The pressure of being the CEO of HBO can be intense. On top of dealing with executive meetings at Craig’s and celebrity calls, Casey Bloys, the CEO of HBO, also has to face TV critics who can freely express their opinions about the shows produced by HBO. It is not uncommon to feel the urge for vindication against critics who may not have favorable views regarding your work.
However, as of November 1st, 2022, Bloys was exposed by Rolling Stone for sending out six tweets under fake names to mock TV critics who wrote negative reviews about HBO shows. These tweets were made at his direction and posted by the account @KellySh33889356, under the disguise of a Texan herbalist. Bloys admitted that this was a “very dumb idea” that he acted on during the lockdown period amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is not surprising that other studio heads might also resort to unconventional measures to defend their work. Assuming that other CEO’s on Twitter are doing the same, here are some satirical made-up tweets that can potentially come from other CEOs. For instance, a 13-year-old e-sports enthusiast from Austin, Texas expresses gratitude for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., which might as well be a message from David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. Another tweet comes from a U.S. Army veteran, Puppy Fosterer from Ft. Knox, which could possibly be a disguised message from Disney CEO Bob Iger defending his company’s decisions. In another tweet, a pastry chef from the 6th arrondissement in Paris defends a show by Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. And we also see Jeff Bezos potentially rebutting against critics of Amazon’s entertainment products such as Rings of Power, in a tweet from a profile with the handle @JeffTheWizard. Lastly, there could be a tweet from PBS CEO Paula Kerger defending a PBS show, All Creatures Great & Small.
It’s clear that the issue of executives using fake or anonymous accounts to defend their work is an established practice, and it can backfire as seen in the case of Casey Bloys. The risk of exposure can have damaging consequences on both the individual’s reputation and the company’s public image.
In conclusion, the pressure of being a CEO is undeniably high and can sometimes lead to poor decision-making. However, it’s essential for these individuals to remember the consequences of their actions on both a personal and professional level. Instead of resorting to unconventional methods to fight critics, addressing feedback openly and constructively could be a more positive and effective approach.