Unfortunately for the Montecito-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex, “American Hustle,” a new cover story in Vanity Fair, appears to confirm previous reports about Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle being a “terrible,” “difficult” and even “bullying” boss to her employees. The magazine spoke to dozens of people, a number of whom could only be interviewed anonymously because they were required to sign nondisclosure agreements.

While Harry can be “charming,” if giving off the air that he “has no inner life” other than polo, Vanity Fair reported Meghan seems eager to be “a good person” and to engage “in world-improving activities.” And yet, Markle has become a polarizing figure in America. She also tends to engage in what writer Anna Peele described as retaliatory behavior against “people so below her in status.”

Someone who struggled to work on Meghan and Harry’s troubled Netflix and Spotify media projects told Vanity Fair that her relationships with employees tended to follow a familiar pattern. She would “be warm and effusive at the beginning.”

When something didn’t work out, often due to Meghan and Harry’s own demands, she “would become cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible,” the source told Vanity Fair.

The source said it was “really, really, really awful. Very painful.”

Meghan’s treatment of underlings could be “undermining,” the source also told Vanity Fair. “It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, ‘Mean Girls’ teenager.”

Before working with Meghan, the person had a hard time believing the stories about Meghan bullying palace aides or yelling at them after she married Harry in 2018. The initial reports came from the Times UK in 2021, a year after Meghan and Harry left Britain, decrying cruel and racist treatment by the tabloid media and the royal family. But after working with Meghan, this person found such behavior happened “on any given Tuesday.”

Vanity Fair reported one person took a leave of absence after working with Meghan on three episodes of her Spotify “Archetypes” podcast, while “several others’ said they took extended breaks, left their jobs or underwent long-term therapy after working with the former TV actress.

“I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better,” one person told Vanity Fair.

Meghan’s plan to launch herself this past week as a lifestyle guru, with her new Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” was put on hold following the outbreak of the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles on Jan. 8. Meghan announced the series would be pushed to March 4.

Her critics said she and Netflix clearly had no choice but to delay a show that would depict the duchess celebrating her lavish, Southern California lifestyle after so many others in the area had lost everything.

Harry and Meghan initially received glowing headlines for dropping into Pasadena last Friday to serve meals, leave donations and give hugs to Eaton fire survivors. But they soon began to engender harsh criticism online from actor Justine Bateman and others who were outraged that they were photographed, receiving a personal tour of burned-out neighborhoods from Pasadena’s mayor.

TMZ founder Harvey Levin and his producers lambasted the couple on their show earlier this week. “Most people cannot get into these areas, especially in Altadena, and don’t even know if their homes are still there,” Levin said. “For Meghan and Harry to show up from Montecito, and they get a tour? For what purpose?”

Executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere agreed that it seemed like “an ill use of resources,” while senior news producer Charlie Neff said their visit isn’t “sitting well with people in the community.”

The Vanity Fair story raises questions about their marriage, with Harry depicted as a naive, lonely figure who has failed to make many friends and is desperate to reconnect with his family. One source suggested that he did not necessarily realize the damage his tell-all memoir, “Spare,” would have on his relationships with his family.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote a scathing report in September in which a source said Meghan “belittles people,” doesn’t take advice and is a “dictator in high heels” who fumes and barks out orders. The Daily Beast followed up with a report quoting employees who describe her as “a demon” who had “psycho moments.”

Vanity Fair talked to people who had good experiences working with Meghan, including producer Jane Marie, who tried to help them develop podcasts. “She’s a lovely, genuine person,” Marie said.

Peele, the Vanity Fair writer, tried to balance out the criticism of Meghan and offer a sympathetic take on why she might have trouble managing employees or have a chip on her shoulder. It goes back to when she claims she was an outsider in high school, Peele noted.

“Is it any surprise that a sense of victimhood and righteousness could continue to exist in a person who had been treated so horribly by the press and her husband’s family?” Peele wrote.

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‘Very disrespectful’: Lauren Sanchez’s outfit to inauguration raises eyebrows

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez briefly managed to take the attention off of Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday.

Sanchez showed up to the inauguration at the United States Capitol Rotunda in an all-white pantsuit by Alexander McQueen, with a peekaboo bra underneath.

Many keyboard warriors channeled their inner fashion police by voicing their displeasure with the risque outfit.

On X, dozens of folks more or less had the same opinion: The former “Extra” anchor just didn’t pull it off.

One person said, “Jeff Bezos’s future wife is incredibly inappropriately dressed for a state occasion. Someone should have told her that having her white lace bra out on display is not acceptable.”

Other said simply, “Very, very disrespectful.”

At least one person had a sense of humor about the situation. A “Seinfeld” fan compared the 55-year-old Texan to Sue Ellen Mischke, Elaine’s rival who proudly wore a bra as a top in the street, causing Kramer to crash.

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Legendary rockers U2 make a $300,000 gift to UNLV

LAS VEGAS — Superstar rockers U2 have donated $300,000 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Fine Arts.

The announcement is in a line of highlights posted by dean Nancy Uscher in a college newsletter.

As Uscher said, the U2: UV Music Scholarship and Experiential Fund is a one-time gift, designed to “provide support for access to a stellar music education as well as experiential learning and performance opportunities for School of Music music majors. These opportunities will include student travel and support for creative activities and performances at various international music events.”

Uscher said Tuesday the donation was the result of a many-monthslong process from a mystery donor. The more questions were asked, the more intrigued were school representatives.

“We had this wonderful dialogue with the people representing them, and at some point they were pretty sure our goals were in alignment with the kind of work they like to do in supporting education,” Uscher said. “Then we were told who they were, and we were thrilled. They have cared about Las Vegas for a long time.”

Most of the money will be dedicated to CFA scholarships, and some funds will be spent on experiences for students to perform internationally, such as at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. The money also will support students in the UNLV Wind Orchestra, which has been invited to the June 29 “French Festival des Anches D’Azur,” in La Croix Valmer, France.

Musicians who have attended the university or taught music have preformed for superstars such as Adele, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Michael Bublé and David Foster.

UNLV Jazz Studies department head Dave Loeb’s UNLV Jazz Ensemble bands have won more than 50 Downbeat Magazine awards.

Uscher sent a handwritten thank-you note to band members Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., all of whom signed off on the donation.

“It’s been so touchinghow much they care about our students,” Uscher said. “They made it really clear to us that they’re very eager for the focus to be on the students.”

From combined wire services