Swag – COOPER GENERAL NEWS

When it comes to fame and shame, former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has apparently cornered the market.

Internet vendors cash in on mugs, t-shirts, and even shower curtains in the weeks leading up to their August criminal fraud trial.

A review of the online stores shows more than 50 offers of Holmes and Theranos items on Etsy, Poshmark, eBay and Redbubble.

One of the more unique items is an authentic Theranos lab coat, which is listed for $ 17,000.

Once a Silicon Valley darling, Holmes is faced with federal referral fraud and a conspiracy to suspect referral fraud related to allegedly misleading investors, patients, and doctors about her company’s blood testing technology.

But customers rave about their product purchases on social media.

In a TikTok, a young woman poses in a mirror with a pink t-shirt that says “Elizabeth Holmes is my #GirlBoss”.

Another TikToker shows a mug with Holmes on one side and Theranos on the other. She says, “I really wish Elizabeth Holmes had an MLM so that I could join.” An MLM is a controversial, multi-level marketing operation that the US Federal Trade Commission warns of being a pyramid scheme.

And another pulls a t-shirt out of a package and says, “Y’all it’s here. The Queen of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes.”

A search on Instagram and Twitter also shows customers posing with their goods.

Elizabeth Holmes, Founder and CEO of Theranos.

David Orrell | CNBC

Holmes, who is pregnant and due next month, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Before Theranos’ demise, her image was seemingly everywhere and she even landed on the cover of Forbes.

Today, despite a tarnished image and an upcoming 13-week trial, their brand is apparently still popular.

“It doesn’t surprise me, Elizabeth Holmes was a very inspiring person,” says Mark Macias, founder of Macias PR. “She was the youngest billionaire, self-made entrepreneur, and although we found out it was supposedly a scam – she was selling something revolutionary.”

Anthony, owner of Finance Memes Etsy shop, says sales of his Holmes items have increased since February. Anthony asked CNBC not to use his last name for fear of jeopardizing his employment.

“You can see it at Wall Street Bets – people like to talk about how much they lost,” said Anthony. “There’s an obsession with cheating, gambling, and taking bad risks. Everyone loves a good bad guy.”

A mug labeled “Theranos Early Investor” is the most popular item in his Etsy shop, according to Anthony. “It’s a little more reserved, you can put it in your drawer when your boss comes over.” Anthony says he has had over 200 visits to the cup in the past few months.

“There will always be people on the fringes who want to express themselves, take on the establishment and point the finger at them,” Macias said. However, he warns, “If you want a brand that will last, it is better to be famous. Infamy is short, it can ruin and destroy a brand.”

For Holmes, every image she projects is eternal.

As MSNBC columnist James Surowiecki wrote in a recent article, “On the way up and the way down, one thing about Elizabeth Holmes has remained constant: people are fascinated by her.”

Watch the video to learn more.

These blocks are usually full of voters; Paramount Pictures is there, as is Raleigh Studios, where Netflix rents production space. With most of the people in Los Angeles still holed up at home, the thoroughfare was eerily quiet at 5:30 p.m. last Monday. Actual crickets chirped at Paramount’s closed Bronson Gate, which had a sign that read, “By government order, access to the studio is now restricted. “

Funny at best, absurd at worst?

“The public must be so confused,” said Ms. Stone.

None of the studios or streaming services looking for awards would comment on this article. Campaigns are commonplace but remain a taboo subject. No film company wants to look like it is trying to manipulate voters.

However, it’s easy to understand where they come from.

“Like a political campaign, you have to rise at the right moment,” said Paul Hardart, director of entertainment, media and technology programs at New York University’s Stern School of Business. “At this point, you need the maximum exposure. And that’s hard to do. How do you get up to date at the right time? “

So the prey must go on.

As part of its promotion for Nomadland about an impoverished van resident, Searchlight Pictures sent a bound copy of the script to voters. The Hollywood press corps received “Nomadland” wine glasses, a “Nomadland” license plate, “Nomadland” key rings, a “Nomadland” t-shirt and a 5 x 2 foot “Nomadland” sunscreen.

To celebrate the virtual premiere of the film on February 18, Searchlight, in collaboration with local small businesses, delivered a “curated concession box” to the homes of the invited people. This included artisanal beef dried meat, jam with wild berries, oranges, pears, dried apricots, dill cucumber slices, banana bread, salami (“humanly raised”) and a chocolate canister.