The recent launch of Meghan Markle’s “Confessions of a Female Founder” podcast has failed to capture the public’s attention. At least, that’s how it seems when compared to her previous project “Archetypes”.
The new podcast of Prince Harry’s wife, has been ranked No. 10 on Spotify’s Top Podcasts list in the United States, a far cry from the first place “Archetypes” got in 2022.
Meghan Markle’s podcast ranks #10 on Spotify charts
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, premiered the first episode last week with her friend Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of dating app Bumble. However, the viewing figures have been disappointing and the reviews devastating.
“I was seized by an urge to beat my head against the wall,” wrote Times of London columnist James Marriott in his one-star review titled “Meghan’s vapid lessons in self-love.”
The critic trashed the content of the program, reflecting a general trend among the specialized media.
The reception from other critics was no better. Chris Bennion of the Telegraph gave the podcast two stars, describing it as a program with “inane stream of mindless aphorisms” where there are “no confessions or secrets”.
The Guardian also gave it two stars, calling the interviews “sycophantic interview podcast is stomach-turning”.
The content has come under fire for Markle’s tendency to avoid difficult questions and redirect conversations to her own experiences, several critics note.
This negative perception comes on top of her recent of her Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” which was also heavily criticized after its premiere in early March.
Markle’s previous project, “Archetypes,” briefly enjoyed the top spot on the charts before the Duchess ended her relationship with Spotify in 2023 following a deal valued at $20 million.
The breakup prompted scathing comments from Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of global sports strategy, who called the former royals “f-king grifters” and “lazy.”