I also considered Charlie Lee's act as manipulation of public opinion. However, soon the whole market fell, and bitcoin, and litecoin, and other currencies. Perhaps he wanted to warn people. Who understood his hint, they changed everything to Tether and then bought coins much cheaper. This is only one of the assumptions.
he has probably been the most honest developer that i have ever seen, why do you think that he is manipulating his public?
Came on, Charlie Lee's is probably the founder of the most succesfull coin, it made more than 3000% in just a single year, he deserves that.