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Merchandise with the image or style choices of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes are for sale on the Internet.
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Holmes fans and those who like to make fun of her sell t-shirts, mugs and other accessories that refer to the “girlboss”.
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Holmes is currently on trial on fraud charges for allegedly defrauding investors over his blood testing company, Theranos.
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See more stories on the Insider business page.
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes may be on trial for fraud, but merchandise in her image is being sold all over the internet.
Mugs, t-shirts and accessories featuring the former CEO of the blood testing company are available online, both mocking and celebrating the “girlboss.” Retailers like Amazon, RedBubble, and Etsy all sell items with Holmes’ face on it, looking to make money with followers or those who are trying to be tongue-in-cheek.
An Etsy shop sells mugs that say “I wish disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes had an MLM so I could join him #girlboss,” while various clothes on RedBubble with Holmes’ face have taglines like “pretend until you do” and “they hate to see a girlboss win.”
Many ads refer to the “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss” meme, a phrase used to mock and describe a capitalist version of feminism online. The idea was brought up for a lack of inclusiveness and focus on online wealth. Since then, “girlboss” has become satirical online to Elizabeth Holmes fans, dubbed “Holmies” by some observers, who often use the term to describe her, Insider reported.
“To be clear, we don’t condone any criminal activity, but we are delighted that it was able to go so far in a lie, in an industry so heavily dominated by men,” a representative from an online store told Guardian. . “She’s bursting with femme fatale energy and who doesn’t love a good villain origin story?”
Holmes has pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges.
Stephen D. Benning, associate professor of psychology at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, previously told Insider that Holmes fans might see their own mistakes in Holmes, which is currently set in public.
Holmes dropped out of Stanford University at age 19 to start his blood testing business, Theranos. The company, which claimed to be able to test a range of diseases and conditions from a drop of blood, was once valued at $ 9 billion, Insider reported. The tech failed to do what Holmes and her ex-boyfriend, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani – the former vice president, COO and chairman of Theranos – claimed, and both are accused of defrauding investors , healthcare professionals and clients. Balwani, who will face another fraud trial, also pleaded not guilty.
Holmes went from Silicon Valley sweetheart to global infamy after Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou revealed the story documenting Theranos’ alleged shortcomings, followed by his book “Bad Blood.” Several popular podcasts have also documented the fall of Theranos.
Holmes faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The Theranos trial recently concluded its fourth week.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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