In the Wall Street Journal’s article about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last weekend, WSJ buried an interesting detail in their negative, tabloid-like assessment of the Sussexes’ “flop.” WSJ noted that “News Corp’s Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, has a content partnership with Spotify’s Gimlet Media unit.” The same Gimlet Media unit which worked alongside the Archewell Audio team. Thus, it was the Gimlet team leaking all of that weird sh-t about the Sussexes, and the far-reaching empire of Rupert Murdoch was eager to disseminate every negative story about the Sussexes.
Speaking of, we now know that Murdoch’s empire has a connection to UTA – the Wall Street Journal is represented by UTA, and UTA’s CEO Jeremy Zimmer decided it was a good look to say, at Cannes Lions last week, that Meghan is talentless. The ol’ UTA-WSJ-Murdoch-Dow Jones-Gimlet connection, all working in concert to smear, insult and lie about the Sussexes. Well, as it turns out, Zimmer’s comments are being seen within the industry as incredibly unprofessional. Which is true – I’ve been shocked by the lack of professionalism across the board, not just with UTA’s CEO, but with Spotify saying nothing as their executive publicly trashed the Sussexes.
Pearls were clutched all over Hollywood on Monday in the wake of an unlikely press beef – United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. On a media spree at the Cannes Lions for the past week, Zimmer was asked about the recent meltdown of a $20 million multi-year deal Meghan and husband Prince Harry signed with Spotify in 2020. The pact produced a single series, “Archetypes,” which was not renewed. The termination of the deal was announced June 15.
“Turns out Meghan Markle was not a great audio talent, or necessarily any kind of talent,” Zimmer told Semafor at the marketing festival in the South of France. “And, you know, just because you’re famous doesn’t make you great at something.”
His comments were “mind-blowing,” according to one A-list talent manager who asked to remain anonymous. “As an agent, you never publicly discuss your own talent or anyone else’s.”
A top agent from a UTA competitor called Zimmer’s quote “a shocking display of bad taste. Who wants to sign with someone who trashes people like that in public?”
Indeed, the polished suits of the representation business treat their roles behind the scenes as virtue — so rarely stepping out in front that it’s a shock when they offer on-the-record defenses (as CAA’s Bryan Lourd did for his client Scarlett Johansson during her battle with Disney) or speak broadly about larger issues like discrimination (Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel’s decrying of Kanye West’s antisemitism in 2022).
Zimmer’s Markle diss boiled over Monday afternoon, when the New York Post reported that the agency had pursued the formal senior royals as potential clients when they first moved to Los Angeles (an individual familiar with UTA said no meetings were ever scheduled or held with the Sussexes). In April, Meghan landed at a major talent house, signing with WME.
The Zimmer insider added that the CEO fielded relentless questions about Meghan and Spotify the day of his Semafor interview, as a lengthy Wall Street Journal piece about the Sussexes made its way around the world.
Taking the Sussexes out of the equation, another top dealmaker said “I don’t care who it is, decorum is decorum. I feel for the staff.” Variety spoke with three UTA agents on Monday, who declined to be named in this piece but admitted they were “embarrassed.”
“…A shocking display of bad taste. Who wants to sign with someone who trashes people like that in public?” Exactly. Not only did Zimmer trash Meghan, he ONLY trashed Meghan. Not Harry. He trashed the woman who actually produced a very popular podcast, a podcast which won awards. There’s something about Meghan – gee, I wonder what?? – which makes so many of these white men lose their f–king grip on reality. Not only that, Zimmer’s comments look like sour grapes, given that UTA was trying to sign the Sussexes.
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What’s the saying — if you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing. Why is it so hard for people to not go cuckoo banana over Meghan all the time? Just leave her be.
This clown damages UTA’s reputation with his foolishness.
Yup. If you were famous, why would you want to sign with a guy and an agency who might bad mouth you in the future? No thank you!
The WSJ is a Murdoch newspaper and they are represented by UTA. The comments make total sense now. My guess UTA would have leaked on MEg had she chosen UTA
Seems like it was a setup and Meghan did her research and sidestepped the trap.
Meghan brings out the sour grapes in everyone even top CEOs.
She challenges the status quo. She has every entitled white CEO on edge, because HOW DARE SHE.
You are so right. I give her so much credit for staying strong against these as$holes. The royal family, the british press, it is non-stop; now the rumors are their marriage is crumbling. To maintain her grace and keep going forward takes a special resilience. She is about service and making the world a little bit better. Team meghan.
Lemme guess. Will the next statement that comes out will be he was misquoted or it was taken out of context??? The way this black woman triggers these white men is astounding.
He won’t until his agents walk. When your CEO shows this lack of insight it makes your talent question if you as an agent, are actually a good agent. They will be losing a lot of clients and agents bc of this. Apologies don’t go far in the entertainment industry inside. Once you’re branded as a problem, and do so publicly, people avoid you like the plague. Producers will he hesitant to work with your talent bc what if the lead turned down your agencys representation, will your CEO start trashing the project? This isn’t going to go away in the industry
100%
I LOVE that he is getting heat for this. He opened his mouth when he shouldn’t have, and now he’s getting blasted for it.
These people really need to learn how to say “I don’t know her.” Bashing her gets these men nowhere so I’m not sure why they keep doing it. Yes, headlines; yes, it gets them attention. But does the CEO of UTA need headlines or attention? This just makes him look bad to an entire industry. And I mean he said it, so he should look bad to that industry. I just don’t get why people can’t keep her name out of their mouths.
That pale-stale-male was just doing his murdoch arse-licking duties.
“Pale-stale-male”…I’m dyin’ Kingston! LOL for days!
Lol’ing at pale-stale-male
there are so many people wasting and blowing money in hollywood. how much money was WASTED on quibi (reese witherspoon was heavily involved in that and didn’t get any slack), and a million other things, yet somehow meghan is ALWAYS top of mind for people?
murdoch and other things aside – truly people are so weirdly obsessed with her.
Murdoch still wields a ton of power in the media snakepit. This is just petty revenge for Harry and Meghan’s legal actions against the tabloid scum mixed in with a hefty dose of racism.
Totally agree that I am disgusted at his total unprofessionalism at dissing someone like this AND only Meghan! Fed up with the batsh!t level of crazy and insane coverage of Meg in UK for YEARS, without the current bashing ongoing on from CRUSTY dudes!!
Never forget, Lady Digby, that all paths lead back to Murdoch and his fear of the lawsuits. He lost close to a billion dollars to the voting machines fiasco. Couldn’t have happened to a better target. This is also about blaming Meghan because Murdoch can’t, legally I believe, say anything about Harry.
Old white men with money are so afraid of losing their power and will do just about anything to cover their bony white asses.
Cue the exit of agents and talent from UTA.
Old viagra enhanced bitter white men can’t handle rejection.
@seaflower, agreed, wonder how the idiot feels today in his glass house?? Guess we will see a tide of talent looking for a new home
@mary pester exactly – although I expect some agents will jump as well.
Exactly! The viagra stopped working and he’s pissed off.
The Spotify exec and UTA guy are unprofessional and giving jealous dumped boyfriend vibes. They should both be fired imo.
Yes!!! It’s so creepy they are totally crossing the line to rejected ex-bf with a guitar outside the window vibe!!! So uncomfortable
I know the CEO’s comments are obviously racist, but can we talk about how this also screams of sexism?! I work in a previously male-dominated field, and if I bluntly argue with, correct, or turn down some of my select older male colleagues, the patriarchal vitriol they have for me is honestly amazing. Their dislike for me goes far beyond what they show for any of their male colleagues. They love to call me talentless, dumb, etc etc. but “really nice.” They also go out of their way to say and do nasty things, like actually telling undergraduate students that I am dumb and don’t publish enough. I honestly assume that my presence undermines some of their sexist assumptions—that a woman could outsmart them or simply not want to work with them or coddle them? It’s honestly bizarre.
Hellodolly- I feel This so hard. This is my work experience and it’s exhausting. Something about a woman existing in a space that used to be only for men sends them sideways.
I know this sounds so cliche and maybe I am projecting, but I am going to say it anyway: your work environment does not define your success, and you are better than the clowns that make you feel uncomfortable and unwelcome, Crowhood! I’ve had a few unsavory situations but have to stay in my job because there are so few jobs available. This has forced me to reflect and change my work attitude. I wanted to work in a caring, empathic community and be really involved, but that is not my department. I have gotten over the hurt and am focusing on just doing my own thing and living my best life! I still participate and show up, but I am establishing work boundaries and doing fun creative projects. I am also trying to join leadership elsewhere, like in national orgs and communities. I like to go where I am appreciated.
HelloDolly! I admire you so much for remaining in such a difficult work situation. I hope you either end up as the misogynistic bastards’ superior some day (although you are already superior to them in every way), or record every instance where they criticize and belittle you and sue the company’s ass off for the incredibly unprofessional work environment. You must frighten those men. As another commenter said above, How Dare You?
OMG, Giddy, such a sweet response! Thanks for the support. It’s funny you mention documenting behavior—one of the men tried to get me in trouble every step of the way during a faculty hire because I corrected him multiple times for sexism. He tried to complain about me to the chair, etc etc. But I did nothing wrong! I literally can’t get in trouble for saying “pay the untenured faculty her stipend that you have withheld” or “don’t overquestion the feminine-presenting candidates, that’s enough.” LOL.
Being blunt & arguing with men in the workplace got me a formal letter of reprimand. I kid you not. I eventually found a different job in a different place, but dang! That was hard going for a while. @HelloDolly! That’s the route I’ve taken. Finding what I enjoy about my work & pursuing that, even if it’s outside my actual work setting.
@HelloDolly — I once sued my boss, the SVP of HR for a big media company. He was always bloviating about a workplace free of sexism, misogyny, equal pay for equal work, blah blah blah, and yet he sent around a vulgar, sexually demeaning email to all his work buddies pretending to be me. I won’t go into the details but it was bad. I won a good chunk of change and never looked back. I was scared witless at the time but it felt like a David and Goliath moment when the company settled with me. Hopefully you’ll be able to see your way through the toxic male workplace environment and end up in a job you truly enjoy where can utilize your great talents.
@Hellodolly this was my reaction yesterday as well. While this is truly yet another sh*tty thing to happen to Meghan I feel like this crap happens to women at work all the damn time.! I also work in a male dominated field and there are male clowns who fail over and over again and still have the gall to run their mouths against women far more accomplished than they are. And I mean measurable, revenue positive accomplishments. I once sat in a meeting with a bunch of men who were deciding who they felt could be moved to the next level in management and they all started critiquing a woman who ran circles around them. I finally was able to shut it down by saying “Tell me guys, do you want her on our team or do you want to be competing against her at a competitor? Because we all know who will win that gunfight” That shut it down cold. Almost all of them had gotten their positions because they were college buddies of the guy in charge.
Chef’s kiss.
Is this also Murdoch trying to show Harry that he can still attack his wife and using this to try an intimidate Harry? The fact that they’re only targeting her is clearly a big part plain racism and misogyny but I also wonder if there’s a bigger play at work. Threaten one of the people Harry cares about the. most and try and put an even bigger target on her back.
This is an excellent point and I think it is a larger part of it than we may even realize.
This seems like a huge component in these weird stories. Reading the tea leaves, I think Harry’s cases against the media are spooking Murdoch, so he’s using proxies to lash out at Meghan in order to hurt Harry.
These guys are being asked to choose between their reputations & their loyalty to Murdoch.
Sarah, excellent point on how Murdoch can use his media empire to threaten people.
Lizzie, I can buy that Murdoch is forcing people to kiss the ring.
Kaiser, excellent article showing how the WSJ, Gimlet, ”Meghan and not Harry”, and UTA all interconnect. I love learning the nuts and bolts about how this works!
The beef with WME is very deep. I read the backstory from a New York Times piece and it is personal beef between Emanuel and Zimmer. Unfortunately for Zimmer, this will probably ignite the flame within Emanuel for Meghan because of this slam. Also, the outburst from Zimmer will have long term effects for UTA. He has placed his talents in an untenable position
The Gods were looking out for Meghan because with UTAs relationship with WSJ a Murdoch enterprise, Meghan dodged a bullet. I can not imagine the backstabbing and tomfoolery which would have occurred for her with the leaking of future projects to the gutter press if she has signed with UTA.
You make an excellent point but I think as everyone always says here, Meghan’s smarts kept her away from UTA. Embarking on a business endeavor like this (signing with an agency) meant that she couldn’t leave *any* stone unturned and she likely knew of the connections. I tip my hat because she keeps proving how smart and capable she is.
The Spotify leaks of the podcast ideas that Harry pitched also smell of leaks to sabotage his future podcast/talk show endeavors. I hope that H&M can become billionaires and better positioned to protect themselves against these malevolent forces so invested in their downfall.
“Pearls were clutched all over Hollywood on Monday in the wake of an unlikely press beef – United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.”
How can it be a “beef” when literally only one side is beefing and the other side made zero response? That is an attack, not a beef. Sloppy journalism.
I thought so, too.
This article failed to point out that Archetypes was NOT a failure and that the guy, in addition to being unprofessional, was WRONG.
UTA’s Zimmer was not only wrong but a slimy barefaced liar to boot.
Recall the WSJ article calling M-H a “flop” had at least three references to unnamed sources using identical terminology, “people familiar,” in each case:
(a) “according to people familiar with the inner-workings of Archewell and Harry and Meghan’s deals”;
(b) “two TV ideas…rejected within the past year, people familiar with Harry and Meghan’s projects said”;
(c) “Both Netflix and Spotify…have been underwhelmed by the lack of productivity by the Sussexes, people familiar with their perspectives say.”
And ppl argue WSJ is the same reputable paper it used to be before Rupert 🙄
While i 100% agree with the WSJ being a retaliatory attack from Murdoch, anonymous sources are a big part of how journalists get their info. Even in this variety piece pushing back against the ETA CEO all the sources here are also anonymous
And Variety writers pointed out the number of people consulted and specified that anonymity was requested. They didn’t just use shortcut “people familiar.” WSJ was better pre-Rupert. Just for grins check out CJR “About Those Anonymice” referring to NYT’s anonymous sourcing policy and its adherence.
I’m just glad there was pushback over his comments in the industry. The full dehumanizing that has happened to MM is just awful. All these people don’t even think twice about insulting her because they don’t even consider her a person anymore. She’s just someone that they can get attention off of. It’s just so disheartening. But at least there was pushback this time.
Agreed. I have never seen anything like what is being done to Meghan in my entire life, and I remember how Diana was treated. This is next level, Meghan is dehumanized publicly, multiple times a day. I have so much respect and admiration for her. I wish I could give her a hug.
Thank God the Sussexes did their due diligence! It now becoming obvious that any entity with a Murdoch association is going to smear Harry & Meghan but mostly Meghan.
Gimlet, UTA, & Zimmer have joined a long line of people willing to tarnish themselves just to insult Meghan for the crime of marrying royalty while Black. Surprising no one the White Prince who is SUING Murdoch & setting up his empire for a hit is treated more kindly.
No wonder Spotify shot down Harry’s idea for a podcast on misinformation. Murdoch group would be exhibit A. Can’t have that pointed out every week now can we? I just can’t believe the outcry from other so called legitimate media isn’t louder. Murdoch group just paid almost a billion dollars to settle a claim about their lying. How can anyone take that corrupt bunch seriously? A fish rots from the head down.
It’s interesting that the fact that Meghan’s podcast received accolades is not mentioned in these pieces criticizing her. Like they anticipate that she and Harry will be the most successful and productive in the field.
Double standards as usual.
It’s not just sexism, it’s not just racism. It is misogynoir, a very specific form of anti- Blackness.
Its an attempt at annihilation, as Dr Safiya Noble explained in the H&M Netflix docu.
The unrelenting attack on M for “dissing” the biggest symbol of white supremacy: – the british royal family – is the alternative to outrightly unaliving her, as would have occurred by now if so many eyes werent focussed on the situation.
For white racists everywhere (NB: lets be clear, this refers to only whites who are racists)
M has become a symbol for venting all their anger, frustration and impotence at the fact that the world is not pre-1960s anymore……i:e the period before all the social-justice wars and the wars for political and economic parity were waged; which was also the period during which nonwhite peoples everywhere needed the ‘permission’ of white racists to exist and have their being in the world.
As the saying goes: ““When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”
White racists everywhere are very very angry at M;
– the foot-soldier plebs are embarrassed and angry at the global diss she gave to the symbol of white supremacy – the BRF;
– the british “churnalists” (as Omid described the rota in his article this morning) are very very angry at H for shining a light on and threatening the continuation of their grift and so to hurt H, they attack M;
– ditto the non-domiciled, power-hungry robber barons who own the britshidtmedia, govt and the royals – murdoch, rothermere, and barclay.
Word, Kingston. Well said.
@Kingston, Every. Damn. Word.
Ye gods the nasty old white men, so afraid of a talented biracial woman,, or is it ANY WOMAN.?
Yes.
As long as the woman is white and plays the same slimy game (i.e. Rebekah Brooks) she gets a pass. A biracial woman who stands up against the mountain of tabloid scum and old white men doesn’t.
These are the type of older white men who would likely say that any competent woman “didn’t know her place.” Meghan, of course, is competent, professional, creative, beautiful, and OMG DID YOU SAY BIRACIAL? *strokes out*
The Gimlet media unit Meghan worked with is probably very different than what’s there now. Spotify cut 30% of the staff at Gimlet and Parcast in early October 2022. According to a joint statement, “These aren’t small cuts, they are massive restructurings…Spotify chose to create chaos instead of treating employees with the dignity and respect they deserve.” The joint statement describes the two studios as “blindsided” by Spotify’s actions. A very interesting and detailed summary of what went on.
So, the staff that are left, who are leaking, are the Spotify aligned people, which (no surprise) calls into question the validity, and motives, of any quoted statements from them about what went on with Meghan and Harry. Also very possibly this is one of the reasons the Sussexes are out of there.
https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/spotify-layoffs-podcast-employees-gimlet-parcast-unions-1235396640/
IMHO, by imposing exclusivity Spotify set up a lot of these podcasts to fail, especially after they didn’t provide support in improving audience size, but started issuing editorial edicts on content. Meanwhile in other news we find Sirius XM will be shutting down competitor Stitcher.
UTA reps Ryan Seacrest, Jessica Alba, and Demi Lovato—all very successful, yet talent-challenged–proving that “talent” is subjective in Hollywood.
Seacrest doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with those women. He is slime.
There will be repercussions. UTA done messed up letting this stay out loud in the ether. Prezzy needs to walk this back or out the door. He will lose important clients—no one wants to align or be seen aligning with someone who will trash talent like that. Especially when talents’ successes ebb and flow. One day you’re on top, the next you’re nobody. You want your reps to stick with you through thick and thin and not trash you when you’re (not even) down!
So it is not a simple case or sour grapes .
It is a co-ordinated attack on Meghan by Murdoch related companies from Spotify, WSJ to UTA.
Press monopoly in the hands of a few is scary.
Lucky it is in the States and there was an immediate pushback from Variety.
Validated points. 👍 thank you.
I’m glad he’s getting his azz handed to him with this backlash. Hwood is a serious and seriously lucrative business, not just for the actors, directors and studio heads, but also for the movers and shakers in the industry. There are certain expectations and this fool broke one of the most important silent but golden rules…
I’m wondering if he was ordered by Murdoch to sign the Sussexes – ie the huge profitability of the many and continuous leaks about their projects plus the control they would have as gatekeepers. His failure to do so might be the reason for the sour grapes and him singing for his supper with these ludicrous remarks. Meghan signing with WME must have been a huge blow.
There had to have been conversations about signing Meghan. Zimmerman lost out and revealed himself to be a Murdoch stooge. So what else has he done that would be embarrassing for UTA/clients? No way this is his first time being an idiot.
Just want to add something that has nothing to do with Meghan and everything to do with the rivalry between CEOs in Hollywood: that Zimmer gives off grasping, SDE – like Donald Trump. Ari Emmanuel and his brother? BDE all day long. The Emmanuels, like them or not, are handsome, confident, and tough. That alone could upset a weirdo like Zimmer. And this kind of stuff that they say does not matter always matters in competitions between men in power. Look at Musk and Zuck, who are planning to have an actual physical fight. Musk is feeling himself with his Ozempic weight loss, so what does he do? Challenge his main rival.
Idiots…
At the end of the day, they’re all just apes.
I think that’s really the real issue here. Regardless if you like Archetypes or not, new ventures always take on a certain amount of risk. Sometimes that risk doesn’t pay off. You end the deal and move on like professionals. Breaking decision to inject personal feelings into a business arrangement always looks trashy, no matter who you are.
I’d like to think that there will be consequences for UTA, but I’m jaded. Bitter old white men continue to get away with making these kinds of vile comments.
Same.
Good. But why didn’t the other guy from Spotify get his ass handed to him, as he deserved?
Honestly, because no one really cares what he thinks.
Murdoch has power–he keeps it close. What he doesn’t have is the ability to see beyond HIS interests. We now have Spotify and UTC doing Murdoch’s bidding. Murdoch doesn’t care whether there is any negative push back to Spotify or UTC. IMO, UTC took a chance. Someone convinced Zimmer that it wouldn’t be a problem, because everyone goes after Meghan. I want to see some real world consequences that UTC will have to deal with. I asked in a post yesterday (I think) what will the POC talent in particular signed with UTC be thinking about this? What is all of the talent thinking about what may be said about them?
Murdoch has power. He doesn’t understand EVERY business in the world and that’s what will cause problems. Zimmer needs to decide whether his business is more important than Murdoch’s machinations. This doesn’t reflect poorly on Meghan, this is UTC’s sh!tstorm.
Relationships matter in Hollywood, and the CEO not a talent agency knows that so it wad incredibly stupid of him to be so insulting. I bet he had to put in a call to Ari to smooth things over (stay on his good side for deals)
Zimmer thinks he’s pissing in someone else’s nest but really he’s pissing in his own. What a fool.
As I mentioned in my comments a day or so ago. I’m not worried as Meghan is represented by WME. Lots of people talks sh$t in HW, that’s why you need another very strategic and skillful individual to help you play that game.