Is this probable given how much risk he would be taking on himself in this situation? It could be a career-and-company-ending move.

> It could be a career-and-company-ending move.

Are you kidding me? What world do you live in where corporate executives and companies are punished for lying?

Most cases you're probably thinking about are of CEOs of big companies issuing CYA-statements that minimize legal attack surface. Here, the guy just exposed himself completely. Also Reddit is not Goldman Sachs; it's value is directly proportional to how much people like the company, and Reddit finds itself in the middle of another funding round.

I do see a great potential for bad consequences here.

I doubt the unemployed guy would have the resources to mount a legal attack anyway. As for bad PR, take a look at this thread (or the reddit thread): the majority of people are reflexively siding with the CEO.

Reddit just raised $50 million. A lawsuit is the kind of thing some lawyers take essentially on commission when the target has money.