People Think Blake Lively's CIA-Connected Hire Is Manipulating The TikTok Algorithm And Headlines

By now, you’ve heard that Blake Lively has hired Nick Shapiro, the former CIA Deputy Chief of Staff, ex-Visa exec, and now the man to steer Lively through her legal nightmare with Justin Baldoni. Shapiro was brought on to manage public relations, crisis communications, and media strategy.

Shapiro is no longer a part of the CIA, but viewers are convinced that the agency may manipulate the TikTok algorithm to suppress the news. 

The platform’s algorithm is predictable, feeding you the content you watch the most. It’s understandable why Lively and Baldoni-obsessed viewers would notice a change in their feeds. And Shapiro's career path doesn’t scream "TikTok expert," but I can see how the connections he's built in the CIA could lead people to think he’s manipulated the app. Could it be that someone with Shapiro’s background knows how to ensure that the right content (or, perhaps more importantly, not the wrong content) gets the attention it deserves?

One user, @theratchetchristian, posted a video with the caption,  "Someone said they haven't seen any Justin Baldoni vs Blake Lively news on their FYP since Blake hired that CIA agent for crisis PR and you know what? Same! Y’all ain’t slick we’re onto you."  

In a similar fashion, @aliciasosa30 wrote, “Me realizing I haven't seen any Blake Lively videos on TT ever since she hired the ex CIA PR crisis guy.”

Could Shapiro Be Behind the Casey Anthony TikTok Invasion?

It doesn’t end with the algorithm. The internet speculates that Shapiro is behind Casey Anthony joining TikTok. Yes, “America’s most hated mom” now has a TikTok account and is going into her influencer era. One comment on the platform reads, “Plot twist. CIA guy paid Casey Anthony to join TikTok. POOF. Blake is off the FYP.”

The "Toxic Positivity" Drama 

Meanwhile, as Shapiro's handling the PR for Lively’s legal battle, the drama surrounding Baldoni has intensified. The It Ends With Us director has been hit with accusations of “toxic positivity” and spiritual manipulation by former employees. 

The internet’s not a real place. Yet, I do think some of these theories are a reach. I don’t believe Blake Lively’s CIA guy is behind Casey Anthony’s TikTok account, but there is definitely a PR war between Baldoni and his co-star. 

This high-profile case has captured the attention of millions of Americans because it goes beyond on-set drama. We’re witnessing the power of influence, the manipulation of headlines, and how easy it is to create stories. Is Shapiro secretly pulling the strings to get Lively's legal drama out of sight? Who knows.  But the next time you’re reading an article from mainstream media or scrolling through social media, ask yourself if you’re getting the whole story or being fed what they want you to think.

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