifter era” may be nearing its inevitable conclusion. For years, her reputation has been one of chaos and controversy, from allegedly alienating Harry’s long-time friends to accusations of mistreating palace staff. The exposé even references bizarre stories like her supposedly gluing a college student’s eyelids shut—an anecdote that may well be apocryphal but speaks volumes about how far her reputation for cruelty has spread.
The pièce de résistance of the Vanity Fair article? Meghan isn’t portrayed as cunning or brilliant—just cruel. “She’s playing checkers while Harry is stuck on Snakes and Ladders,” the piece declares. And as for her newfound notoriety as a middle-aged bully, one source didn’t mince words: “It’s giving villain arc.” For those who endured her reign, the emotional toll was staggering. Some staff members reportedly quit not just her projects but entire companies to escape her influence, describing her presence as a “gravitational pull of negativity.” If emotional vampires exist, Meghan’s critics would say she fits the bill.
The internet is now demanding answers—and receipts. Will the palace bullying report ever see the light of day? Vanity Fair has ignited a firestorm, and the world is watching. Until then, Meghan might want to stick to checkers—because she’s clearly not ready for chess.
