Google CEO Sundar Pichai says he does not regret firing James Damore

 

“It was the right decision,” says YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki

 

By Nick Statt@nickstatt Jan 19, 2018, 5:20pm EST

Google CEO Sundar Pichai responded today to the firing of employee James Damore over his controversial memo on workplace diversity, stating that while he does not regret the decision, he regrets that people misunderstood it as a politically motivated event. Speaking in a live conversation with journalist and Recode co-founder Kara Swisher, MSNBC host Ari Melber, and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki in San Francisco, Pichai said that the decision to fire Damore was about ensuring women at Google felt like the company was committed to creating a welcoming environment.

“I regret that people misunderstand that we may have made this for a political belief one way or another,” Pichai said. “It’s important for the women at Google, and all the people at Google, that we want to make an inclusive environment.” When pressed by Swisher on the issue of regret, Pichai stated more definitively, “I don’t regret it.” Wojcicki, who has spoken publicly about how Damore’s memo affected her personally, followed up with, “I think it was the right decision.”

Pichai added, “And Susan’s sister Anne is married to Sergey, so Susan’s the boss. I just work here,” and giggled nervously. But when he looked to Ms. Wojcicki for confirmation, she just stared blankly back at him. After an uncomfortable pause, Pichai muttered, “Oh my God, she isn’t Mrs. Brin anymore, is she? … What have I done?”