The ‘new’ Elizabeth Holmes has abandoned her ‘weird’ deep voice
Convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes wants people to call her “Liz” after she gave up her deep voice and tech turtlenecks following the collapse of her company, Theranos.
The disgraced CEO, 39, has spoken out in a bid to rehabilitate her image, following a last-minute appeal that saw her release from more than 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in the science and tech world. avoided.
In interviews and TED Talks from when Holmes was at her peak and speaking to the world’s media about her “revolutionary” scientific discovery, she spoke in a deep, concise tone.
But in the May 7 profile by the New York TimesHolmes claimed she built a persona that was not “authentic” when she tried to promote Theranos and was heralded as an innovator.
She said she’s actually not the kind of person who would wear black turtlenecks, red lipstick and use an authoritative voice.
Instead, Holmes now portrayed herself as a loving mother of two who wears a “bucket hat and sunglasses” and enjoys walks through the San Diego Zoo.
Elizabeth Holmes, pictured left in her 2014 heyday, spoke in a short, deep voice. But now she wants to go by Liz after being found guilty of fraud. She is pictured in court in 2022
In the feature, the NYT reporter who spent time with Holmes said, “In case you’re wondering, Ms. Holmes speaks in a soft, slightly low, but totally unobtrusive voice, no trace of the guttural contralto she used while running of her deceased. blood test start-up Theranos.’
And she said even her partner Billy Evans admits the voice was “really weird.”
Holmes said ex-Theranos COO Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani forced her to adopt the black turtleneck and red lipstick persona. She said, “He used to tell me to ‘kill Elizabeth’ so I could be a good entrepreneur.”
His lawyers have rejected the claims.
Holmes talked about how “down-to-earth” she supposedly is, sharing how in 2019 she and Evans spent half the year sleeping in campgrounds and Walmart parking lots.
She also shared how she spent part of the past year volunteering at a rape crisis center in an effort to present herself in a more relatable light, while defending her actions while promoting her future as a health technology innovator.
Federal court documents submitted by Holmes prior to her sentencing showed that the conwoman and Evans enjoyed their trip, which appears to have encompassed much of the lower 48 states.
Speaking of Theranos, Holmes acknowledged that she made numerous mistakes due to her lack of knowledge and understanding at the time.
But the New York Times is now being criticized online for its favorable portrayal of the mother-of-two who scammed people out of millions of dollars while promoting a blood testing service that never really worked.
In interviews from her heyday, Elizabeth Holmes spoke in a deep voice – which she now admits was put on
Holmes looked comfortable and casual in an all black designer Alo sweat suit, sandals and an oversized straw hat. She carried her newborn baby in her arms and covered her with a swaddle blanket
Elizabeth Holmes barefoot enjoying her last few days of freedom in San Diego, CA with her boyfriend Billy Evans and children William and Invicta
Elizabeth Holmes sits in court to be sentenced for her convictions for defrauding investors in blood testing startup at the federal courthouse in San Jose, California, November 18, 2022
Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes on November 18, 2022 in San Jose, California
Holmes said that when District Judge Edward J. Davilla set a date for her 2019 criminal fraud trial, she and Evans traveled across the United States in an RV for six months as prosecutors worked to convict her.
“Although that period was a crisis and Theranos was my life and like my child, I gave it my all,” she said.
But once it was gone, “I became free too.”
And speaking of her relationship with Evans, Holmes said, “Finding your person in the midst of it all and experiencing that love when you’re going through hell is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
She was named as one of Forbes’ 400 in 2014
She had previously alleged that her former partner and ex-Theranos COO Ramesh ‘Sunny’ Balwani physically and emotionally abused her, revealing that she was a victim of sexual assault during her time at Stanford University.
Those experiences, she said, led her to volunteer at a rape crisis hotline.
Holmes also acknowledged in the interviews that she made “so many mistakes” claiming “there was so much that I didn’t know and understand, and I feel like when you get it wrong it’s like you really internalize it in a deep way .
Still, she said, the company could have changed healthcare forever if it had actually worked the way she thought it would.
Her so-called Edison machine had promised to test a small amount of blood in minutes to detect dozens of medical problems.
Based on this promise, pharmacy giant Walgreens decided to partner with Theranos to offer in-store blood collection centers.
In 2014, the company was reported to be worth $9 billion and Forbes ranked Holmes as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world.
But the following year, during a thorough investigation by WSJ, it was alleged that Theranos’ system produced false reports and revealed that the company had used commercially available machines from other companies for most of its testing.
Lawsuits began to pour in and Theranos collapsed in scandal, finally ending in 2018. Holmes was subsequently convicted of four counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022.
“We would have seen through our vision,” she insists, revealing that she is even working on new inventions.
The Times describes Holmes’ view as “delusional idealism.”
“I still dream of being able to contribute in that space,” Holmes said. “I still feel the same calling as ever and I still think the need is there.”
Holmes has been accused of getting pregnant to get a lighter sentence and avoid jail time.