Chaos At Wash Po: Whinegate Turns The Newspaper Into A Jerry Springer Episode
The Washington Post reporters are in hot water and as the paper turns into a “B” rated Reality Television show. If this is what spilled out of the paper into the public eye imagine the drama behind closed doors.
Things got so bad that Executive Editor Sally Buzbee to no avail sent a memo asking staff members to knock it off.
As they usually do the entire dust-up occurred on social media when political reporter David Weigel reposted a social media joke that was a bit obscene.
“Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it’s polar or sexual,” wrote YouTuber Cam Harless in a post that Weigel “retweeted.”
Weigel’s colleague Felicia Sonmez immediately took a screenshot of the post and then posted it on social media attacking her fellow reporter.
“I just removed a retweet of an offensive joke,” Weigel tweeted later on that day. “I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm.”
I just removed a retweet of an offensive joke. I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm.
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) June 3, 2022
But the controversy didn’t end there.
Other vultures in the media pounced and it forced Kristine Coratti Kelly, the paper’s chief communications officer to issue a statement.
“Editors have made clear to the staff that the tweet was reprehensible and demeaning language or actions like that will not be tolerated,” she told CNN’s, Oliver Darcy.
Then the controversy blew up.
Sonmez only originally posted her social media shaming comment after she had already spoken internally with Washington Post staff and only made the comment because she wasn’t happy with management’s response (these people are nuts).
Then another Post reporter, Jose Del Real jumped in telling Sonmez that she should accept Weigel’s apology instead of “rallying the internet to attack him for a mistake he made,” which “doesn’t actually solve anything.”
“Felicia, we all mess up from time to time,” Del Real wrote. “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…There is such a thing as challenging with compassion.”
That only incensed Sonmez who went back on social media to blast Del Real.
I swear, millennials have turned our institutions into middle schools.
“When women stand up for themselves, some people respond with even more vitriol. Last night, a Post colleague publicly attacked me for calling out another colleague’s sexist tweet. He first hid any replies objecting to his attacks, and now seems to have deleted his account,” she wrote.
“Objecting to sexism is not “clout chasing.” It’s not “harassment.” And it’s certainly not “cruelty.” Does the Washington Post agree? @SallyBuzbee @mateagold Here is a personal thread I wrote last night about why speaking out matters to me and other women,” she added.
Del Real and Sonmez then began to spat on social media.
From Mediaite:
Del Real attempted to debate Sonmez, arguing that he supported her efforts to fight “sexism and misogyny,” but encouraging her to “reconsider the cruelty you regularly unleash against colleagues.”
“I reject your attempt to make a specific critique of your regular public bullying into a sweeping opera about principles,” Del Real added, reiterating that Weigel’s retweet was offensive, and had been “strongly condemned internally,” so therefore he was “confused about [her] implication otherwise.” He also mentioned that he was a “gay Mexican American” and didn’t need her to educate him “on being from a marginalized group.”
Sonmez continued torrentially tweeting throughout the day Sunday about the dispute, retweeting dozens of comments from other Twitter users supporting her.
At 11:30 am ET Sunday morning, Buzbee sent an email to the newsroom staff with the subject line “respect and kindness” attempting to address the ongoing and increasingly public infighting.
Notice how they try to out victimize each other.
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
In the latest update to the drama reporter David Weigel has been suspended for a month without pay for initial post.
I think there is less drama in American high schools than what just took place at the Washington Post. However, it is fun to watch the left destroy each other.