Bodhi Talent: The Scandal That Opened the Floodgates

Sep 10

How It Began

In May 2023, The 98% received an email that was immediately concerning. Actor Layla Shirley had contacted me after leaving her agent, Bodhi Talent. An agency that, in the previous couple years, had really grown both as an agency and an online presence. Her email was titled simply: Advice. She told me about her experience with Bodhi Talent and how she had spoken with another ex-client who shared similar stories. Layla then did her own digging, reaching out to other ex-clients of the agency, or those that knew the founder - Archie Purnell. The stories that came back were shocking:

Allegations of money being stolen or withheld.
Fake self-tapes being sent out to clients.
Actors being told they had booked jobs which turned out to be lies.
Concerns about a linked company where money may have been skimmed.
Fabricated stories about illness and personal hardship allegedly used to gain sympathy or cover up issues.

Layla compiled an open letter which she shared with me. Some actors were brave enough to put their names to it, others were terrified of retaliation. Many described Archie as hostile, aggressive, and vindictive towards anyone who challenged him.

It was clear to both of us that this was bigger than a handful of bad experiences. But despite multiple attempts, no action was taken by organisations such as Equity and Spotlight when reports were made to them. They claimed there was nothing they could do, or reports were outright ignored - even the open letter.

That’s when I realised: if this story was going to come out, it would need the press to help. Because where else is there to go?

Deadline Hollywood

With Layla’s blessing I approached Jake Kanter, International Investigations Editor at Deadline. I had previously connected with Jake for some stories he was writing about abuse at drama schools and had connected him with actors who had come to The 98% previously with experiences, I was also involved in an article myself. So I knew he was capable of handling something this sensitive. Thankfully, he took the story on.

On February 8th, 2024, Deadline published the first exposé: Fake Tapes, Lies, And Late Payments: UK Talent Agent Archie Purnell Accused Of Being ‘Rogue Trader’.

I’m confident to say that, without this piece, I think Bodhi Talent would still be operating now - unchecked. What came out afterwards, seeing the manipulation and the success of his schemes, I dread to think how much worse it could have gotten.

The Misconduct

After the article was published I did an Instagram Live on The 98% with Layla where we discussed how this story came about, and the further allegations and context that didn’t make the article. We also spoke about the importance of working through fear to speak out, in order to protect others. Following this, the email inbox for The 98% was inundated with stories, testimonies, evidence, and historic allegations about Archie Purnell and his agency. Some other actors reached out to say they had even reported Bodhi Talent to Equity and Spotlight multiple times as well, and nothing was done.

It also became apparent that as well was skimming money off of pay cheques to actors, stealing money outright, and forcing clients to pay for workshops in order to be represented, Archie was allegedly scamming parents of child actors - charging cash in hand to set up Spotlight accounts that never transpired as just one example.

I kept in touch with Jake, sharing what I was finding, and over the following weeks Deadline published further articles detailing the breadth of alleged misconduct:

Clients Abandon Agent Archie Purnell - Actors left Bodhi Talent in droves as soon as the story broke, citing late or missing payments and dishonesty.
Luna Kids Casting Accused of Scam Fees - Allegations linked Bodhi to misleading workshops and fake opportunities targeting child actors.
Bodhi Talent Files for Closure - By late February 2024, the agency announced it would shut down amid mounting allegations.

Charities were also pulled into the scandal. Workshops had been promoted as fundraisers for organisations such as Oddballs Foundation and George House Trust, with claims that profits would be donated. When contacted, both charities confirmed they had never received donations from Bodhi Talent or Archie Purnell and had never authorised the use of their logos that Bodhi used to advertise the events. Oddballs described it as “bitterly disappointing” to see their reputation exploited.

Archie also exploited casting directors - using them to lure in actors to his workshops to charge high fees. Archie even took advantage of his own friends - asking a photographer friend of his to take free headshots for child clients as “exposure” and work experience, only to charge the parents cash for the headshots and pocket the money himself.

There were also concerns about alleged health-related lies. Emails and workshops cited claims of cancer diagnoses to legitimise fundraising, but the stories being told to people weren’t matching up.

And the cherry on top of the cake? Archie Purnell wasn’t even his real name. Jamie Fisher was the man behind the con - a man who had previously been kicked off of Spotlight for fraud and falsifying credits, only to be allowed to rejoin with an alias and a brand new “agency”.

This wasn’t an agent. It was a conman posing as an agent - and it had worked. For years! Now with tens of thousands of pounds missing from actors bank accounts while Archie/Jamie allegedly drove a nice car, travelled, and revamped his office.

The Fallout

By the end of February 2024 Bodhi Talent had collapsed, with Archie and his associate/partner disappearing into the wind. Actors reported outstanding payments, parents of child actors said they were left out of pocket, and the industry was rattled. Professionals at every level had been duped, and whistleblowers who had tried for years to expose Jamie/Archie were labelled as jealous and “crazy” - claims intended to deflect that were never questioned because of the hierarchy of power that upholds those who sit on pedestals. In this case an “agent” who’d boast about his “connections” and promise actors their “big break”.

But it didn’t ended there. Archie/Jamie popped up again with a new scam some weeks later - but an online PSA made by The 98% soon shut him down again. This case has also been the instigator for pretty much this entire company and platform. Since Feb 2024 The 98% has received countless reports and stories relating to industry malpractice, particularly agents. And further rogue agents have been investigated and exposed by this platform.

The floodgates were opened, and until some serious changes are made relating to regulation and safeguarding in this industry - they will remain open. It cannot continue to be as easy as it is to become an agent and therefore be in charge of, sometimes, hundreds of people’s wages and income. Quite literally anyone can make a website and social media, put a call out to actors offering representation, write some referances, and join casting platforms who inadvertently legitimize anyone who decides to become an agent…

Why This Case Matters

The Bodhi Talent scandal was not an isolated case. It was a symptom of a broken system:

No proper regulation of talent agencies.
No safety net for actors when things go wrong.
No avenue for reports to be taken seriously
No accountability when agencies withhold money or falsify information.

For me, it underscores why The 98% exists. All of this isn’t just about one rogue agent. It’s about how the industry is set up in a way that allowed this to happen. Actors can be exploited, manipulated, or silenced out of fear. They can go to the organisations that exist to help them, only to be told nothing can be done. How is it that I was able to do more with The 98% to shut down criminal behaviour than industry bodies with funding and industry standing? It should not be this way.

Bodhi Talent was the first domino. Once the truth came out, more stories followed - other agencies, other scams, other names. The system that has for too long enabled exploitation is finally being challenged.

This is why I keep sharing these stories. Because if Bodhi showed us anything, it’s that this industry is set up to enable those who wish to take advantage of their position within it, while at the same time it silences those at risk who ought to be protected.