Executives who lost the job over an old post
Senior leaders at companies, sports clubs and universities. 8 published news cases, 2018 to 2026.
Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.
- 5 of 8cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.
- 1 of 6cases with a known age involved content a year or more old.
In 5 of the 8 the person lost the role: 4 resigned, 1 was dismissed. In the other 3 they kept it, regained it or faced a suspension or reprimand instead. The content most often concerned politics (4), the workplace (2), race (1).
By type: post or comment (5), like (1), meme or image (1), private messages (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs) and 1 involved a shared meme or image (see the meme and repost cases).
1 of the 6 cases with a stated age involved content a year or more old.
These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.
For how screening works for this group, see the Guide for executives.
The 8 cases
Kept or regained it2026Senior partner, global consulting firm, AustraliaLinkedIn reply dismissing the "glass cliff" for women; the firm said it fell short of its standards
- What surfaced
- LinkedIn reply dismissing the "glass cliff" for women; the firm said it fell short of its standards
- How old it was
- About 1 month
- How it came out
- Internal review after press reports
- Outcome
- Removed from leadership roles; still a partner
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Lost the role2023University president, Philadelphia, PALiked posts on vaccines, gender surgery and diversity officers
- What surfaced
- Liked posts on vaccines, gender surgery and diversity officers
- How old it was
- Months
- How it came out
- Employees went to the Inquirer
- Outcome
- Resigned as president; stayed as professor
- What to look for in your own history
- A like on a post that demeans a group or endorses violence. A like counts even though you didn't write the post.
- Also in your report
- This kind of post may also appear as a reputation flag (public-health claims), listed separately from the Review and Consider ratings.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Lost the role2023Newly hired coach, pro soccer club, Montreal2012 posts cheering a shooting at a politician's victory speech
- What surfaced
- 2012 posts cheering a shooting at a politician's victory speech
- How old it was
- 10 to 11 years
- How it came out
- Backlash the day the hire was announced
- Outcome
- Dismissed after one day; he said his accounts were hacked
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: Canadian HR Reporter
Kept or regained it2023 to 2024Chief executive and co-founder, technology conference company, IrelandPosts on X about the Israel-Gaza war that drew criticism from investors and founders; he said he condemned the Hamas attack and backed Israel's right to defend itself within international law
- What surfaced
- Posts on X about the Israel-Gaza war that drew criticism from investors and founders; he said he condemned the Hamas attack and backed Israel's right to defend itself within international law
- How old it was
- Days
- How it came out
- Backlash from founders and investors; Google, Amazon, Meta, Stripe and Siemens said they would withdraw from the conference
- Outcome
- Resigned as CEO in October 2023, saying his comments had become a distraction; he returned as CEO on April 8, 2024
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: TechCrunch, Al Jazeera
Lost the role2022Group president, cosmetics company, New YorkReposted a meme with a racial slur on Instagram
- What surfaced
- Reposted a meme with a racial slur on Instagram
- How old it was
- Days
- How it came out
- An industry-watch Instagram account highlighted it
- Outcome
- Pushed out ("retired"); he said he reposted it without reading it
- What to look for in your own history
- A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Lost the role2020Founder and chief executive, fitness company, United StatesA reply tweet, "It's FLOYD-19," to a research institute's post calling racism a public health issue
- What surfaced
- A reply tweet, "It's FLOYD-19," to a research institute's post calling racism a public health issue
- How old it was
- Days
- How it came out
- Affiliate gym owners and customers criticized it; Reebok said it would end its sponsorship of the CrossFit Games after 2020
- Outcome
- Apologized, then stepped down as CEO three days later, announced as a retirement; the company was sold weeks afterward
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: CNBC, Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post
Kept or regained it2019 to 2020Co-founder and chief executive, luggage company, New York, NYSlack messages The Verge described as a tool to "stalk and bully" junior and minority employees; she told employees the reporting was inaccurate
- What surfaced
- Slack messages The Verge described as a tool to "stalk and bully" junior and minority employees; she told employees the reporting was inaccurate
- How it came out
- Published by The Verge after interviews with employees
- Outcome
- Gave up the CEO role in December 2019 and became executive chair; weeks later she returned as co-CEO
- What to look for in your own history
- Private chats and messages aren't in account exports. Assume anything you send can be screenshotted.
Source: CNBC
Lost the role2018President of basketball operations, NBA team, PhiladelphiaBurner Twitter accounts criticizing the team's own players and sharing private information
- What surfaced
- Burner Twitter accounts criticizing the team's own players and sharing private information
- How it came out
- Investigative report by The Ringer, then a law-firm review
- Outcome
- Resigned; he denied running most of the accounts
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: CBS Boston, AP via Boston.com
More cases by group
- School boards and local office (15)
- Athletes (10)
- Teachers (9)
- Police (9)
- Media and entertainment (9)
- Candidates and appointees (8)
- Healthcare (7)
- Fire, EMS and military (7)
- Finance and banking (7)
- Students (6)
- Coaches (5)
- Law (5)
- Volunteers (4)
- Clergy and religious employers (4)
- Tech and corporate (4)
- Nonprofit and university leaders (4)
- Likes (11)
- Memes (23)
See all 127 cases and the key numbers
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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.
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