Former staffers of Meghan Markle have come forward, describing her as a “demon” who had “psycho moments” as a boss, according to reports from The Daily Beast.

These revelations come as part of a growing divide between glowing testimonials from handpicked staff and those who experienced what they describe as Meghan’s ruthless management style.

In response to the negative portrayal of Meghan’s leadership in The Hollywood Reporter—where she was referred to as a “dictator in high heels” who brought grown men to tears—her PR team has been hard at work to change the narrative.

A recent Us Weekly piece painted a much different picture, portraying Meghan as the “best boss ever” who gifts her staff with freshly cut flowers, home-grown eggs, and nurturing leadership that makes her team “feel like seeds being watered.”

However, former employees are telling a very different story. One palace insider, who worked closely with both Meghan and Prince Harry, said that while many royals have difficult reputations, Meghan’s “bad moments were amplified and distorted” after the fallout from Megxit.

They admitted that other royals like Princess Margaret, who once had staff use their hands as ashtrays, were also difficult, but Meghan’s behavior stood out for being particularly harsh.

The former courtier shared disturbing accounts of Meghan’s temper, saying, “There definitely were bad, very bad, even psycho moments. I witnessed people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like s—.”

They went on to explain that while they were inclined to give Meghan the benefit of the doubt due to her personal struggles, her behavior toward staff was undeniably toxic at times.

One particularly damning piece of evidence comes from Jason Knauf, who was Meghan and Harry’s press secretary during their time in the royal family. In 2018, Knauf raised concerns about Meghan’s treatment of palace staff, writing a letter to Prince William’s private secretary, Simon Case.

In the letter, Knauf said he was “very concerned” that Meghan had bullied two personal assistants out of the household, calling her treatment of staff “totally unacceptable.” He further accused Meghan of targeting another employee, trying to undermine their confidence and bullying them in front of others.

Despite these serious allegations, Meghan and Harry’s team has largely remained silent on the latest criticisms. When similar reports surfaced before her high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan dismissed them as a smear campaign designed to discredit her.

Another former staffer described Meghan as a “classic narcissist,” pointing to her attempts to counter the negative press with a carefully curated set of interviews and stories from staff who were clearly selected for their loyalty. “She’s lovely when it’s all going her way but a demon when the worm turns,” said one ex-employee.

One particularly telling account came from a florist who claimed they were “screamed at down the phone” for over half an hour by Meghan, simply for posting a minor detail about a bouquet they were preparing for her wedding. According to the source, the florist swore never to work with Meghan again, despite the prestige of having her as a client, because of the way they were treated.

In contrast, the positive testimonials from Meghan’s PR campaign included quotes from Prince Harry’s former chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who only worked with the couple for three months. Kettler offered a generic endorsement, stating that the couple “welcomed him warmly” and calling them “dedicated and hardworking,” though he did not elaborate on why he left the role so quickly.

Catherine St-Laurent, another former chief of staff, also praised her time working with the couple, calling it “incredibly meaningful.” Meanwhile, Ashley Hansen, their global head of press, shared an emotional story about how Meghan and Harry cared for her after she underwent surgery, likening their concern to that of parents caring for their child.

One anonymous staff member went so far as to say, “Harry and Meghan picked the best of the best from every field and watered the seeds for them to flourish,” continuing the metaphor of nurturing leadership that Meghan’s team seems keen to promote.

While Team Meghan is working overtime to rewrite the narrative, the accounts from those who experienced her more ruthless side are hard to ignore. Many see these stories as further evidence that Meghan, despite her public image of compassion and kindness, may have a darker side when the cameras aren’t rolling. Whether these accounts will change public perception of Meghan remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle over her reputation is far from over.