Roy Philipose, a Philadelphia-based artist and entrepreneur, speaks out about the lasting impact of a viral 2014 incident at a Tesla shareholder meeting and the ongoing challenge of managing reputation online.
After people began to pay attention to the event, Philipose issued a public apology, but online communities continued to discuss and comment on the incident for years. He explains that financial stress and lack of opportunity, not a desire for attention or leadership, motivated his actions at the meeting. “I was frustrated because I was going broke, not because I wanted to be CEO. All I wanted was a retail position,” he says. As the story spread on social media and blogs, Philipose believes that users ignored the original context. “You people made assumptions without verifying. A responsible publisher would have contacted me and asked me to explain what happened.”
Philipose describes how misinformation, misinterpretation, and online commentary have affected nearly every part of his life, from professional opportunities to personal relationships and mental health. Social media users widely misinterpreted the event, fueling confusion, ridicule, and harassment. He reports that some bloggers accused him of misconduct without evidence, certain websites published his creative work without permission, and platforms such as YouTube, Reddit, and X allowed anonymous harassment and the spread of unverified claims.
Despite these challenges, Philipose continues his professional work. He developed A/X Growth, a superior investment model that outperforms the stock market, and started a music catalog on SoundCloud. He remains active in asset management and creative fields, taking control of his narrative by responding with openness and consistency.
Philipose now advocates for greater transparency and accountability in digital spaces. He calls for reforms including user identification, fact-checking, and clear moderation on major platforms, and emphasizes the need for systems that allow individuals to respond to and correct false or harmful claims.
Philipose is actively pursuing legal assistance to address these matters. He also reports defamatory content and requests takedowns from platforms he identifies as sources of misinformation and harassment. “Accountability means more than owning up to something. It also means building safeguards so no one unfairly targets others,” Philipose shares. “The failure of updating the Section 230 law has damaged my name and my life.” he added.
Reflecting on his journey, Philipose says, “People should treat publishing on the internet as a privilege, not a right. When you rely on misinformation, you become misinformation. I am exhausted from all of this. I cannot police the internet forever.”
His story reminds readers to value fair treatment and accurate information online, and to keep an ongoing dialogue about digital accountability in business and society.
Learn more at royphilipose.com.
About Roy Philipose
Roy Philipose is a Philadelphia-based artist and entrepreneur whose work spans both finance and entertainment. Recognized for his steady focus on transparency, he continues to speak out about digital accountability while developing projects like the A/X Growth investment model and a diverse music catalog hosted on SoundCloud.
Contact Information:
Contact Person’s Name: Roy Philipose
Organization / Company: Royalus Group
Company website: royphilipose.com
Contact Email Address: info@royphilipose.com
City, State / Province, Country, Zip Code: Philadelphia, PA