Meghan Markle's Former Agent Calls Departure 'Great Thing'
Ari Emanuel confirmed he no longer represents the Duchess of Sussex, stating he doesn't 'have to think about that any more.'
Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel has confirmed that he no longer represents Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, describing the parting as a "great thing." Emanuel, who heads the William Morris Endeavor (WME) Group, made the statement in a recent interview with The Sunday Times.
Markle signed with WME in April 2023, with the agency's team including Jill Smoller, an agent for Serena Williams, and Brad Slater, who represents Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The partnership was intended to focus on content production and brand partnerships for the Duchess.
Reports of WME dropping Markle emerged in February, with claims that she had not met with Emanuel since January 2024. At the time, WME stated it was still working with Markle on projects related to her Archewell Foundation with Prince Harry.
Emanuel, whose new memoir 'Roll the Calls' was ghostwritten by John Moehringer—also the writer behind Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'—stated in the interview, "Here's the great thing: I don't have to think about that any more." A source confirmed to the Daily Mail that Emanuel is no longer part of Markle's team, though she continues to be represented by WME.
Emanuel, the executive chairman of WME, is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. He founded the Endeavor talent agency in 1995, which later merged with WMA in 2009. He was also the inspiration for the character Ari Gold in the HBO comedy-drama 'Entourage.'
This development comes as Prince Harry and Meghan have been involved in discussions regarding their public status since returning to the United Kingdom. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were reportedly moved to a new school after just two days due to security concerns related to the daily commute.
The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020. Speculation about their relocation to the UK has ranged from desires for their children to connect more with their grandfather, King Charles, to Meghan's potential return to acting and a wish to increase their public profile.
Within two weeks of their arrival in the UK, a letter authorized by the King was circulated to government and military stakeholders, reiterating that the couple are "private citizens." Harry and Meghan were reportedly surprised by this formal communication and are said to prefer the term "public figures."