Meghan Markle’s ex-staffer calls her ‘cold and withholding’ at work days after disaster tourist tag

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former colleagues of Meghan Markle have spoken out about her leadership approach, painting contrasting pictures of her behavior behind the scenes.

An unnamed staffer, who worked with the Duchess of Sussex on media projects, described her as “cold and withholding” when things did not go as planned, per Page Six.

It is certainly not a good week for the duchess or her husband Prince Harry as the media and public opinion about them have become increasingly negative. The royal couple recently was seen meeting people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires but this was branded as a photo op by critics.

The couple was also mocked as "disaster tourists".

Meghan Markle accused of creating challenging workplace environment

According to the ex-staffer, Meghan Markle's workplace demeanor was “really awful, very painful,” as reported in a Vanity Fair expose.

“Because she’s constantly playing checkers, I’m not even going to say chess but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment," they added.

The staffer alleged that Markle, 43, would initially display warmth and enthusiasm toward new employees but quickly turn distant if demands made by her or Prince Harry weren’t met.

The worker recalled a specific incident when a teaser for Markle’s now-defunct Spotify podcast, 'Archetypes', was released in March 2022, five months before the actual show would premiere and there were no promotional clips to promote. Spotify ultimately ended its deal with the Sussexes in June 2023.

Staff members working on media projects accused Markle of “undermining” her co-workers. “It’s talking behind your back. It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, ‘Mean Girls’ teenager,” the source alleged.

Earlier, the duchess faced accusations of being a “dictator in high heels” and bullying palace staff, but her supporters argued these claims were often exaggerated, particularly after the controversy of “Megxit".

A source revealed to The Hollywood Reporter at the time, "She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice. They’re both poor decision-makers, they change their minds frequently. Harry is a very, very charming person - no airs at all - but he’s very much an enabler. And she’s just terrible.”

In an interview with the Daily Beast, ex-staffers shared conflicting perspectives, shedding light on both the positive and negative aspects of their interactions with the royal couple.

One insider claimed, “If you were working for her, you were often treated like a tradesman who could be treated like s**t."

Another described Meghan as “a classic narcissist,” alleging that she only behaved kindly when circumstances were in her favor. “She is lovely when it is all going her way, but a demon when the worm turns,” the source added.

Despite the criticism, some collaborators have stepped forward to defend Markle. Producer Jane Marie, who worked with her on Archewell projects, called her “a lovely, genuine person".

Similarly, Prince Harry praised his wife in his memoir, 'Spare', as a considerate leader who showed care for her staff by sending thoughtful gestures like food baskets or flowers.

Meghan Markle staffers sought therapy after working with her 

That is not all, the Vanity Fair article on Meghan Markle has detailed how one employee who worked on the 'Archetypes' podcast underwent long-term therapy after working with the duchess.

Several others took lengthy breaks from work to escape her scrutiny before ending up leaving the job for good.  A person who knew her professionally claimed: "I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better."

In a startling case, one person refused to believe media reports about Markle "bullying" palace aides but changed their mind after working with her. The person said, "Oh, any given Tuesday this happened."

Another person who interacted with her through work said: "You can be yelled at even if somebody doesn't raise their voice."

Meghan Markle's 'awful' workplace behavior sparks outrage

After Meghan Markle was called out by a former colleague for her "awful" workplace behavior, social media users voiced their opinions.

One user wrote, "A nightmare to work for," while another shared an anecdote, "I heard she's very hard to work for. She fired one of her housekeepers for not moving a heavy pot and cleaning under it. As she handed her her final paycheck, she said 'I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt'."

A comment read, "She's controlling", while one user added, "Lots of people who are super friendly in public tend to be fake and mean behind doors."

Another wrote, "No surprise. She comes off as a pain!"

Someone else wrote, "She's a horrible person."

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