HBO CEO Apologizes for Instructing Staff to Use Fake Twitter Accounts to Criticize Critics

Lawsuit revealed that the network's CEO and senior VP of programming used fake Twitter accounts to defend HBO shows and harass critics, framing it as the output of an "unhealthy amount of time scrolling through Twitter" during pandemic lockdowns.

HBO CEO and chairman Casey Bloys has apologised for using fake Twitter accounts to criticize detractors of the network's shows. The confession comes after a Rolling Stone report detailed a lawsuit filed by former employee Sully Temori, who alleges wrongful termination and claims he was instructed to create fake accounts to counteract negative reviews.
Speaking at a New York promotional event for HBO and Max, Bloys called the scheme to defend HBO's programmes from critics a 'very, very dumb idea' that emerged from spending an 'unhealthy amount of time scrolling through Twitter' during the pandemic lockdown.
Six anonymous tweets were sent over an 18-month period to TV critics who posted negative reviews. The account posed as 'Kelly Shepard', a self-proclaimed 'vegan Texan mom'. Besides Twitter, the HBO executives had also discussed posting anonymous comments on Deadline articles.
Bloys said he now opts for a more direct approach when he disagrees with a review, DM-ing journalists directly rather than resorting to secret trolling. 'Many of you are gracious enough to engage with me in a back-and-forth, and I think that is probably a much healthier way to go about this', he said.
The allegations were part of a wrongful termination lawsuit by former HBO staffer Sully Temori, who claimed harassment, retaliation and discrimination after disclosing a mental health diagnosis to his bosses. He also alleged that he was asked to perform tasks unrelated to his job, including trolling critics online. HBO denied all allegations and stated its intent to 'vigorously defend' against Temori's claims.