BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK) has come under scrutiny following controversial statements made by its technology recruiter, Serge Varlay. Varlay claimed that financial institutions, including BlackRock, exert significant influence over politics through campaign financing. He also suggested that ongoing conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, are beneficial for business due to the resulting market volatility. Following the release of the video in which these statements were made, Varlay deactivated his LinkedIn profile.