Benedict Townsend

Kenny Knox, part of the newer generation of creators, was a big beneficiary of Karen's schemes. When did you first get a sense of like Vine's kind of on the way out?

Kenny Knox, part of the newer generation of creators, was a big beneficiary of Karen's schemes. When did you first get a sense of like Vine's kind of on the way out?

Bit of an understatement. Karen was going to fight to the bitter end. Vine was still breathing, even after the failed meeting and the mass walkout. It wasn't dead yet. And if a spark of creativity had rapidly made it one of the most downloaded apps in the world when it started, why couldn't it happen again?

Bit of an understatement. Karen was going to fight to the bitter end. Vine was still breathing, even after the failed meeting and the mass walkout. It wasn't dead yet. And if a spark of creativity had rapidly made it one of the most downloaded apps in the world when it started, why couldn't it happen again?

Back in New York, Karen cut her losses and was turbocharging the two remaining tiers, going full throttle on the new generation of creators who'd stuck by the app.

Back in New York, Karen cut her losses and was turbocharging the two remaining tiers, going full throttle on the new generation of creators who'd stuck by the app.

Interestingly, a lot of the Sprout creators that Karen and her team had identified as major talents are the same people who have gone on to be the most famous post-vine.

Interestingly, a lot of the Sprout creators that Karen and her team had identified as major talents are the same people who have gone on to be the most famous post-vine.

I watched it at the time, but I was watching it now and I was like, oh, it's Cody Code. Everyone's in this. It's crazy.

I watched it at the time, but I was watching it now and I was like, oh, it's Cody Code. Everyone's in this. It's crazy.

March 2016. As the first buds of spring begin to emerge in Central Park, power is shifting at Vine HQ.

March 2016. As the first buds of spring begin to emerge in Central Park, power is shifting at Vine HQ.

Rich Arnold recalls Team Vine being taken out for an away day with the new general manager.

Rich Arnold recalls Team Vine being taken out for an away day with the new general manager.

Yeah, that's wild. Do you remember exactly when you found out that they were shutting Vine down? Do you remember where you were, how you found out?

Yeah, that's wild. Do you remember exactly when you found out that they were shutting Vine down? Do you remember where you were, how you found out?

And then that email you described is absolutely insane. I want to take a pause for a moment because, Mary, apparently you have got hold of this email.

And then that email you described is absolutely insane. I want to take a pause for a moment because, Mary, apparently you have got hold of this email.

It's been verified as real.

It's been verified as real.