HBO CEO apologizes for a "very stupid idea". He thought would remain hidden

Casey Bloys instructed his employees to create anonymous social media accounts to antagonize critics. The truth surfaced when a former subordinate filed a lawsuit, leading the HBO president to admit his mistake, three years later.

While discussions about troll factories and anonymous online critics orchestrated by secret patrons prevail, Casey Bloys's situation stands out. The HBO president had asked his employees to post negative comments from fictitious social media accounts to challenge film critics.

Rolling Stone reported the case, based on a lawsuit submitted a few months back by Sully Temori. Bloys's ex-assistant alleges that he experienced harassment and discrimination during his tenure at HBO, with the company doing nothing to intervene. He further accuses the firm of being a victim of "retaliation and unlawful termination of employment."

Temori provided evidence that Bloys mocked critics from magazines like Vulture (a part of New York Magazine) and Rolling Stone when they expressed negative views about HBO shows like "Perry Mason" or "Unreal". There is also a suspicion that Bloys might be behind anonymous comments made in response to reviews, which criticize reviewers and praise the HBO president.