Despite Deleting and Apologizing For Retweet Containing ‘Sexist’ Joke, Washington Post Suspends ‘Journalist’

“Journalist” David Weigel has been suspended after a tweet that he retweeted last week contained a “sexist” joke.

The suspension comes despite Weigel deleting and apologizing for the retweet, after Felicia Sonmez, another “journalist” at the publication, called attention to Weigel’s retweet.

The tweet in question was made by YouTube personality Cam Harless, who wrote, “Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it’s polar or sexual.”

In an internal company Slack channel, Sonmez called Weigel out and tagged him while asking, “I’m sorry but what is this?”

Sonmez added that Weigel’s retweet of the joke sent “a confusing message about what the Post’s values are.”

During the discussion on Slack, Post national editor Matea Gold wrote, “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 squabble, executive editor Sally Buzbee wrote on Sunday the entire newsroom and asked employees to treat one another with “respect and kindness.”

Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw responded to a tweet from the New York Times’ Ben Mullin reporting on Buzbee’s message, “The fact that this even has to be written says a LOT about the state of this newsroom.”

“Buzbee must feel like a middle school counselor trying to negotiate fights between cliques of mean girls and boys,” Pushaw added.

The fact that this even has to be written says a LOT about the state of this newsroom. Buzbee must feel like a middle school counselor trying to negotiate fights between cliques of mean girls and boys

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 5, 2022

Sonmez denounced Buzbee’s memo to staff by sharing a screenshot and claiming that it provided “fodder for more harassment” of female employees.

American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Christina Sommers also replied to Mullin by sharing Sonmez’s denouncement and she called it, “Neither a collegial nor reasonable reaction in my view.”

Sonmez’ responded by publicly denouncing Buzbee’s plea for collegiality as “fodder for more harassment.” Neither a collegial nor reasonable reaction in my view. pic.twitter.com/UzTpvnjMm6

— Christina Sommers (@CHSommers) June 5, 2022