{"id":459042,"date":"2022-06-07T18:47:15","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T15:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/washington-post-reporter-dave-weigel-defended-felicia-sonmez\/"},"modified":"2022-06-07T18:47:15","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T15:47:15","slug":"washington-post-reporter-dave-weigel-defended-felicia-sonmez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/washington-post-reporter-dave-weigel-defended-felicia-sonmez\/","title":{"rendered":"#Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel defended Felicia Sonmez"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a91d6640e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a91d6640e\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/washington-post-reporter-dave-weigel-defended-felicia-sonmez\/#%E2%80%9CWashington_Post_reporter_Dave_Weigel_defended_Felicia_Sonmez%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel defended Felicia Sonmez&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWashington_Post_reporter_Dave_Weigel_defended_Felicia_Sonmez%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel defended Felicia Sonmez&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The Washington Post reporter suspended for retweeting a joke deemed sexist by a female colleague had been one of her staunchest supporters when she came under fire for a tweet she posted about Kobe Bryant hours after his death. <\/p>\n<p>David Weigel, benched without pay for a month on Monday by the Jeff Bezos-owned broadsheet, defended his fellow political reporter Felicia Sonmez\u00a0in early 2020 when she was suspended by the paper after posting a tweet linking to a 2016 story detailing rape allegations against the NBA superstar.<\/p>\n<p>The tweet as the nation was mourning the Lakers legend, his daughter and seven others who died in the helicopter crash just outside Los Angeles on January 26, 2020, generated intense backlash against Sonmez. <\/p>\n<p>Bryant supporters demanded the Washington Post fire her. She was also inundated with threatening messages.<\/p>\n<p>Somnez didn\u2019t back down.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Felicia Sonmez, who also covers politics for The Washington Post, complained on Twitter about a joke that Weigel retweeted.\" class=\"wp-image-22559257\" width=\"618\" height=\"618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1236 1236w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=927 927w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=618 618w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=309 309w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/felicia-sonmez-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\/><figcaption>Felicia Sonmez, who also covers politics for the Washington Post, complained on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> about the joke that Weigel retweeted.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Twitter \/ @feliciasonmez<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAny public figure is worth remembering in their totality\u2026 even if that public figured is beloved and that totality unsettling,\u201d she tweeted. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat folks are responding with rage &amp; threats toward me\u2026 speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sonmez later deleted her posts, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>paper placed her on administrative leave after determining that the tweets \u201cdisplayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"765\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-09-2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Weigel last week retweeted a joke by YouTube podcaster Cam Harless.\" class=\"wp-image-22559249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-09-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-09-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-09-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Weigel retweeted this joke by YouTube podcaster Cam Harless last week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Journalists inside the Washington Post newsroom protested management\u2019s decision to suspend Sonmez.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington Post Guild circulated an open letter to then-executive editor Marty Baron demanding that Sonmez be reinstated. One of the signatories was Weigel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe understand the hours after Bryant\u2019s death Sunday were a fraught time to share reporting about past accusations of sexual assault,\u201d the guild wrote. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"318\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-08-2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Weigel deleted the retweet after Sonmez complained on Twitter.\" class=\"wp-image-22559250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-08-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1534 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-08-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/wapo-reporters-twitter-brawl-08-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Weigel deleted the retweet after Sonmez complained on Twitter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBut we believe it is our responsibility as a news organization to tell the public the whole truth as we know it \u2014\u00a0about figures and institutions both popular and unpopular, at moments timely and untimely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The paper reversed its suspension of Sonmez and Weigel posted a celebratory tweet welcoming her back to the newsroom.<\/p>\n<p>Somnez didn\u2019t seem to have the same compassion for the 40-year-old Weigel after he deleted his retweet of a joke by YouTube podcast host Cam Harless.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it\u2019s polar or sexual,\u201d read the tweet by Harless.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-wrapper twitter\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Felicia, we all mess up from time to time. 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\u2019t think this is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jose A. Del Real (@jdelreal) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jdelreal\/status\/1533153410333163520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 4, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Sonmez was angered by Weigel\u2019s retweet, writing: \u201cFantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weigel later tweeted: \u201cI just removed a retweet of an offensive joke. I apologize and did not mean to cause any harm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The tweets between the two colleagues set off a firestorm within the paper over the weekend.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/kobe-bryant-rape-allegation-vanessa.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"In 2020, Sonmez was suspended by the Post for posting a tweet about rape allegations against Kobe Bryant just hours after the basketball legend perished in a helicopter crash.\" class=\"wp-image-22559251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/kobe-bryant-rape-allegation-vanessa.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/kobe-bryant-rape-allegation-vanessa.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/kobe-bryant-rape-allegation-vanessa.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>In 2020, Sonmez was suspended by the Washington Post for posting a tweet about rape allegations against Kobe Bryant soon after he died.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Washington Post COO Kris Coratti Kelly told the New York Post: \u201cEditors have made clear to the staff that the tweet was reprehensible and demeaning language or actions like that will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the drama kept escalating when another male reporter at the paper, Jose Del Real, admonished Sonmez for going public with her complaints about Weigel\u2019s retweet.<\/p>\n<p>Del Real acknowledged that Weigel\u2019s retweet was\u00a0\u201cterrible and unacceptable,\u201d though he also criticized Sonmez for \u201crallying the internet to attack him for a mistake he made.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Weigel was one of the signatories to a letter circulated by the union representing journalists demanding that Sonmez be reinstated.\" class=\"wp-image-22559261\" width=\"356\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=706 712w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=530 534w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=353 356w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=177 178w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-washington-post-reporter-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\"\/><figcaption>Weigel was one of the signatories to a letter demanding that Sonmez be reinstated.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Twitter \/ @daveweigel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Del Real, a features reporter who writes about American life and politics, said Sonmez\u2019s tactic \u201cdoesn\u2019t solve anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He tweeted: \u201cFelicia, we all mess up from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEngaging 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\u2019t think this is appropriate\u2026There is such a thing as challenging with compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Del Real\u2019s tweets enraged Sonmez, who accused him of \u201crespond[ing] with even more vitriol.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sonmez then posted another tweet asking if Sally Buzbee, the newspaper\u2019s executive editor, and another senior editor at the paper, Matea Gold, agreed with her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObjecting to sexism is not \u2018clout chasing\u2019,\u201d Sonmez tweeted. \u201cIt\u2019s not \u2018harassment.\u2019 And it\u2019s certainly not \u2018cruelty\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The exchange between Sonmez and Del Real prompted Buzbee to circulate a memo to staffers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe expect the staff to treat each other with respect and kindness both in the newsroom and online,\u201d Buzbee wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are a collegial and creative newsroom doing an astonishing amount of important and groundbreaking journalism. One of the great strengths of our newsroom is our collaborative spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buzbee added: \u201cThe Washington Post is committed to an inclusive and respectful environment free of harassment, discrimination or bias of any sort.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"\/>\n<p>\u201cWhen issues arise, please raise them with leadership or human resources and we will address them promptly and firmly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Sonmez was angered by the memo, saying that Buzbee \u201cprovides fodder for *more* harassment.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/06\/07\/washington-post-reporter-dave-weigel-defended-felicia-sonmez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel defended Felicia Sonmez&#8221; The Washington Post reporter suspended for retweeting a joke deemed sexist by a female colleague had been one of her staunchest supporters when she came under fire for a tweet she posted about Kobe Bryant hours after his death. David Weigel, benched without pay for a month&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":459043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/06\/david-weigel-felicia-sonmez-washington-post.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[130030,71016,72835,74400,4976,10401,77802],"class_list":["post-459042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-6-7-22","tag-cancel-culture","tag-kobe-bryant","tag-sexism","tag-social-media","tag-twitter","tag-washington-post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=459042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=459042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=459042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=459042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}