Posted on 06/30/2014 1:11:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The TV reporter was caught up in a discussion about the rarity of openly gay CEOs when he said, ‘I think Tim Cook is open about the fact he’s gay.’
Simon Hobbs is likely wishing he could press rewind.
The CNBC co-anchor spoke too soon during a live segment of "Squawk on the Street" Friday when he accidentally outed Apple CEO Tim Cook.
New York Times columnist and CNBC contributor James B. Stewart spoke about his recent column dealing with the "tortured life" former BP chief John Browne led as a closeted gay CEO.
"I just found it very, very fascinating," Stewart said about Browne being the first CEO of a Fortune 500 or FTSE 100 company to publicly acknowledge that he is gay after being outed by a tabloid.
Shortly after, Browne resigned from BP in 2007.
"Of course, there are gay CEOs in major companies," Stewart continued. "I reached out to many of them."
Upon speaking to the closeted gay CEOs Stewart was aware of, he realized how none were willing to be identified although their initial interaction was pleasant.
"I got an extremely cool reception," he recalled, adding that "not one would allow to be named at all."
"I think Tim Cook is open about the fact he's gay at the head of Apple," Hobbs said. "Isn't he?"
An awkward silence followed as Hobbs quickly realized his snafu.
"Hmm, no," Stewart said shaking his head.
"Oh dear, was that an error?" Hobbs asked. "I thought he was open about it."
While Cook has been candid about his support of LGBT rights, he has never publicly spoken out about his own sexuality or addressed Hobbs remarks.
"I applaud @WhiteHouse decision to ban #LGBT discrimination at fed contractors," he tweeted June 17. "House must act on #ENDA. A matter of basic human dignity."
Confirming Hobbs error, co-anchor David Faber said, "Wow, I think you just … yeah."
Still Hobbs tried to conceal his mistake by saying, "I think he's very open about it."
33 “Cook neither denies or affirms anything about his sexuality or any relationships.” That is a civilized way of being open.
2/12/2013 – POTUS #44 BHO’s State of the Union Address was later in the calendar than normal. FLOTUS Michelle Obama invited 2 open homosexuals to sit with her in the Congressional gallery: (1) Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Inc. and (2) Tracey Hepner, wife of the 1st openly-homosexual U.S. military general officer, BG Tammy Smith (U.S. Army), and founder of Military Partners and Families Coalition. There was no mention of homosexual issues in the speech.
Anyone that doesn’t think Apple is TOTALLY GAY has NO IDEA what they’re dealing with.
I'm utterly, bloody sick and tired of celebrities and other public people "coming out" and making a big deal of their sexuality, whatever it is.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HE DOES ON HIS OWN TIME AT HOME.
And apparently he would just as soon keep it to himself also, for which I think we should all be thankful.
There is a homosexual in the WH, maybe Hobbs could “out” him too.
GMTA (see #43)
I agree and the fact that Cook hasn’t publicly proclaimed his sexuality is, frankly, a positive thing.
Oh please. As if everyone didn’t already know that. We all knew about Elton John in the 70’s too - and it didn’t change anyone’s opinion of his music. So, so what?
So in recent years, that means Apple, BP, Disney...
How about we just list the CEOs who AREN’T gay?
The VA for Gobber - Craig Ferguson - admitted that he ad-libbed the line, and the director - Dean DeBlois, who is openly homosexual - decided to throw it in.
Shows how acclimated society is (by intent) to immediately read a comment like that as gay when there are other options.
...absolutely...just yesterday I was at a Target store, and two guys walked past me, one of them pushing a baby stroller...abundantly possible that the one is the father and the other one simply a friend or neighbor...but I said under my breath ‘tell me those guys aren’t gay...’
...why should my first reaction be so illogical...well, because our culture deems it beneficial to sew sexual confusion...
Interesting. Apple’s CEO is hay?
...that’s a straw man argument...
Really.... how wonderful of you to state that so we all could be enlightened by your anti-Apple stale rhetoric. I suppose you have nothing better to do than to troll anything Apple-related to spout your vomitload of turds at everything Apple.
What a wonderfully fulfilled life you must live...
(Did Steve Jobs take a piss in your cheerieos when you were a child?)
Are you mentally ill? That’s probably the first anti-Apple thing I’ve ever said. LOL
Possibly!
My trigger finger is mighty jumpy any more... But I just went back and re-read your post - and I am still irritated by it - and wonder how it fit the conversation in any constructive way...
No worries, it probably didn’t add anything.
Years ago I was rabidly anti-Microsoft (and almost lost a high-paying position over it), but now just a normal Linux user who knows a little more about the kernel than most.
Have a good day, Steve
Stewart should know about being gay.
Hear, Hear !
Thanks for understanding!
Sodomy is a great gift from God!
Apple CEO Tim Cook: “Being Gay Is Among The Greatest Gifts God Has Given Me”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3221281/posts
No Sir, actually it is a perversion of a great gift from God, that of sexuality as part of a loving relationship between a man and a women, and part of the continuance of our species.
The fact that I don't care what Tim Cook does in his private life doesn't mean I approve of it.
And since he's apparently decided to go public with it, I'm sorry to say I have to withdraw my prior view of his keeping his preferences to himself.
How he relates those preferences to God is his business. We all die sometime, and God sorts 'em out, not me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.