Suit: Snapchat CEO Said App Was 'Only for Rich People'

Snapchat's "elusive" CEO may want to stay under the radar until the latest hubbub surrounding something he supposedly said clears up. Business Insider reports that Snap chief Evan Spiegel is being sued by Anthony Pompliano, who worked for the company for just a few weeks in 2015, with Pompliano alleging the company tweaked data and misled advertisers, per BGR India. But it's Pompliano's recollection of a meeting between himself and Spiegel in September of that year to discuss growth in untapped markets that's making waves, with Pompliano claiming his boss scoffed at the idea of the Snapchat app proliferating in less privileged nations. "This app is only for rich people," Spiegel said, per the suit's transcript, which appears in full on BGR. "I don't want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain."

Spiegel's alleged comments have caused what the Guardian deems a "public relations crisis" in India, with the hashtags #BoycottSnapchat and #UninstallSnapchat leaping to the front of Twitter trends over the weekend. Ratings in Apple and Google's app stores have also plummeted, with a slew of new one-star reviews. "Don't mess with India," one commenter posted on Twitter in a message to Spiegel and Snapchat. A Snapchat spokesperson, however, calls the claims "ridiculous" and says they were lobbed against Spiegel by a "disgruntled former employee," per Business Insider. "Obviously, Snapchat is for everyone! It's available worldwide to download for free," the rep adds. (McDonald's just teamed with Snapchat for a "world first.")