'Not a flex': AI startup co-founder works on laptop at his own wedding. Internet not impressed

In a viral image that reignited discussions on work-life balance, Casey Mackrell, co-founder of the AI startup Thoughtly, was photographed working on his laptop during his own wedding. The picture, shared on LinkedIn by Mackrell’s fellow co-founder and Thoughtly CEO, Torrey Leonard, quickly drew widespread attention across social media platforms, prompting a wave of criticism.

The image shows Mackrell seated with a laptop at his wedding reception, while guests are seen dancing in the background. Leonard’s LinkedIn post explained the circumstances, noting that Thoughtly had recently secured a new client with a two-week deadline for launching a project. Mackrell's wedding happened to fall within that critical window. "Here he is wrapping up a pull request. At his own wedding," Leonard wrote, highlighting Mackrell’s dedication to his work.

The post did not go unnoticed, triggering an immediate backlash online. While Mackrell clarified in the comments that he returned to the celebration "two seconds later," the image sparked debate on the pressures of modern workplace culture. Many questioned whether such work practices were truly admirable or reflective of a troubling erosion of personal boundaries.