It’s official: Kevin O’Leary, one of the big-name investors from Shark Tank, and Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Dodgers, are teaming up to save TikTok from a possible nationwide ban in the U.S. The duo is working on a bold plan to purchase TikTok’s U.S. operations, and if all goes well, they’ll ensure that the platform stays safe, secure, and American-owned.
Here’s the scoop: Kevin and Frank have formed a group called People’s Bid for TikTok, with the mission to keep the popular video app alive and well in the U.S. The group is offering to buy TikTok from ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns it. But they’re not just looking to buy it—they want to rebuild it, focusing on protecting the privacy of the 170 million American users.
Kevin O’Leary is all-in on this. In a statement, he said, “Together with Frank, we aim to deliver an American-owned platform that safeguards national security.” O’Leary is confident that their vision, along with some business know-how from President-elect Trump, could lead to a deal that benefits everyone involved.
Before this partnership, Kevin was already working on a way to purchase TikTok by teaming up with other investors, even launching a crowdfunding campaign. But now, that effort is merging into People’s Bid, making the bid even stronger.
Frank McCourt added that this team is the only one with a “clean, American-made tech stack,” meaning they can offer a smooth transition for TikTok without disrupting the app’s beloved algorithm.
The Bigger Picture: Why TikTok’s Future is Uncertain
TikTok’s future in the U.S. has been in jeopardy since 2020. Back then, then-President Trump tried to shut down the app over concerns about national security. The worry? That TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could share user data with the Chinese government or use the app to spread disinformation.
After years of back-and-forth, President Biden signed a law in April that gave ByteDance an ultimatum: Sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a non-Chinese entity, or face a ban.
TikTok and ByteDance didn’t back down. In May, they sued the U.S. government, arguing that a ban would violate the First Amendment and that there’s no solid proof that TikTok’s Chinese ownership is a national security risk.
Just last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the law, and now TikTok’s fate could end up in the hands of the Supreme Court. The court is set to hear arguments on Friday, so stay tuned for what’s next.
It’s a tense time for TikTok fans and creators, but O’Leary and McCourt’s bold plan could be the solution we need to keep the app running smoothly in the U.S. Let’s see what happens next!
