Lucy Guo

Lucy Guo #

Introduction #

Lucy Guo, a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur and social media influencer, rose to prominence as the co-founder of Scale AI and the founder of Passes, a subscription-based platform for content creators. Named the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire by Forbes in 2025, Guo’s meteoric success in the tech industry was overshadowed by a high-profile controversy in early 2025. A class-action lawsuit alleging that her platform Passes facilitated the distribution of explicit content involving minors sparked widespread backlash on social media, leading to what many described as her “cancellation.” This article explores Guo’s background, the controversy that fueled the public outcry, and its lasting impact on her career and public image.

Background Information #

Lucy Guo was born on October 14, 1994, in Fremont, California, to Chinese immigrant parents who worked as electrical engineers. A self-taught coder from a young age, Guo developed bots for the online game Neopets as a teenager, selling in-game assets for profit. She enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University to study computer science but dropped out in 2014 after receiving a Thiel Fellowship, a $100,000 grant for young entrepreneurs to pursue projects instead of completing their degrees. Guo interned at Facebook and later joined Snapchat as its first female designer before working at Quora, where she met Alexandr Wang. In 2016, they co-founded Scale AI, a San Francisco-based company that provides labeled data for AI training, now valued at $25 billion.

Guo left Scale AI in 2018 after reported differences in vision with Wang but retained a nearly 5% stake, which became worth approximately $1.2 billion by 2025, earning her billionaire status. In 2019, she launched Backend Capital, a venture fund investing in early-stage startups like Ramp, and in 2022, she founded Passes, a creator economy platform designed as a “safe-for-work” alternative to OnlyFans and Patreon. Passes raised $65 million from investors like Bond Capital and attracted high-profile creators like Shaquille O’Neal and Livvy Dunne. Guo’s vibrant social media presence, with nearly 80,000 followers on X and over 100,000 on Instagram, amplified her persona as a glamorous, unapologetic tech founder.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

In February 2025, Lucy Guo and Passes faced a bombshell class-action lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida, alleging that the platform knowingly allowed the distribution of explicit content involving minors, violating federal child exploitation laws. The controversy, which erupted on social media, centered on claims that Guo personally intervened to override safety controls, enabling underage creators to post illicit material. Below are the key incidents and allegations that fueled the cancellation attempts:

  1. Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Child Exploitation (February 2025)
    The lawsuit, led by 18-year-old OnlyFans model Alice Rosenblum, claimed that Passes and Guo recruited then-17-year-old Rosenblum to create sexually explicit content for the platform between July and September 2024. According to the complaint, Passes’ agent Alec Celestin and former director of talent Lani Ginoza encouraged Rosenblum to produce nude images and videos, which were uploaded to Passes’ data storage system, “The Vault.” The suit alleged that Guo, aware of Rosenblum’s minor status, waived parental consent requirements and instructed her on uploading content, targeting “big spenders” and “whales” (high-paying subscribers). The filings claimed Passes profited from this content, violating its own guidelines prohibiting explicit material.

  2. Prior Incident with Underage Content (2024)
    In 2024, The New York Times reported that a mother had subverted Passes’ age restrictions by registering an account under her own identity to post bikini photos of her 12-year-old daughter. The account was removed after the outlet inquired, highlighting vulnerabilities in Passes’ safety protocols. This incident resurfaced during the 2025 lawsuit, amplifying accusations that Guo’s platform failed to protect minors.

  3. Alleged Involvement of Alec Celestin and Lani Ginoza
    The lawsuit named Celestin, a self-described talent agent with an equity stake in Passes, and Ginoza as key figures in the scheme. It claimed they used Passes’ messaging system to market Rosenblum’s explicit content. While Guo denied Celestin was an employee or agent, his January 5, 2025, X post bragging about helping build Passes as a “unicorn” contradicted her claims, fueling speculation of her complicity.

  4. Guo’s Public Denials and Social Media Response (March 2–6, 2025)
    On March 2, 2025, Guo took to X to deny the allegations, stating, “The lawsuit, at least as it is related to Passes AND myself, is utterly meritless. I HAD ZERO interaction with the plaintiff… Alec Celestin was not an agent of Passes nor was he ever an employee.” She claimed Passes swiftly removed reported illicit content and accused Rosenblum’s attorney of a “coordinated attempt to defame” her and Passes. On Instagram Stories, Guo reiterated, “We disapprove of the actions allegedly taken by the plaintiff’s talent manager and any attempt to involve us in this matter is baseless.” Critics on X, however, questioned her denial, citing Celestin’s public association with Passes.

  5. Fanfix Lawsuit (Early 2025)
    Earlier in 2025, competitor Fanfix sued Passes and Guo, accusing her and Celestin of unfair business practices and using stolen confidential information to recruit creators. While not directly tied to the child exploitation allegations, this lawsuit added to the narrative of unethical conduct, further damaging Guo’s reputation on social media.

The allegations, reported by outlets like Daily Mail, People, and Forbes, went viral on X, with users labeling Guo a “predator” and accusing her of exploiting minors for profit. The controversy was framed as a betrayal of Passes’ “family-friendly” branding, leading to widespread calls for accountability.

Public Reaction and Consequences #

The public reaction to the lawsuit was swift and severe, particularly on X, where Guo faced intense scrutiny. Users condemned her alleged role in bypassing safety controls, with posts like one from @TechEthicsWatch (March 3, 2025) stating, “Lucy Guo’s Passes marketed itself as safe for teens, yet lawsuit claims she personally enabled child exploitation. Billionaires aren’t above accountability.” Another user, @CreatorRights (March 5, 2025), wrote, “Guo’s denial rings hollow when her own agent bragged about building Passes. This is a stain on the creator economy.” The backlash extended to Guo’s billionaire status, with some accusing her of prioritizing wealth over ethics.

Mainstream media amplified the controversy, with Daily Mail calling Guo a “Miami party girl” and Forbes noting the “dark corner” of the creator economy exposed by the lawsuit. Supporters, however, argued Guo was being unfairly targeted, with X user @TechDefender2025 (March 6, 2025) claiming, “This smells like a smear campaign to take down a successful female founder. Where’s the evidence Guo herself approved this?” Passes’ legal team filed a motion to dismiss on April 28, 2025, invoking Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants platforms immunity from third-party content. They labeled the lawsuit a “transparent attempt” to target Guo’s wealth and Passes’ success.

The controversy led to immediate changes at Passes. In February 2025, the platform banned creators under 18, reversing its policy allowing 15- to 17-year-olds to join with parental consent. Guo’s public image took a hit, with her Instagram posts flooded with comments referencing the lawsuit. Despite her denials, the allegations damaged Passes’ reputation, with some creators reportedly distancing themselves from the platform.

Current Status #

As of July 29, 2025, Lucy Guo remains the CEO of Passes, which continues to operate despite the ongoing lawsuit. The class-action case is still pending in Florida federal court, with Guo and Passes vigorously contesting the allegations. Guo has maintained an active social media presence, posting on X about her work and lifestyle, including a July 20, 2025, post about attending a tech conference in Los Angeles. Recent X gossip reflects ongoing criticism, with @Justice4Creators (July 25, 2025) alleging, “Lucy Guo still hasn’t addressed the full scope of Passes’ safety failures. Her silence speaks volumes.” However, supporters like @StartupFan88 (July 27, 2025) argue, “Guo’s being targeted because she’s a young, successful woman in tech. The lawsuit’s claims are shaky at best.”

Passes has continued to secure partnerships, though no major updates on its valuation or creator base have emerged since the $40 million Series A in 2024. Guo resides in West Hollywood, sharing a home with her cats, CTO, and an engineer, and maintains her billionaire status, primarily from her Scale AI stake.

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The cancellation attempt has significantly impacted Lucy Guo’s career and public persona. The lawsuit has tarnished Passes’ reputation as a “safe” platform, potentially deterring creators and investors. The earlier Fanfix lawsuit and 2024 New York Times report compounded perceptions of mismanagement, raising questions about Guo’s oversight as CEO. While Passes’ legal team argues the allegations are baseless, the controversy has shifted focus from Guo’s entrepreneurial achievements to ethical concerns, with Inc. noting it as a “dark cloud” over her legacy.

Professionally, Guo’s billionaire status and Scale AI stake remain intact, providing financial security. However, her reputation as a tech founder has taken a hit, with social media narratives framing her as reckless or exploitative. The backlash has also highlighted the challenges of managing underage creators in the creator economy, a sector Guo helped pioneer. Her decision to ban under-18 creators was a direct response to the controversy, signaling a shift in Passes’ strategy to mitigate further risks.

Personally, Guo has maintained her unapologetic persona, emphasizing her workaholic lifestyle in interviews with Fortune and The Cut. She told Fortune on June 22, 2025, that her 90-hour workweeks don’t feel like work because she loves her job, suggesting resilience in the face of criticism. However, the controversy has likely strained her public image, with her party-heavy Instagram presence clashing with the gravity of the allegations. X posts indicate ongoing polarization, with some defending her as a victim of a smear campaign and others demanding accountability.

The scandal has broader implications for the creator economy, exposing vulnerabilities in platforms that allow young users. Guo’s experience underscores the risks of rapid growth without robust safety measures, particularly for female founders under intense scrutiny. While she remains a trailblazer—celebrated by Forbes and Entrepreneur for unseating Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire—her legacy is now tied to this controversy. Her ability to navigate the lawsuit and rebuild trust in Passes will determine her long-term standing in tech and media.

In conclusion, Lucy Guo’s cancellation reflects the volatile intersection of social media, legal accountability, and public perception. While her wealth and entrepreneurial track record provide a buffer, the allegations have cast a shadow over her achievements, making her a polarizing figure in the tech world.