Alexis Ohanian, known for his support of Serena Williams and achievements as a business magnate, once again demonstrated his wit and readiness to engage his critics head on when one criticized his role in founding Reddit and ignited an altercation.
At the launch of Mantel, a social network targeting collectors, conversations were ignited on X (formerly Twitter). One user voiced criticism against Ohanian for merging Reddit into any platform; criticizing his judgment. Ohanian quickly replied with his characteristically sharp comments by emphasizing creating something worthwhile as opposed to simply engaging in negative comment online.
The criticism escalated with the detractor questioning leadership skills and accusing Ohanian of pandering to a ‘woke mob’, to which Ohanian responded with a compassionate yet pointed reply, advising the critic to focus on personal growth. Ohanian’s background as a co-founder of Reddit, alongside Steve Huffman and Aaron Swartz in 2005 and the journey to increase the platform’s brand value, underscores his commitment and resilience.
Ohanian’s departure from Reddit in 2020 marked his protest against systemic racism and his commitment to inclusive and responsible platform governance, an issue close to his heart. Since his exit, Ohanian has continued engaging on various social platforms; including one notable interaction where he amusingly reminded a user about his departure from Reddit; this shows his active online presence and responsive nature.
Alexis Ohanian demonstrates not only his dedication and ingenuity in terms of business innovation and entrepreneurship but also an aptitude in handling criticism with grace, showing he will defend his beliefs and endeavors with unyielding strength.