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Byron’s BuzzFeed Mercy Play

Byron Allen is betting $20 million that he can resuscitate the faded quiz-and-listicle destination with a… wait for it… pivot to video. Is this the most foolhardy investment since Rupert’s bet on Vice, or does Allen know something we don’t?

Byron Allen
BuzzFeed feels less like a transformative strategic acquisition than the kind of deal commensurate with Byron Allen’s place in the media hierarchy: recognizable enough to generate headlines, but small and distressed enough to be attainable. Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Byron Allen AMG/TheGRIO Awards
Dylan Byers
May 13, 2026

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On Monday, after news broke that comedian turned media entrepreneur Byron Allen was buying a majority stake in BuzzFeed and effectively rescuing Jonah Peretti’s erstwhile viral listicle giant from bankruptcy, I began texting bankers, media executives, and even some of Byron’s own Polo Lounge associates to ascertain the rationale behind the acquisition. (I also invited Byron on The Grill Room to explain his investment thesis. We’ll see…)