Everyone knows that Apple CEO Tim Cook is gay, right? Apparently he’s not officially “out.” When a CNBC co-host blurts out “Tim Cook is fairly open about the fact he’s gay,” the panel grows silent and things get awkward.
Despite being featured as the most powerful gay man in America in OUT magazine’s annual Power 50 list three years running, Apple CEO Tim Cook has never publicly stated, “I’m gay.” He’s come close, but for some, until you do, you’re not “out.”
This afternoon, when discussing the only out CEO in the Fortune 500, Lord John Browne — who’s currently on hawking his new book about how important it is to be openly gay in a major corporation — CNBC co-host Simon Hobbs pushed back on the claim that there are no openly-gay CEOs in top corporations.
“You’d think CEOs especially are measured by objective criteria, financial performance,” New York Times columnist and CNBC contributor James R. Stewart opined. “There are gay CEOs in major companies, and I reached out to many of them,†he told the group. “I got an extremely cool reception, not one would allow to be named at all.â€
That’s when Hobbs spoke up.
“I think Tim Cook is fairly open about the fact he’s gay at the head of Apple, isn’t he?â€
“Hmmmm, no,” was the awkward response.
“Oh, dear, was that an error?†Hobbs asked. “I thought he was open about it.â€
Stewart tried to save the day, announcing, “I don’t want to comment about anybody who might or might not be. I’m not going to out anybody.â€
Watch:
In April, Cook urged Congress to pass ENDA. Last year, Cook delivered a speech about the discrimination he’s faced.
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