A silly joke, retweeted by a Washington Post political reporter, has sparked a slew of online Twitter feuds among WaPo staffers and forced a good talking to from Executive Editor Sally Buzbee — one that promptly triggered a brand new avalanche of acrimony.
As previously reported, all hell broke loose when Washington Post reporter David Weigel retweeted a joke from YouTuber Cam Harless that stated, “Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it’s polar or sexual.”
Fellow WaPo national political reporter Felicia Sonmez did not find the joke amusing, firing back, “Fantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed!”
Fantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed! pic.twitter.com/zs4dX4qprH
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 3, 2022
And with that, “Bi-Gate” was born.
Weigel tried to assuage the woke mob by deleting the tweet and apologizing profusely.
“I just removed a retweet of an offensive joke. I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm,” he tweeted.
But blood was already in the water, and nothing was going to hold back the faux outrage.
Blue check accounts from myriad media members chimed in on the controversy.
“You are still misogynistic trash,” declared “The Weekly List” podcaster Amy Siskind. “Can’t believe @washingtonpost still employs someone with such deep-seated beliefs. Definitely clouds his ability to report unbiased facts.”
You are still misogynistic trash. Can’t believe @washingtonpost still employs someone with such deep-seated sexist beliefs. Definitely clouds his ability to report unbiased facts.
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) June 3, 2022
CNN’s Oliver Darcy reported that WaPo chief spokesperson, Kristine Coratti Kelly, had issued a statement on the matter: “Editors have made clear to the staff that the tweet was reprehensible and demeaning language or actions like that will not be tolerated.”
WaPo chief spox @kriscoratti issues statement on @daveweigel's retweet of a sexist joke, which he has since apologized for: “Editors have made clear to the staff that the tweet was reprehensible and demeaning language or actions like that will not be tolerated.”
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 3, 2022
According to Darcy, National Editor Matea Gold weighed in on WaPo’s Slack channel, saying, “I just want to assure all of you that The Post is committed to maintaining a respectful workplace for everyone. We do not tolerate demeaning language or actions.”
In Slack, a conversation took place about the retweet. @MateaGold wrote to staffers in the Slack channel, “I just want to assure all of you that The Post is committed to maintaining a respectful workplace for everyone. We do not tolerate demeaning language or actions.”
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 3, 2022
Fellow WaPo reporter Jose A. Del Real jumped into the fray, scolding Sonmez for harassing Weigel.
“Felicia, we all mess up from time to time,” he tweeted. “Engaging in repeated and targeted public harassment of a colleague is neither a good look nor is it particularly effective. It turns the language of inclusivity into clout chasing and bullying. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“Dave’s retweet is terrible and unacceptable,” he continued. “But rallying the internet to attack him for a mistake he made doesn’t actually solve anything. We all mess up in some way or another. There is such a thing as challenging with compassion.”
Felicia, we all mess up from time to time. Engaging in repeated and targeted public harassment of a colleague is neither a good look nor is it particularly effective. It turns the language of inclusivity into clout chasing and bullying. I don’t think this is appropriate.
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 4, 2022
Dave’s retweet is terrible and unacceptable. But rallying the internet to attack him for a mistake he made doesn’t actually solve anything. We all mess up in some way or another. There is such a thing as challenging with compassion.
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 4, 2022
For that, Del Real was promptly and repeatedly targeted and publicly harassed.
It got ugly.
Fighting sexism and misogyny matters deeply to me. I will always admire your bravery in sharing your story. And I support your fight against retribution for doing so.
Entirely separately, I hope you reconsider the cruelty you regularly unleash against colleagues.
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 5, 2022
I reject your attempt to make a specific critique of your regular public bullying into a sweeping opera about principles. As I said, Weigel’s retweet was offensive and *should* be called out. It was strongly condemned internally. So I’m confused about your implication otherwise.
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 5, 2022
And for what it’s worth, I’m a gay Mexican American. You don’t need to educate me on being from a marginalized group.
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 5, 2022
Finally, Executive Editor Sally Buzbee spoke out, sending an admonishing memo to her staff and telling them to be respectful.
“We expect the staff to treat each other with respect and kindness both in the newsroom and online,” she stated. “We are a collegial and creative newsroom doing an astonishing amount of important and groundbreaking journalism. One of the great strengths of our newsroom is our collaborative spirit.”
“The Washington Post is committed to an inclusive and respectful environment free of harassment, discrimination or bias of any sort,” she continued. “When issues arise, please raise them with leadership or human resources and we will address them promptly and firmly.”
In the wake of the recent social media dustups involving WaPo journalists, Executive Editor Sally Buzbee sends a memo to journalists admonishing them to treat each other with respect and kindness: pic.twitter.com/nRd5h0kLLD
— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) June 5, 2022
Then things got really ugly.
Example 5 billion and then some. Especially great when a statement from your newspaper’s executive editor provides fodder for *more* harassment. pic.twitter.com/nwNLPOcSDm
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 5, 2022
In hopes of de-escalating, I temporarily deactivated my account, amid a barrage of online abuse directed by one person but carried out by an eager mob. The one-sided attacks continued even after I stopped engaging. I know the old adage: Hurt people hurt people. But what then? 2/6
— Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) June 5, 2022
Meanwhile, CNN’s Darcy was embroiled in a Twitter scandal over WaPo reporter Taylor Lorenz’s coverage of commentary by social media “influencers” on the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial.
WaPo's 2nd correction indicated one influencer was asked for comment "via Instagram" before publication. The influencer is saying that isn't true and Lorenz is now saying she reached out after. Small detail in grand scheme but weird WaPo can't get this basic detail straight. https://t.co/kBFX0HSOn6
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 4, 2022
It’s been nothing less than a virtual mosh pit, with journalists competing to out-outrage each other — an exhausting look into the petty, irrational, and unprofessional lengths some in mainstream media will go to virtue signal their self-righteous commitment indignation over things that should never play out on social media.
As of Sunday afternoon, Sonmez was, incredibly, still waiting for an apology.
So far I’ve received no apology from my colleague for baselessly accusing me of engaging in “bullying,” “harassment” and “cruelty” — just for objecting to a sexist tweet.
I did, however, receive an email from him accusing me of fostering a “toxic workplace.” And now this! https://t.co/xrP9VO0KxL pic.twitter.com/g0ChLWQslf
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 5, 2022
As one Twitter user put it, there is a third “bi” that must be considered in this mess, as it could explain a lot:
https://twitter.com/alittleskittish/status/1533089447432028160?s=20&t=0rBb2VhQFk_fqzIzpjHJgw
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