If you play HQ, the trivia game show app, then you probably know and love Scott Rogowsky. He's the unabashed, pun-loving, constantly-chattering host of the show, who has gained a cult following because of the app.
What really intrigues me about Scott's fame is that it stems entirely from hosting work he does for HQ, which keeps an incredibly tight on his persona. Last November, Scott agreed to do an interview with The Daily Beast, but the creators of HQ, who also made Vine (RIP), got very upset, saying that journalists have to go through the proper channels (ie. them) to contact Scott. They can't contact Scott directly, which I found very odd considering they admitted that Scott works freelance. HQ thought that Scott would say something damaging about HQ, or that he would talk about products that the app didn't have sponsorship deals with.
HQ seems to be under the impression that Scott can't say he likes Taco Bell without that reflecting on the app, which to an extent is true, since he's the only recognizable (and enjoyable) thing about the game. However, I think the tight grip they have over their host is creepy and exploitative. Even the smallest forms of celebrity will be abused and manipulated for money in our culture.
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