'Trying to push his MAGA agenda': Vivek Ramaswamy blasted as he advises BuzzFeed to hire Tucker Carlson and Aaron Rodgers to solve crisis

Vivek Ramaswamy, who owns 8.3% of BuzzFeed, advised hiring Tucker Carlson and Aaron Rodgers, but the company's CEO has dismissed his ideas
PUBLISHED JUN 3, 2024
Vivek Ramaswamy urged BuzzFeed to hire Tucker Carlson and Aaron Rodgers (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Getty Images)
Vivek Ramaswamy urged BuzzFeed to hire Tucker Carlson and Aaron Rodgers (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy allegedly demanded BuzzFeed hire conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson and the New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers in order to turn around things at the struggling digital media company.

Ramaswamy has acquired an 8.3% stake in the failing media firm over the last three months.

In a recent letter to BuzzFeed's board of members, the biotech entrepreneur claimed the company "has lost its way"  and advised massive layoffs along with hiring right-wing figures like Carlson and NFL star Rodgers, according to The Hill.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy addresses the media outside of Manhattan Criminal Court on behalf of former President Donald Trump on May 14, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Vivek Ramaswamy has an 8.3% stake in BuzzFeed (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

BuzzFeed's successful journey in the 2010s came to a halt due to the pressure from other social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). The firm's sales plummeted after it went public in the stock market in 2021, leading to large-scale staff cuts and shutting its prominent news division last year.

Vivek Ramaswamy's suggestions for Buzzfeed's revival

Along with Carlson and Rodgers, Ramaswamy suggested that the company reach out to other prominent figures like Bill Maher and Charles Barkley, according to the New York Post.

Furthermore, the Donald Trump ally also demanded Buzzfeed to acknowledge they "repeatedly lied on issues of national importance" and "echoed easy, politically convenient narratives in pursuit of clicks."  

Tucker Carlson speaks during 2022 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on November 17, 2022 in Hollywood, Florida.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson is one of the prominent names Vivek Ramaswamy suggested to BuzzFeed (Getty Images)

However, BuzzFeed's leadership dismissed the stakeholder's criticisms and stated that they will not give in to his suggestions.

In a written response to Ramaswamy's letter, the firm's co-founder and CEO Jonah Peretti said the entrepreneur had a "fundamental misunderstanding" about the company's workings.

"I'm very skeptical it makes business sense to turn BuzzFeed into a creator platform for inflammatory political pundits," the founder wrote, adding, "And we're definitely not going to issue an apology for our Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism."   

Jonah Peretti (@peretti/X)
BuzzFeed co-founder Jonah Peretti rejected Vivek Ramaswamy's suggestions to help the failing company (@peretti/X)

However, in an interview on Semafor's 'Mixed Signals' podcast, the Republican pointed out the opportunity to privatize the company in light of its financial crisis.

"This is a company that has more debt than cash. That debt comes due this December. So anybody who thinks that Jonah Peretti is the person in control of this business because some piece of paper says he has voting rights over the shares is delusional," Ramaswamy said.

He is BuzzFeed's second-largest Class A shareholder, with nearly three million shares. However, as of last December, Peretti and his associates held 96% of the firm's Class B shares, which could offer about 64 percent voting power.

Internet slams Vivek Ramaswamy's suggestion of commentators for BuzzFeed

Netizens slammed Ramaswamy for advising BuzzFeed to hire Carlson and Rodgers to help its revival.

One user commented on MSN, "Viv just out there trying to push his MAGA agenda, They might have to rename it Buzz-kill Feed." Another remarked, "He so desperately wants to be relevant in America!"

A person wrote on X, "'We will pollute the brand with right wing grifters' he said winningly." Another asked, "So he literally wants to kill Buzzfeed?"

Someone else said, "What worries me is that as newspapers disappear, and other media get mercilessly bashed by the likes of @VivekGRamaswamy and even some within the media and then taken over, people will forget what the point of journalism is supposed to be."



 



 



 

An individual remarked on Facebook, "Guy thinks he has any say in business decisions by owning less than 10% of it LOL."

"Go home, 'swamy. You're irrelevant," someone else chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Micah Beckwith says White House 'told many lawmakers' that roads and bases were at risk if they didn't eliminate Democratic districts
8 hours ago
Florida Governor urges state legislators to bypass 'career politicians' in Washington, citing 95% incumbent reelection rate
9 hours ago
Twenty Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill, which aims to reinstate collective bargaining rights for nearly a million federal employees
9 hours ago
It will give the Trump administration tools to push back on the most 'onerous' state rules, White House AI adviser David Sacks said
10 hours ago
Kristi Noem said no US citizens or military veterans have been deported under the Trump administration
1 day ago
Republicans Murkowski, Collins, Sullivan, and Hawley broke ranks to back an ACA subsidy extension by Dems, but the bill still fell short of advancing
1 day ago
Dems lost bid to extend Obamacare tax credits before January deadline as the measure fell short of 60 votes, despite 4 GOP senators siding with them
1 day ago
ESTA applicants may face expanded data collection, with travelers required to provide phone numbers from the past decade as well as family details
2 days ago
Texas Rep Keith Self warned that broken promises on digital currency and abortion language could jeopardize final passage of the NDAA
2 days ago
Stevens cited halted cancer trials and rising measles cases, but the move was expected to remain symbolic as the House was unlikely to advance it
2 days ago