Some unwanted press came Meghan Markle‘s way in early September when The Hollywood Reporter published a blistering story about working for Prince Harry’s wife, labeling her a “dictator in high heels” who “marches around fuming and barking orders.”

The “Sussex Survivor Club” members who spoke to the publication insisted that the reason for such a high turnover with the duke and duchess’s staffers is because “Everyone’s terrified of Meghan. She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice … she’s just terrible … I’ve watched her reduce grown men to tears.”

And if that’s not damning enough, the story is titled: “Why Hollywood Keeps Quitting on Harry and Meghan.” That’s quite a blow to the former Suits star as she has been trying to jumpstart different projects since moving back to the U.S. in 2020, including a lifestyle brand. So now, some have come to Meghan’s defense to dispute the allegations. But those who made the claims are not backing down.

A few of Meghan’s former employees came to her defense amid the duchess’s ‘meltdown’

THR story has gained so much traction since it was published that many royal watchers opined it could actually kill Meghan’s Hollywood comeback. Therefore, commentators on Talk TV believe that Meghan is having a “meltdown” over it. Now though, a few former and current Sussex employees have decided to come forward and sing the pair’s praises in an effort to dispute the damning “dictator” claims.

The couple’s ex-chief of staff Josh Kettler, who made headlines for mysteriously quitting just before Harry and Meghan’s high-profile visit to Colombia, told US Weekly that the Sussexes are “dedicated and hardworking” and he was “warmly welcomed” upon joining their team.

Ben Browning, Archewell’s former head of content, recalled his experience working with Harry and Meghan as being “positive and supportive” adding that “The narratives we’ve seen suggesting the contrary are untrue.”

And a current staffer, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were “dumbfounded by the claims” and what’s being put out there is “likely made up from someone who’s disgruntled.”

THR stands by report, talked to a dozen people who branded Meghan ‘difficult’

Despite these claims from Sussex supporters, The Hollywood Reporter isn’t backing down and stands by its story.

Editor-In-Chief Maer Roshan told Access Hollywood: “Our reporter talked to I think a dozen people most of them are people who work very closely with the couple in various capacities now and previously. Our reporter talked to a very high-up source who works for the couple who said, ‘Everyone is terrified of Meghan Markle.’

“‘Duchess Difficult’ is a nickname that has trailed Meghan Markle for quite a few years. What is new is that this notion, since coming to America, that a lot of these rumors were manufactured by the Palace and the reporting that we did suggests that probably isn’t true and there is still this undercurrent of fear.”

The report also noted that when Meghan joined the royal family in 2018, an investigation was opened following allegations that she had “bullied” and mistreated her staffers. The findings of that investigation have never been made public and Harry and Meghan have always denied the bullying accusations.

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