Gonzo media veteran Shane Smith is looking to return to Vice, the once-thriving company he co-founded before a series of scandals forced it into bankruptcy last year.
The 54-year-old exposé will become a correspondent for Vice News and return to creating content for the media brand.
The Brooklyn-based store laid off many employees in a major reorganization earlier this year.
Smith also hosts a podcast called “Vice News: The Truth” on Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios network.
The video podcast, which will feature occasional appearances from Maher, who is also host of Max’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” is scheduled to debut this summer and air on Vice’s TV channel.
Maher was a producer on the HBO series Vice, a newsmagazine-style show that delves into domestic and international issues, and in which Smith often appeared.
Vice said Smith will also appear on other news networks, provide commentary on the 2024 election and create content for Vice News’ social channels.
Vice’s rapid rise is as surprising as its sudden fall. Mr. Smith used his extraordinary showmanship skills to build the company into a $5.7 billion digital media powerhouse, raising millions from top investors.
The executive stepped down as CEO of Vice in 2018 but remained as chairman of the company’s board amid widespread accusations of a toxic “boy culture” that led to a wave of complaints about sexual misconduct in millennial news media.
The company has since cut hundreds of jobs and reduced costs.
Last month, Vice and Savage Ventures formed a joint venture to “relaunch and grow Vice’s digital businesses, including Vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard, Noisey, and all associated social platforms, YouTube channels and websites.”
Smith’s return, coinciding with the upcoming presidential election, is a way for Vice to regain some confidence, but it remains to be seen whether audiences will take an interest in the bombastic executive.
“This presidential election may be the craziest ever, and that’s saying something,” Smith said in a statement. Obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
Smith continued: “Once again, we’ll be teaming up with Bill to break down what’s true, what’s false, and what narratives are being pushed as social media becomes more inundated with crazier memes and theories than ever before.”
“We want to uncover the truth and sheer absurd insanity of this year’s major political events. Wherever the story takes us, we will follow. No matter how crazy it may seem, we will investigate. Whatever the truth is, it’s going to be the opposite of boring.”
Maher launched the podcast network in March. He told The Hollywood Reporter at the time:“I’m looking for people who aren’t just talking points. I’m looking for people who don’t say, ‘What’s the right answer here?’ before they speak.”
