News

CNN Has Re-Hired The Guy Who Masturbated On A Work Zoom Meeting

A reminder that "cancel culture" is a myth.

by Claire Keenan  11 June 2021
jeffrey toobin

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight months since that US journalist got caught having a wank while on a Zoom call with colleagues.

Jeffrey Toobin was made a laughing stock online after the blunder, before being fired from The New Yorker.  

It was a real 2020 moment alright, one that’s been added to Toobin’s Wikipedia page under the subheading “Masturbating on Zoom”.  

While we might have laughed, Toobin’s actions were also condemned by many; people pointed out that if it had happened in his workplace in real-life, Toobin could’ve been charged with sexual harassment.

But he wasn’t. Instead, Toobin has just been re-hired by CNN, and people are rightfully calling out the network for (yet again) favouring a privileged white man.

What Happened? 

As well as working as a journalist for The New Yorker last October, Toobin was also a chief legal analyst for CNN before he was caught jerking off in the middle of a Zoom call with colleagues.  

Following the incident, Toobin was quickly fired by The New Yorker, ending his 27-year-stint working there as a staff writer. He also took indefinite leave from CNN.  

Now, in what USA Today is calling an “abrupt and unannounced return”, Toobin has announced he is officially resuming his role as chief legal analyst at CNN.  

The news came during a rather awkward interview with CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota.

“Everyone took a break for several minutes, during which time you were caught masturbating on camera,” Camerota said. “You were subsequently fired from that job after 27 years of working there, and you since then have been on leave from CNN. Do I have all that right?” 

To which Toobin replied, “You got it all right, sad to say.” 

Mr. Toobin went on to explain that he didn’t think he was on the call, or that others could see him when he decided to go ahead and masturbate.  

“This was deeply moronic and indefensible, but that is part of the story,” he said.  “It was wrong, it was stupid, and I’m trying to be a better person.” 

“I’m trying now to say how sorry I am, sincerely. Above all I am sorry to my wife and to my family, but I’m also sorry to the people on the Zoom call … sorry to my former colleagues at The New Yorker.” 

Toobin also added that he had been going to “therapy, trying to do some public service, working in a food bank, which I certainly am going to continue to do.” 

While, Toobin was fired from his role at The New Yorker, which he called “an excessive punishment”, CNN granted the chief legal analyst’s request for some “time off while he deals with a personal issue”.  

Toobin has since expressed how incredibly grateful he is to CNN for taking him back.  

This isn’t the first time CNN have been too forgiving of their top employees. The broadcaster’s highest paid prime time host, Chris Cuomo, was caught offering political advice to his brother who is facing a series of sexual harassment allegations, and he didn’t suffer any consequences.  

People are totally slamming CNN for letting Toobin walk scot-free, and think that if Toobin had been a woman, she would not have kept her job after doing such a thing.  

CNN has confirmed Toobin’s reinstatement but has made no further comment.