Jimmy Wales, one of the masterminds behind Wikipedia, abruptly left an interview after being questioned about whether he was the only founder of the renowned free online encyclopedia.
In 2001, Wales, alongside Larry Sanger, launched Wikipedia. During an interview with Tilo Jung, an independent German journalist, the discussion took a surprising turn. The interview aired on Friday.
Tensions rose when Wales introduced himself on the Jung & Naiv web program as simply the “founder of Wikipedia.”
Jung interjected, asking, “Founder or co-founder?”
Wales, unfazed as he took a sip of water, retorted, “I don’t care. It’s the dumbest question in the world.”
Jung continued to probe, inquiring if there was any contention regarding Wales’ title, to which Wales, maintaining his composure, insisted there was no such dispute.
‘There’s no dispute. I don’t care. So, say what you like. It doesn’t matter,’ Wales continued.
Jung argued that Wikipedia was founded on the belief that neglecting facts was a problem and insinuated that it was ironic that Wales didn’t care about the accuracy of his title.
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales walked out of an interview before it even started with German journalist Tilo Jung
Wales called Jung’s line of questioning ‘stupid’ and slammed him for asking the ‘dumbest question in the world’
Jung appeared confused about Wales’ reaction and joked that the interview was the shortest ever on his show
Wales laughed at Jung’s argument and fired back that his title wasn’t a fact, but a matter of opinion, once again emphasizing that it ‘doesn’t matter’ whether he was referred to as the sole founder or the co-founder.
‘But for you – you’re the founder,’ Jung pressed.
‘Can I just say again – it doesn’t matter. I’ve answered your question four times. You know what? I’m done. Thank you,’ Wales said as he picked up his phone from the table and left the room.
Jung appeared confused at Wales’ decision to walk out of the room just 48 seconds into the chat and asked him what was happening.
‘It’s stupid. Don’t ask me stupid questions,’ Wales fired back as he stormed out.
Jung then turned his attention to the camera and joked that the interview was the shortest one his show had ever seen.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Jung and Wales’ representation for comment.
The clip has since gone viral on social media, with viewers expressing mixed reactions to the interview.
Jung pressed Wales on whether there was a ‘dispute’ over his title, which resulted in a contentious exchange that cut the interview short
Wales co-founded Wikipedia in 2001 with Larry Sanger, who left the company the following year
‘That’s how I act when I really don’t care and it really doesn’t matter, too,’ one comment sarcastically noted.
‘What was so provocative about that question?’ another asked.
Wikipedia was founded in 2001 by Sanger and Wales after the site’s predecessor, Nupedia, struggled to find success.
Sanger left the publication a year later. In an essay featured in the Free Press from September, Sanger argued that since he left, Wikipedia has lowered its standards in favor of progressive ideology.
However, the Washington Post wrote in October that Sanger was ousted from the company by Wales after he helped launch it.
Since Sanger’s elusive departure, he has been a vocal critic of how the site operates. He told the Washington Post: ‘Wikipedia is like a bus careening down the highway without a driver and slamming into innocent people.’
Sanger has also argued that the site has a left-leaning bias on issues such as crime, religion, and climate change.
Unlike his estranged co-founder, Wales has remained committed to Wikipedia’s mission and serves as Chair Emeritus of the Wikimedia Foundation.
He has, however, acknowledged the volunteer encyclopedia’s shortcomings, telling the New York Times in October: ‘Wikipedia isn’t as good as I want it to be.
‘And that’s part of why people do have a certain amount of trust for us, because we try to be really transparent.’
In his recent interviews with The Times and Time Magazine, Wales was described as a co-founder of Wikipedia.
However, many viewers supported Wales’ decision to walk out of the interview with Jung because the question about his title was repeated multiple times.
There has been controversy as to why Sanger (right) is no longer affiliated with Wikipedia
Jung is known for his irreverent approach to interviewing, cheekily naming his show, Jung & Naiv, which translates to ‘young and naive’ in English
‘By far the best way to deal with Tilo Jung, hats off to Jimmy Wales!’ one comment read.
‘What he didn’t like, was the interviewer hassling him with the same question 4 times,’ another added.
Jung is popular in Germany for his irreverent approach to interviewing, purposefully asking simple questions that often irritate or throw his guests off guard.
‘The whole idea is that I play a bad reporter, who’s unprepared, who’s not very good at his job, who asks seemingly naive questions,’ he told the Nieman Lab, a journalism watchdog organization at Harvard, in 2015.
The show’s title, Jung & Naiv, translates to young and naive in English and is a play on words of his last name.
