Peeple CEO to appear on Dr. Phil episode about 'poor choices' on social media
The Calgary-based co-founder of the controversial Peeple app is set to appear on an episode of Dr. Phil that will address "poor choices" on social media.
The show, set to air this Friday, will feature several guests including Peeple CEO Julia Cordray, who experienced an international backlash after pitching a smartphone application aimed at letting users review human beings.
"She's turning to Dr. Phil to help her set the record straight for what she calls her 'positivity app,'" the show's billing states.
Cordray is to appear on the same episode as a 20-year-old named Tracey who "thrives on the negative attention she gets on social media" and a 22-year-old named Anitha who has never met Tracey in real life but follows her online and is "concerned about the poor choices she sees her virtual friend making."
Changing Concept
Cordray appeared on The Calgary Eyeopener in September and explained the concept of her business, which she described as a mostly positive app but one that probably wouldn't allow people who received negative reviews to hide them.
"Let's say we allow you to delete your profile and let's say you are a person of questionable character," she said at the time. "All the people of questionable character could hide from the app and then, what's the point?"
Peeple subsequently made international headlines and criticism rained down from all directions on the concept, which was described by many opponents as invasive, juvenile, and ripe for abuse.
Cordray then shut down her company's website and social media accounts and altered the premise of the app.
"You will NOT be on our platform without your explicit permission," she wrote in a LinkedIn post. "There is no 48 hour waiting period to remove negative comments. There is no way to even make negative comments. Simply stated, if you don't explicitly say 'approve recommendation,' it will not be visible on our platform."
A new, placeholder website encouraged visitors to "Join the positive revolution" with a re-launch date of Oct. 12 but, as of Oct. 13, the website hadn't changed.
In a YouTube post, Cordray says the Oct. 16 appearance on Dr. Phil will be when she "breaks her silence" and people will "get the truth about the app."
Comments on the YouTube video are disabled.
