Apple CEO Tim Cook 'outed' as gay by CNBC co-achor
In a live TV segment of CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Friday, co-anchor Simon Hobbs caused a kerfuffle when he inadvertently "outed" Apple CEO Tim Cook as being openly gay.
The gaffe came during a discussion with New York Times columnist and CNBC contributor James Stewart, who was on the show to talk up his latest think piece dealing with corporate culture and gay executives.
Specifically, Stewart told "Squawk" anchor Carl Quintanilla that his most recent column focuses on former BP chief John Browne, who recently wrote a book dealing with the "tortured life" he led as a closeted gay CEO. Browne resigned from his post at the huge multinational oil and gas company in 2007 after being outed by a tabloid.
Stewart said he was surprised to learn that Browne is the first executive of a Fortune 500 or FTSE 100 company to publicly acknowledge that they are gay. The column explores why, in spite of civil rights advances, a stigma appears to exist at such high levels of business.
"I just found it very, very fascinating," Stewart said. "Of course, there are gay CEOs in major companies, and I reached out to many them. I got an extremely cool reception -- not one would allow to be named in the column."
Then Hobbs jumped in.
"I think Tim Cook is open about the fact he's gay at the head of Apple, isn't he," Hobbs asked. Following a stifling silence from the panel, and a disparaging shake of the head from Stewart, the anchor tried to recover. "Oh, dear, was that an error? I thought not."
The irony of Hobbs' ill-timed mistake was not lost on co-anchor David Faber, who said, "Wow, I think you just...yeah."
Listening closely, Hobbs can be heard just under the prattle of his co-anchors trying to cover for the slip, saying, "I think he's very open about it."
While Cook speaks somewhat frankly about Apple, he is notoriously guarded when it comes to his private life.
Speculation as to Cook's sexual orientation has been bandied about -- a profile from Valleywag went so far as to call Cook the "most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley" -- but the Apple chief has never "come out" publicly. Perhaps the closest thing to an acknowledgement was a speech Cook gave in December when he accepted a lifetime achievement award from his alma mater Auburn University. In it, he alluded to discrimination from his past, which was "rooted in fear of people that were different than the majority."
That Hobbs' comment -- and executives' reluctance to be named in Stewart's column -- created such a flap speaks to the current cultural climate of the corporate world, even for industries that pride themselves on being progressive. Apple itself has on multiple occasions shown support for sexual equality: contributing $100,000 to fight California's gay marriage ban in 2008; publicly applauding a U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriages in 2013; and asking Arizona's governor to veto a bill intended to legalize discrimination against gays and lesbians.
As for Cook, Stewart chose not to offer remarks on what is clearly speculation.
"I don't want to comment on anybody who might or might not be," Stewart said. "I'm not going to out anybody."
The gaffe came during a discussion with New York Times columnist and CNBC contributor James Stewart, who was on the show to talk up his latest think piece dealing with corporate culture and gay executives.
Specifically, Stewart told "Squawk" anchor Carl Quintanilla that his most recent column focuses on former BP chief John Browne, who recently wrote a book dealing with the "tortured life" he led as a closeted gay CEO. Browne resigned from his post at the huge multinational oil and gas company in 2007 after being outed by a tabloid.
Stewart said he was surprised to learn that Browne is the first executive of a Fortune 500 or FTSE 100 company to publicly acknowledge that they are gay. The column explores why, in spite of civil rights advances, a stigma appears to exist at such high levels of business.
"I just found it very, very fascinating," Stewart said. "Of course, there are gay CEOs in major companies, and I reached out to many them. I got an extremely cool reception -- not one would allow to be named in the column."
Then Hobbs jumped in.
"I think Tim Cook is open about the fact he's gay at the head of Apple, isn't he," Hobbs asked. Following a stifling silence from the panel, and a disparaging shake of the head from Stewart, the anchor tried to recover. "Oh, dear, was that an error? I thought not."
The irony of Hobbs' ill-timed mistake was not lost on co-anchor David Faber, who said, "Wow, I think you just...yeah."
Listening closely, Hobbs can be heard just under the prattle of his co-anchors trying to cover for the slip, saying, "I think he's very open about it."
While Cook speaks somewhat frankly about Apple, he is notoriously guarded when it comes to his private life.
Speculation as to Cook's sexual orientation has been bandied about -- a profile from Valleywag went so far as to call Cook the "most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley" -- but the Apple chief has never "come out" publicly. Perhaps the closest thing to an acknowledgement was a speech Cook gave in December when he accepted a lifetime achievement award from his alma mater Auburn University. In it, he alluded to discrimination from his past, which was "rooted in fear of people that were different than the majority."
That Hobbs' comment -- and executives' reluctance to be named in Stewart's column -- created such a flap speaks to the current cultural climate of the corporate world, even for industries that pride themselves on being progressive. Apple itself has on multiple occasions shown support for sexual equality: contributing $100,000 to fight California's gay marriage ban in 2008; publicly applauding a U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriages in 2013; and asking Arizona's governor to veto a bill intended to legalize discrimination against gays and lesbians.
As for Cook, Stewart chose not to offer remarks on what is clearly speculation.
"I don't want to comment on anybody who might or might not be," Stewart said. "I'm not going to out anybody."
Comments
Tim is simply the best CEO Apple can have after Steve Jobs. He will continue to be Apple's CEO for the rest of his life. Apple is his baby now.
In a live TV segment of CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Friday, co-anchor Simon Hobbs caused a kerfuffle when he inadvertently "outed" Apple CEO Tim Cook as being openly gay.
Tim Cook was already "outed" by Gawker 2 years ago.
We don't all know that. All we have are rumours and speculation to go by. You may have received hard evidence that supports your claim but we don't all know that.
Time Cook?
And why can't celebrities be gay while they are still celebrities?? We always hear their confessions when they are living in studio apartments and surviving on food stamps.
Shame about the ex-BP CEO.
We don't all know that. All we have are rumours and speculation to go by. You may have received hard evidence that supports your claim but we don't all know that.
Now there's a euphemism I've never heard before.
I find the wording of that first sentence to be awkward as it only becomes clear after reading the rest of the text. Perhaps, "...co-anchor Simon Hobbs caused a kerfuffle when he stated Tim Cook was openly gay, potentially outing the Cupertino* CEO."
* I have noticed AI doing that anymore. Remember when they used to refer to Apple as the Cupertino something maker?
Such an incredibly well-thought-out question demands an equally deep counter-question...
SO?
Has the column, or American in general still think the world == America? In spite of civil rights from where?
Most if not all FT 500 are multinational. Have luck trying to explain that to those country that civil rights hasn't advanced ( So to speak in American points of view )
And i continue to think whether CEO's sexual orientation, or the support of sexual orientation ( Brendan Eich ) are entirely their own business as long as they keep it to themselves.
Please just leave those people's private life along.
and?
However, we do know that James Stewart from the NY Slimes is.
CNBC and other so called financial news channels are acting in their own self interest, not yours. Period. End of story...
That's Tim's secret identity