Quibi chief executive Meg Whitman on Friday said she was “super sorry” for comparing probing journalists to sexual predators during a recent all-hands meeting.
“I used an analogy that was inappropriate and just plain wrong,” Whitman told Variety while in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. “None of us are ever perfect. I didn’t intend it, and it’s not at all how I think, how I feel.”
During a company meeting last week, Whitman drew “an analogy between reporters who cultivate sources and sexual predators who prey on underage victims,” according to a report from The Information. Whitman reportedly made the comment after pointing out an internal memo from Quibi’s CFO had leaked. Some Quibi employees found Whitman’s comments to be “strange and off-putting,” according to The Information.
Quibi reps did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on the report earlier this week.
On Friday, Whitman walked back her comments, telling Variety she’s “had a long, long history with journalists, and I completely respect what you all do and the important role you play.” She added she was “super sorry about it.”
Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg backed up Whitman, saying she was a “quality human being” and her comments were simply an “unfortunate choice of words.”
The pair have spent more than a year prepping Quibi for its April 6th launch date. The mobile-only streaming service will roll out 175 shows in its first year and will cost subscribers $4.99 for ad-supported streaming and $7.99 for ad-free viewing.
Whitman and Katzenberg expanded on the company’s content release strategy during a recent interview with TheWrap.