Graydon Carter is currently promoting his new memoir, When the Going Was Good. It’s largely about his time as Vanity Fair’s editor-in-chief and what the media/magazine business was like in the glory days of the 1990s and pre-crash ‘00s. I skimmed through his interview with the Times of London, where he spoke a lot about his dealings with Donald Trump over the years and he remarked, “I don’t recognise this man. If it comes out in 15 years that this Trump was a Manchurian candidate, I wouldn’t be surprised. The Trump I knew was someone who just wanted to be liked.” He also bad-mouthed Anna Wintour and VF’s new EIC Radhika Jones. He said that Jones has made VF “less fun, less interesting and don’t even get me started on the dull covers.” Which… fair enough. I also think Jones is too cerebral for a VF editor.
The reason I skimmed that Times interview was because I wanted to see if a British outlet got Carter to talk about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They did not. The last time Carter was out and about and giving interviews, it was 2023 and he spent a good chunk of time criticizing the Sussexes and predicting that their marriage will last for “years not decades.” His site, Air Mail, has also spent a lot of time hitting Meghan in particular. Well, Carter also chatted with Maureen Dowd at the NY Times, and they played a game called “confirm or deny.” Dowd got him on the record about whether he thinks Harry and Meghan are, in Bill Simmons’ words, “f–king grifters.”
Confirm or Deny: Annie Leibovitz took your passport photo.
Graydon Carter: She took my passport photo.CoD: The two funniest non-comedians you’ve ever met are George Clooney and Anderson Cooper.
In both cases, they were so funny that I had to tell them to stop because I thought my trachea would break.CoD: Anna Wintour should retire.
Absolutely not. I think she can go on for decades.CoD: Putin once called you to get on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Deny.CoD: The Kushners are the new Kennedys.
Deny. Well, the new Bobby Kennedy juniors, if that’s the arm of the family you’re referring to.CoD: Taylor Swift has a lifetime ban from the Waverly Inn.
No, we adore Taylor Swift.CoD: Harry and Meghan are grifters.
Bill Simmons could say that. I never would. I’m not sure grifter is the right word. More “chancers,” which is an English expression for somebody who is on the make.CoD: The Democrats need a celebrity candidate in 2028.
Confirm. Well, they need a candidate, and whether it’s a celebrity or not, they’ve got a strong bench. It’ll take six months, and they’ll get things sorted out, and then there’ll be a force.
Americans don’t use “chancer” as any kind of descriptor, so I actually looked it up. Per dictionary.com, chancer is “an unscrupulous or dishonest opportunist who is prepared to try any dubious scheme for making money or furthering his or her own ends.” Like… Harry and Meghan got a Netflix contract? Meghan is investing in small, female-owned businesses? She’s doing a line of crepe mixes? Harry is working for a mental-health coaching business? What the f–k is so unscrupulous about any of this? The Sussexes really have the old guard royalist media on their heels, huh? In some ways, this is what Graydon Carter is describing in his memoir – he and the other tastemaker media types have seen their relevance dip to the point where they can’t control what people think of the Sussexes (or anyone), and it’s driving them crazy.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- 159945, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – December 4 – Graydon Carter attends 2017 Breakthrough Prize December 4th 2016 at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer Photography),Image: 513334540, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Drew Altizer, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 159945, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – December 4 – Graydon Carter attends 2017 Breakthrough Prize December 4th 2016 at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer Photography),Image: 513334552, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Drew Altizer, PacificCoastNews/Avalon
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- 159945, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – December 4 – Graydon Carter attends 2017 Breakthrough Prize December 4th 2016 at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer Photography),Image: 513336327, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Drew Altizer, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. The National Service marks The Queen’s 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. Public service is at the heart of the event and over 400 recipients of Honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists have been invited in recognition of their contribution to public life. Drawn from all four nations of the United Kingdom, they include NHS and key workers, teaching staff, public servants, and representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.,Image: 696633859, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty O’Connor / Avalon
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service.,Image: 696642820, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Matt Dunham / Avalon
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- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696678053, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: ARTHUR EDWARDS / Avalon
Sounds like someone who would hang out with DT.
As a fan I should be saying “I love All those movie Promotions and premiers that Harry and Meghan go to and I love ALL THOSE Instagram Products that Meghan is selling for those Brand Sponsorships she has and I love ALL those Brands that she promotes and shout them out when she goes on the various Many interviews that she gives selling these brand”…..I cannot because HARRY AND MEGHAN ARE DOING NONE OF THAT…AND if they were, no ONE in American should blink an eye, that is what 99% of influencers and STARS are doing and hoping to do. Yet these people are calling them names…while we have the left behind doing ‘bag of cash’ ‘selling access’ ‘s[]cking toes’ ‘slumlords’ and THEY ARE NOT BEING CALLED NAMES.
And let’s not forget the reason Carter resigned: he got out before the story was uncovered that he’d helped hide the Epstein story, because they were friends.
Seriously, ew.
I think he might of been a bit of someone a very long time ago. Hoping for wee smidgen of relevance but who really would bother to buy his book? What could he possibly have to say that would be interesting at this moment in time? His moment has long past, no one cares but do your thing old man. Maybe Camilla will add it to her book club reading.
obnoxious, old, white man, no longer relevant, turned VF into an advertising catalogue. NEXT!
And another one walking in the hate parade. They are coming out of the woodwork to hate.
yep, another one. Sounds like he’s been walking in this parade for a while. Saddest parade to ever parade.
Is chancer short for Camilla Parker Bowles?
I mean, if we’re talking unscrupulous then I think Charles and William are on the hook for that, what with the slumlording and the grocery bags full of cash.
Another one who sounds like an ancient dinosaur. Gasping for relevance is right. Meghan invested in a small female-owned drink brand, clevr. I mean she saw an opportunity and took a chance, sure. But this man is not meaning chancer as a compliment. But why would I listen to anything this guy has to say? He’s a relic who may have some wisdom left to impart but is flailing in regards to the culture. Misogyny isn’t cute.
I took it at its literal meaning – they took the chance to thrive by escaping from that toxic institution and they succeeded.
So these chancers should encourage others to leave toxic situations.
No, it’s meant as an insult.
Old white Brits are good at doing these kinds of backhanded compliments that sound good/straight to anyone not British = in the know posh, educated in public schools.
Get it right @Jais…………………Clevr is just one of the first companies that M invested in after they arrived in America in March 2020. By now her portfolio is 10-15 companies. And H’s portfolio is prolly the same size. You should hear his presentation and Q&A at the Upfront Summit 2025 where he talked about researching and investing in “companies that align with my values.”
And even before she met H, M had a small portfolio, with her LA-based business manager handling her business while she spent 2 years (Nov 2017 – Jan 2020) trying to civilize that ancient criminal enterprise in the UK thats still sucking up all the oxygen and other valuable resources from their serfs.
I mean I was just using that one as an example but yes the fuller account is always good. I just think it’s funny that a chancer is an unscrupulous opportunist bc what’s unscrupulous about investing in a small and cute drink company? Seems pretty wholesome actually. Apparently hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein doesn’t make one unscrupulous? Graydon Carter might need to set his judgments aside bc he seems tainted to the point that his opinions don’t have any real weight.
Why would I pay attention to an old white man’s analysis of a bi-racial couple?
THIS☝🏾
Is this the guy that refuses to publish info about Epstein?
Yep. He was intimidated into spiking reporting about Epstein and young girls. That’s the caliber of person we’re talking about here.
Jealousy and resentment. The narrative was supposed to be about them failing and crawling back to Charles. That didn’t happen. They upset the expectations. Throw in the racial aspect and you have haters. “How can they make it without our help” leaves them bitter.. “How dare they succeed without our permission” ?
Wasn’t Graydon Carter the one who called Trump “a short-fingered vulgarian”?
yes and gave him a lot of oxygen in his and Kurt Andersen’s SPY magazine
What’s up with vanity fair and the hatred? Did Meghan turn down a cover or something
They got ties to the BRF and the tabloids through their royal reporters. Probably that’s why.
I don’t get why people hate on others for being successful and wanting success. Harry, the “spare” heir, is a standout star of the family – way more interesting than his lazy, boring, and simple brother. The press, and the so-called upper crust, seem to resent that. And since Meghan arrived, she’s overshadowed everyone, bringing much-needed glamour and excitement.
I’m not saying something that having said before here. I’m just amazed at the nastiness of these people.
Bill Simmons is no role model. Unprofessional person and wants to get “in” with Anti Sussex groups.
Bill Simmons is a salty because Harry and Meghan had standards. He wanted The Real Housewives of Windsor and they weren’t going for it. The mass exodus of talent at Spotify podcast division and their issues with gimlet during his tenure overrides any commentary he could make.
And this dude, I’d love to know what’s unscrupulous about leaving a taxpayer funded environment to earn your own money. Providing things that people don’t have to purchase or watch. They aren’t hawking snake oil.
They’re so bitter that they won’t play the game that they thought that everyone knew should be played. They thought that Harry and Meghan were just saying it but didn’t really mean it, and now that they realize no they aren’t going to be Margaret and Tony for the 21st century they’re upset.
Woodwork squeaks and out come the royalist freaks.
Man, those cracks in the paint must be clown cars with all the royalist freaks squirming their way out.
Oh good, Maureen Dowd and Graydon Carter, just the experts I needed to hear from in this cultural moment (snort). So much relevant analysis!
I didn’t know the word “chancer” before, but like Harry said – ambition and hustle are not bad words in America, so the insult really doesn’t land.
I’ll never get over the self-delusion of monarchists who accuse others of getting their money through unscrupulous means.
I know aristocrats think it’s distasteful to have a job. It’s so middle-class after all. Does Graydon Carter remember that he once had a job.
Yeah, ‘chancer’ is wealthy white person britspeak for ‘works for a living’.
He’s also married to a Brit so there’s that.
Gwyneth Paltrow called you fat and you chickened out of publishing your tell all on her, you pussy!
Both Grayden and Tina both suffer from the same problem — they are past their sell dates and desperately seeking relevance but have no sources from H&M’s generation who have no time for them and see them as nothing more than relics from another age. So Grayden and Tina cling onto the old guard who are out of touch and drive the dated coverage we all roll our eyes over.
Yup they must do those lunches together where they bitch and gossip and whine.
What a horrible man..
Chancers? Has he not met Fergie and Andrew? Really?
Graydon started Spy magazine in the 70’s and declared Trump was “a tiny fingered vulgarian” and Trump was furious. To the point he would send pictures of himself to Grayson circling his hands & writing in margin “see not so tiny”! Grayson would send back and say “yes, tiny”! Graydon is not a Trump fan in any way…
Even tho I know that all these old white diseased relics who have come crawling out from their sewers to bare their arse and show the civilized world how much their fevered thoughts about this dynamic mixed-race couple, who keep rising and thriving despite the ire of the particular demographic that’s accurately described as “racist white supremacists,” eat them from the inside out…………………(bcos lets face it, the fact that a BLACK-biracial woman entered their hallowed space via their most eligible, prized Prince because he has been thoroughly captivated by her, but she entered, remained unimpressed and even told them: “Look, all the grandeur surrounding this stuff is an attachment I don’t personally have;” then left with her husband and baby and with her head high despite all their attempts to unalive her, IS whats driving their madness)…………………………..I’m still gobsmacked by the fact that they vomit this bile from the depths of their pathologically envious, writhing entrails with no sense of awareness of how they repulse decent people everywhere.
I’m getting Piers Morgan vibes from this one.
Another heard from that upholds the white supremist patriarchy.
He’s right up there with Tina Brown on my sh*t-list of irrelevant pontificators who ruined VF.
You know you are that B when every has Been, has -not and has- never -will , comes out to take shots at you . Meghan I absolutely love you .
Also: LOL that PRINCE Harry is “on the make”.
I think the American equivalent to English “a chancer” is
“… has an eye to the main chance.”
Googled him and he’s Canadian. I truly Love Canada, but with some of the people coming from there lately it’s not perfect either.