> For example, hired person appreciates the opportunity/faith extended to them, or otherwise picks up on the need to rise to the occasion.
I don't think it would make sense to tell a hired person "you barely got in here, everybody hated you except for one interviewer".
Many people can pick up on that situation, during or after.
Depends how you phrase it.
"Jessica is the reason we hired you - she says you'll be great here and when she says that she's always right" technically says "we weren't going to hire you", but also "we all believe in you".
Just noting: that situation around that assessment can affect the outcome.
For example, hired person appreciates the opportunity/faith extended to them, or otherwise picks up on the need to rise to the occasion.
Or a manager or other staff sees/treats the person differently because of the circumstances (e.g., gives the hire more guidance because they think the hire will need it, wants the hire to succeed because a founder has blessed them, or just sees the person more favorably because they trust the opinion of someone else).