Ozy Media, the digital media company embroiled in controversy after reports that one of its top staffers impersonated a YouTube executive in the context of funding talks with investment bank Goldman Sachs, is shutting down.
The company’s board of directors announced the decision in an Oct. 1 statement.
Rao—pretending to be the YouTube executive—reportedly said on the call that Ozy was well-regarded by YouTube and popular on the platform, while praising the leadership of the co-founder and chief executive, Carlos Watson.
After the misrepresentation came to light, an investigation was begun, reportedly involving the FBI, and Watson apologized on behalf of Rao and the company, attributing the incident to a mental health crisis.
A financial restructuring advisory firm will be helping bring Ozy operations to a close, Watson said in the statement.
Watson co-founded Ozy in 2013 with Rao. Both are Harvard graduates and both at one point worked for Goldman Sachs.
On Oct. 1, Watson resigned from NPR’s board of directors, while Ozy Media’s chairman, billionaire hedge fund manager Marc Lasry, stepped down earlier in the week.
Ozy produces left-leaning podcasts, television series, and events.
Company officials didn’t immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.