Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been dealt a new blow as they were branded a "Hollywood flop" following the collapse of their $25million (£20million) deal with Spotify.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently announced they were parting ways with the streaming service and have since been surrounded by rumours that celebrities are trying to distance themselves from the couple.
One source has claimed Meghan had her heart set on interviewing Taylor Swift on Archetypes, but the popstar politely turned down the offer, making excuses about her busy tour schedule.
"Meghan had Taylor at the top of her dream guest list and felt confident she'd get her on board. She really admires her as someone who embodies feminist values," the source said.
The source said it was a "huge blow" for Meghan when the news of Taylor's snub was leaked. They said it serves as "another brutal reminder that others are trying to knock her and Harry down".
It comes after Harry and Meghan received some criticism for their Archetypes podcast. The Guardian branded the couple as "talentless", while the Wall Street Journal said they were a "self-made Hollywood flop".
Speaking to Heat Magazine, the source said Harry has tried to reassure his wife that they still have other connections they can use to help build their brand.
"Harry reminds Meghan all the time that they have other celebrity friends and connections - they don't need Taylor Swift to reinvent themselves or make Archewell a success story.
"However, it's still a big blow and highly embarrassing. To say Meghan's annoyed that they still seem to be a laughing stock is one hell of an understatement," they said.
Despite the disappointment over their podcast, all is not lost for the couple as they continue to have a blossoming relationship with Netflix. There had been rumours that their lucrative deal with the streaming service was at risk, but a spokesman for Netflix denied the speculation.
"The bond with Archewell Productions is one we deeply value. Harry & Meghan launched as Netflix's most spectacular documentary debut to date," they said.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, they added: "Our exciting journey with them isn't ending anytime soon. We're currently collaborating on numerous projects, including the much-anticipated documentary series Heart of Invictus."
