Uber-for-helicopters startup used a fake spokesperson for three years
The company offers chartered helicopter flights between New York City and its airports, as well as other routes such as ferrying partiers from Los Angeles to the Coachella festival.
Blade, the urban air mobility platform (or "Uber for helicopters" to most people) became the first company in that niche market to be publicly traded in May.
Until shortly before the SPAC-led IPO, the company's spokesperson "Simon McLaren" was the public-facing voice of the company, and was quoted widely in outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Fox Business, and CNN. McLaren provided comment on the growing company as it gained a high profile, offering flights between New York City and its airports, as well as other routes such as ferrying partiers from Los Angeles to the Coachella festival.
But in a revelation that would make Donald Trump John Barron proud, Business Insider discovered this week that McLaren is a fictional character, and actually a stand-in used by CEO Rob Wiesenthal and his team.
