Washington Post Writer Apologizes for Retweet of Sexist Tweet Claiming ‘Every Girl is Bi’

 ”I just removed a retweet of an offensive joke. I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm,“ David Weigel wrote

Washington Post veteran political reporter David Weigel has apologized for retweeting a sexist tweet after he was called out by his female colleague.

Friday Weigel retweeted a tweet from YouTuber Cam Harless, who wrote, “Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it’s polar or sexual.”

Felicia Sonmez, who covers politics also at WaPo, put Weigel on blast, tweeting, “Fantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed!”

“Editors have made clear to the staff that the tweet was reprehensible and demanding language or actions like that will not be tolerated,” Washington Post Spokesperson Kristine Coratti Kelly said in a statement given to CNN.

CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy shared on Twitter a message Washington Post national editor Matea Gold wrote to staffers that said, “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.”

Following the backlash, Weigel removed the retweet from his Twitter page and issued an apology: “I just removed a retweet of an offensive joke. I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm,” Weigel tweeted.

Last year, Sonmez sued the Washington Post for discrimination. She also sued former executive editor Marty Baron and other editors at the paper.

Sonmez sued for discrimination she said she experienced after revealing she is a sexual assault survivor. Baron retired from his role in February 2021, but under his leadership, Sonmez was banned from covering stories that involve sexual assault. In March 2021, she announced on Twitter — after colleagues rallied around her — that the ban, which impacted her ability to cover #MeToo and the allegations that surfaced against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation process, had been lifted.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere. The Washington Post needs to do better. I just want to do my job,” Sonmez tweeted the day before saying the ban was lifted, tagging editors Steven Ginsberg, Cameron Barr, Lori Montgomery and Peter Wallsten. Ginsberg, Barr and Montgomery were named in Thursday’s suit, as was managing editor Tracy Grant.

https://www.thewrap.com/washington-post-david-weigel-apologizes-retweet-sexist-tweet/

Washington Post Fires Reporter Felicia Sonmez Following Twitter Debacle

The Washington Post on Thursday fired political reporter Felicia Sonmez, according to multiple media reports. Her exit comes shortly after Sonmez publicly clashed with colleagues and the paper's leadership over a sexist retweet by fellow political reporter David Weigel.

Last Friday, Sonmez called Weigel out for sharing a tweet by YouTuber Cam Harless that read "Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it's polar or sexual."

"Fantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed!" she replied.

Weigel later removed the tweet and apologized, writing "I did not mean to cause any harm." Higher-ups such as national editor Matea Gold issued internal statements to the staff assuring that "The Post is committed to maintaining a respectful workplace for everyone. We do not tolerate demeaning language or actions."

However, reports of internal conflict over the debacle and leadership's response surfaced before and after the paper on Tuesday suspended Weigel without pay for a month. Many colleagues have voiced their support for Sonmez on Twitter, while others added fuel to the fire, with one reporter even going so far as to accuse her of bullying.

This isn't Sonmez' first run-in with top brass during her dozen years working at the Post. In 2021, she sued the Post and former executive editor Marty Baron for blocking her from writing stories about sexual assault after she came out as a survivor. In March of that year, she announced that the ban had been lifted, and the discrimination suit was dismissed a year later.

Sonmez was placed on administrative leave in January 2020 after she retweeted a Daily Beast article about Kobe Bryant's sexual assault allegations in the wake of the basketball player's death. The New York Times reported that Sonmez received a barrage of violent threats and messages. The Washington Post Guild issued a statement of support, and Sonmez was reinstated the following day.

Earlier today, Sonmez tweeted a long thread addressing the Post's "systemic issues that run far deeper than a single tweet by any employee."

"I care deeply about my colleagues, and I want this institution to provide support for all employees," she wrote. "Right now, the Post is a place where many of us fear our trauma will be used against us, based on the company's past actions."

Sonmez did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment. Kris Coratti Kelly, Chief Communications Officer of The Washington Post said in a statement: "We do not discuss personnel matters."

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/tv/news/washington-post-fires-reporter-felicia-sonmez-following-twitter-debacle/ar-AAYheEc?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAggNb9