NEW: Felicia Sonmez Fired By Washington Post After Days of Online Warfare
Brendan Smialowski/ AFP via Getty Images
Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez has reportedly been fired from the paper following a week of internecine warfare online, the Daily Beast reported first on Thursday.
The Beast first reported that Sonmez and the paper had parted ways, but soon added they’d confirmed Sonmez had been fired. The news comes just days after colleague Dave Weigel was suspended without pay for the retweet that precipitated the continuous, nearly week-long series of Twitter threads from Sonmez. Sonmez argued that Weigel’s retweet of a sexist joke was evidence of the paper’s toxic workplace culture.
NEWS: Felicia Sonmez was *fired* by The Washington Post, per sources familiar. This was not a separation agreement. https://t.co/aSSaPB6XuI
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) June 9, 2022
CNN’s Oliver Darcy has independently confirmed that Sonmez was fired.
After the suspension of Weigel, executive editor Sally Buzbee sent a memo to staff stating, among other reminders, that the publication will not “tolerate colleagues attacking colleagues either face to face or online.”
Nevertheless, Sonmez continued to do so throughout the week, up to and including Thursday morning, when she tweeted an attack on WaPo’s “General Assignment team,” its “Morning Mix team,” and even “the newsletter researchers.” Along with several other key criticisms.
I don’t know who the colleagues anonymously disparaging me in media reports are.
But I do know that the reporters who issued synchronized tweets this week downplaying the Post’s workplace issues have a few things in common with each other. 9/
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 9, 2022
– They are all white
– They are among the highest-paid employees in the newsroom, making double and even triple what some other National desk reporters are making, particularly journalists of color
– They are among the “stars” who “get away with murder” on social media. 10/
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 9, 2022
Of course the Washington Post is a great workplace.
It is a great workplace *for them.*
The system is working *for them.*
What about for everyone else?
The General Assignment team? The Morning Mix team? The newsletter researchers? 11/ https://t.co/ZndIMq5RZe
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 9, 2022
Sonmez’s complaints and accusations about the Washington Post have focused on alleged discrimination, sexism, and inequity in staffing decisions as well as assignments and the work environment.
Along with naming specific groups and individuals, Sonmez shared screenshots and comments from colleagues and editors throughout the week, dragging reporter Jose Del Real in particular. Real eventually blocked Sonmez on Twitter, which she also complained about.
Last year, Sonmez sued the Washington Post for discrimination. In March, a judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning she cannot amend the complaint to reallege the charges. An attorney for Sonmez told The New York Times they planned to appeal.
This post may be updated to include more information.
