Spotify exec calls Harry and Meghan ‘grifters’ after podcast deal comes to early end

Spotify enforcement Bill Simmons described Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, arsenic "grifters" aft the couple's concern with the streaming level came to a seemingly premature extremity Friday.

The concern with Harry and Meghan's accumulation institution Archewell Audio, archetypal announced successful Dec. 2020, was primitively described by Spotify arsenic a "multiyear partnership," with the promise of delivering "podcasts that volition inspire." 

However, the collaborative efforts person resulted successful conscionable one, 12-episode bid of the podcast "Archetypes," which saw Meghan interrogation notable guests, including Serena Williams and Mariah Carey.

The woody was wide reported astatine the clip to beryllium worthy astir $20 million. 

"Spotify and Archewell Audio person mutually agreed to portion ways and are arrogant of the bid we made together," Spotify and Archewell Audio said successful a associated statement.

This isn't the archetypal clip that Bill Simmons, Spotify's caput of podcast innovation and monetization, has made disparaging remarks astir the erstwhile moving royals, having antecedently said that helium was "embarrassed" to stock the Spotify level with Harry.

"Shoot this feline to the sun, I'm truthful bushed of this guy," Simmons said connected his self-titled podcast successful January.

Simmons has antecedently landed successful blistery h2o for voicing arguable views, including successful 2014 erstwhile helium was suspended by ESPN implicit comments that helium made astir a home unit case.

Spotify declined to respond to Simmons' remarks erstwhile contacted by CNBC. Archewell Audio did not instantly respond to CNBC's petition for comment.