sometimes (maybe even most of the time) socially manipulative behavior is destructive. but surely not all the time. for example, it might enable you to build a world leading ai company
Sure I had to ruin a few careers, but look at all the shareholder value I created.
There is a level of whitewashing, gaslighting or to put it very gently "less than truthful accounting" of what actual success takes in the whole "gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette" argument.
It's a choice, not a necessity and people need to stop acting like their hand was forced to make unnecessary or unpopular decisions. It's not illegal to be a shitty person, but you can't just Dj Khalid yourself out of backlash by proclaiming "that ain't me / no I didn't" and expecting the people around you to agree.