Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, dubbed “Pharma Bro” for his flippant reaction to accusations of price gouging in the 2010s, says he has been released from prison.
While Shkreli broke the news to his friends and followers on Facebook, a Twitter user joked that he picked Shkreli up while hitchiking in a viral post on Twitter.
“Getting out of real prison is easier than getting out of Twitter prison,” wrote Shkreli on Facebook in a post accompanied by a selfie. On Twitter, user Edmund Sullivan joked, “Picked up this guy hitchhiking. Says he’s famous.”
Picked up this guy hitchhiking. Says he’s famous. pic.twitter.com/7XrQaII7lq
— Edmund Sullivan (@edmundsullivan) May 18, 2022
Shkreli was called America’s “most hated man” after he was alleged to have price gouged the price of HIV medication by over 4000%. Before his conviction, Shkreli maintained that he was raising the prices insurance companies paid, and his company – Vyera Pharmaceuticals, previously Turing Pharmaceuticals – was willing to work with individuals struggling to afford the drug.
He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, and was ordered to return $64.6 million. The company eventually agreed to pay $40 million.
Shkreli remains permanently banned from Twitter and from the pharmaceutical industry.
He unsuccessfully attempted to have his permanent ban from the industry lifted at the time, but New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that he shouldn’t be allowed to return.
“Americans can rest easy because Martin Shkreli is a Pharma Bro no more,” the left wing attorney general said during the hearing.
While Shkreli’s career and social media profiles may be on hold, his romantic life did not stop while incarcerated. A Bloomberg reporter who left her job to pursue a relationship with the imprisoned Shkreli claims she is still interested, even after he broke up with her and cut off all contact after she went public with the relationship.
Some conservatives, meanwhile, are already celebrating Shkreli’s release.
“I hear Martin Shkreli has been released, having paid his debt to society,” tweeted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. “2016 energy everywhere you look!”
I hear Martin Shkreli has been released, having paid his debt to society.
2016 energy everywhere you look!
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 18, 2022
