Blank orange business card in a hand with phrase Enron Scandal .

Key Takeaways:

Satirical Enron Relaunch: A parody revival of Enron, 23 years after its collapse, includes social media posts, billboards, and a Houston Chronicle ad, with a satirical nod to crypto.
Mixed Reactions: While some appreciate the humor, former employees and others affected by the original scandal find the prank distasteful.
Historical Parody: The prank revisits Enron’s legacy of deception, using parody to highlight past failures while sparking debate on its appropriateness.

Twenty-three years after the collapse of Enron due to a massive accounting fraud scandal, the infamous brand has resurfaced in a satirical relaunch, teasing the idea of a crypto token.

On December 2, the anniversary of Enron’s 2001 bankruptcy, a parody account posted on X (formerly Twitter) announcing the company’s “return” as a solution to the global energy crisis.

why'd you delete this tweet? pic.twitter.com/8tVGDi9Sr7
— Ben Gillin (@bengillin) December 2, 2024

The prank included billboards in Houston, a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle, and a now-deleted post hinting at a future crypto token.

The satirical website, using Enron’s original domain, emphasized the performance-art nature of the prank, stating it is protected by the First Amendment.

Connor Gaydos, co-founder of the firm owning Enron’s trademark and creator of other parodies like “Birds Aren’t Real,” was reportedly involved.

Reactions were mixed.

While some found humor in revisiting Enron’s notorious history, critics like Diana Peters, a victim of Enron’s collapse, condemned it as insensitive.

Whistleblower Sherron Watkins viewed the joke more leniently, noting humor’s role in addressing past trauma.

Enron’s collapse in 2001, caused by fraudulent accounting practices hiding billions in debt, resulted in the loss of 20,000 jobs and landmark corporate oversight reforms.

Despite the prank’s comedic intent, for many, Enron’s legacy remains deeply painful.