Social media app Vero seemed to gain massive popularity overnight, and the #DeleteVero campaign came just as quick.
But CEO Ayman Hariri told Cheddar the backlash is over “incorrect information.”
“The things that transpired [at my old company] happened after I left,” he said.
Hariri, son of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, has come under fire for alleged human rights violations at a now-shuttered Saudi Arabian construction company where he once served as deputy CEO.
Tens of thousands of workers at the family-run business reportedly filed complaints of unpaid wages, but Hariri, who left the firm in 2013, denied any involvement.
Vero was launched in 2015, but catapulted to the top of Apple’s app store in the past week. It reimagines Instagram by removing the square-image restrictions, making it a major draw for photographers. It’s also free of ads and allows users to post more than just images and videos.
“You can share anything from your camera roll. You can share any link to anything online. You can share any song, any movie or TV show, any book, and any place,” Hariri explained.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/vero-founder-and-ceo-addresses-controversy-over-past-company-and-deletevero).
MarketWatch's Hannah Erin Lang joins Cheddar to discuss how economists are viewing Trump's immigration policy and how it will affect the job market in America.
Zack Malet, Senior Director of Business Development & Innovation, joins Cheddar to discuss ESPN experiences and how they are changing the sports travel game.
Smashburger CEO Denise Nelsen discusses how her time building the Starbucks brand gave her the tools to lead a Smashburger brand refresh, value wars, and more.
Charles Gillespie, Founder and CEO of Gambling.com Group comments on the billions of dollars in wagers placed on the outcome of the 2024 election and more.
Danny Trejo joined Cheddar to discuss his upcoming show "Mysteries Unearthed" coming to the History Channel and his most recent entrepreneurial ventures.
His Royal Highness Prince Emanuele Filiberto Di Savoia, Prince of Venice, joined Cheddar to discuss his new game that lets everyday folks feel like a royal.
GJ Hart, CEO of Red Robin, discusses the company's place in the "value wars," what's next for the restaurant and his thoughts on Shake Shack in the sky. Watch!
Chiza Vitta, Managing Director Global Analytics at S&P Global Ratings joined Cheddar to discuss S&P's recent Megatrend findings and other 2025 predictions.