Lizards of Ozy

The chameleons at failed Ozy Media are turning orange

“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?” – Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

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It had to be one of the most reptilian moves in business: Impersonating a top corporate executive on a phone call with Goldman Sachs in a desperate bid to attract a $45 million investment for Ozy Media.

The 2021 conversation, first reported by The New York Times, went something like this (and I’m taking only a few liberties here because you can’t make this stuff up):

Oh, yeah, this is Mr. Piper. … Oh, yeah, Ozy Media has a huge audience. … Oh, yeah, I’m a big fan. … Oh, yeah, we here at YouTube are paying big bucks for their show. … Oh, yeah, you can count on massive advertising dollars. … Oh, yeah, that Carlos Watson who runs the place is the real deal. …. What’s that? … Up to $45 million? … Oh, yeah, you should feel comfortable giving Carlos whatever he wants.

Goldman Sachs executives thought the purported voice of Alex Piper, the head of unscripted programming for YouTube Originals, sounded digitally enhanced. They soon learned that Ozy Media co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Samir Rao had impersonated Piper.

Rao, who pled guilty to fraud and identity-theft charges, testified against Watson, 55, a former cable news anchor and co-founder and CEO of Ozy Media. He said Watson was in on the phony phone call, too.

Watson had long tried to blame the infamous call on Rao having a psychiatric breakdown. But on Tuesday, a jury found Watson guilty on fraud and identity-theft charges.

He will soon be making his calls on prison pay phones.

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