‘You Can See Everything’: Theranos whistleblower says Elizabeth Holmes is ‘still lying’ - Los Angeles Times
Still Playing the Part: Why the Theranos Whistleblower Isn’t Buying Elizabeth Holmes’s Latest Act
If you thought the Theranos saga was buried under a mountain of court filings and prison sentences, think again. The story of Elizabeth Holmes—the black-turtleneck-wearing founder who once promised to revolutionize healthcare with a single drop of blood—is back in the spotlight. But this time, it’s not just a retelling of the fraud. It’s a raw, uncomfortable look at how the former billionaire is trying to rewrite her own history.
The new documentary, You Can See Everything, directed by the legendary Errol Morris, has stirred up plenty of conversation. And for the people who were actually there—the ones who saw the house of cards collapse from the inside—the film feels like yet another performance. Tyler Shultz, the former Theranos employee who famously blew the whistle on the company’s faulty technology, isn't holding back his critique. His take? Holmes is still, quite simply, not telling the truth.
The Art of the Interview
Errol Morris is famous for his "Interrotron" technique, a filming setup that forces the subject to look directly into the camera lens while talking to the director. It creates an intimate, almost intrusive sense of eye contact with the audience. In You Can See Everything, Holmes sits through this process, and for many viewers, the result is chilling. We see a woman who has spent years perfecting a public persona—the deep voice, the intensity, the visionary glow—and now, she’s navigating a world where that persona has been dismantled by federal investigators and a jury.
Shultz, who joined Theranos with high hopes only to discover that the "revolutionary" blood-testing devices were effectively glorified paperweights, watched the film with a skeptical eye. He knows the charm. He knows the manipulation. When he looks at Holmes on screen now, he doesn't see a woman who has truly reckoned with the lives she put at risk. He sees a strategy.
"A Broken Woman" or a Master Manipulator?
One of the most debated aspects of the documentary is Holmes’s demeanor. Shultz has described her appearance as that of a "broken woman." It’s a complete pivot from the imperious, Steve Jobs-esque tech messiah we once saw on magazine covers. But here’s the catch: is the brokenness real, or is it just the newest version of the costume?
Shultz argues that the deception hasn't stopped; it has merely evolved. According to his perspective, the narrative Holmes presents in the film—that she was a well-intentioned visionary who just got a bit lost along the way—ignores the stark reality that she knowingly misled patients and doctors. When you strip away the polished corporate messaging, you’re left with the cold, hard fact that people were given false medical results because of a fantasy she refused to let go of.
For someone like Shultz, who risked his own career and reputation to pull the fire alarm on Theranos, watching Holmes attempt to "humanize" her mistakes is deeply frustrating. It’s the difference between a tragic hero in a movie and a CEO who oversaw a massive health risk in the real world.
Why We Can't Look Away
Why do we keep going back to the Theranos well? It’s been years since the company dissolved, and Holmes is currently serving time. Yet, the public fascination hasn't waned. Perhaps it’s because Holmes represents the ultimate cautionary tale of Silicon Valley—a place where "fake it till you make it" has historically been treated as a business model rather than a criminal offense.
Documentaries like Morris’s dive into the psychology of someone who could look investors, employees, and the media in the eye and spin a web of lies so convincing that billions of dollars followed. By keeping the spotlight on her, we are forced to grapple with our own complicity. Who were the people who gave her the money? Who were the journalists who didn't check the science? The film, for all its controversy, forces us to remember that this wasn't a solo act; it was a phenomenon.
The Danger of the Narrative
The core tension in the discourse surrounding this documentary is about control. For the duration of her rise, Elizabeth Holmes controlled the narrative absolutely. She told the story of the revolutionary device, the medical breakthroughs, and her own destiny. When the walls caved in, that control vanished. The trial took it away. The prison sentence took it away.
But a documentary offers a second chance at narrative control. Shultz and other critics fear that by platforming Holmes in this way, the film might inadvertently allow her to reframe her legacy. If she can convince viewers that she was a misunderstood pioneer rather than a fraudster, she wins. For those who were harmed by the inaccuracy of Theranos blood tests, that isn't just an annoyance; it’s an insult.
Shultz’s insistence that she is "still lying" is a reminder that the truth isn't something that can be polished or edited in post-production. The chemistry of blood testing is either accurate, or it isn't. The patients who were told they had cancer when they didn't, or vice-versa, don't care about the cinematic quality of a documentary. They care about the fact that the damage was real and that the person responsible is still working the room.
The Legacy of the Whistleblower
Tyler Shultz has come a long way from the disillusioned young scientist who felt he had no choice but to speak out. Today, he represents the accountability that was missing from the boardrooms of Palo Alto. His voice serves as an anchor in this conversation, pulling us back from the cinematic drama and into the ethical center of the scandal.
While the documentary industry will continue to hunt for the next big "true crime" subject, we should be wary of the platforms we provide. There is a fine line between exploring the psyche of a public figure and providing a stage for their ongoing public relations campaign. As Shultz suggests, the most important thing to look for when someone like Elizabeth Holmes speaks isn't the emotion in her eyes or the softness of her voice—it's the facts that she leaves out.
Ultimately, the story of Theranos is a lesson in the dangers of unchecked ego and the failure of institutional oversight. Whether the public chooses to believe the version of events presented in You Can See Everything or the version confirmed in a court of law remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: as long as the cameras are rolling, the battle for the truth is far from over.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Tyler Shultz, and what was his role at Theranos?
Tyler Shultz is a former Theranos employee who became a key whistleblower. He joined the company in 2013 and soon discovered that the proprietary blood-testing technology was not producing accurate results. He eventually reported his concerns to regulators, which helped trigger the downfall of the company.
What is the "Interrotron" technique mentioned in the context of the documentary?
Developed by director Errol Morris, the Interrotron is a specialized camera setup that uses a series of mirrors to allow the subject to look directly into the camera lens while simultaneously looking at the interviewer. This creates direct eye contact with the viewer, intended to make the interview feel more personal and revealing.
What does Tyler Shultz mean when he says Elizabeth Holmes is "still lying"?
Shultz suggests that despite the legal findings of fraud, Holmes continues to frame her actions as well-intentioned mistakes or the result of being "misunderstood" rather than acknowledging the deliberate, systematic deception of investors and patients. To him, this narrative shift is just another form of dishonesty.
Why is there so much interest in the Theranos scandal years later?
The Theranos story remains a major cultural fascination because it serves as a peak example of the "fake it till you make it" culture in tech. It touches on themes of unchecked corporate greed, the dangers of celebrity CEOs, and the life-and-death consequences of failing to verify scientific claims before marketing them to the public.
Is Elizabeth Holmes currently in prison?
Yes, Elizabeth Holmes began serving an 11-year prison sentence in 2023 for her role in defrauding investors. The documentary You Can See Everything provides a look at her perspective, though it has drawn criticism for appearing to sympathize with her despite the jury's verdict.
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