CNN’s Jeff Toobin allegedly exposes himself during Zoom call in ‘embarrassingly stupid mistake’
So let’s say that you just wrote and published a book called True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump published by Doubleday in hardcover—no pun intended.
And let’s say you are on a Zoom video conference talking with your colleagues.
Would you or would you not think about exposing yourself to your associates sexually?
That’s the dilemma that CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, 60, found himself in during an election simulation this week.
Election simulations are a new party game whereby Democrats in the press and politics “simulate” election day scenarios (such as Trump win, Trump place, Biden shows) complete with calls for peaceful protests and the hoarding of Molotov cocktails.
Apparently the simulation was too stimulating to Toobin.
And of course he made the wrong choice, touched himself in front everyone and got busted.
Yes, full frontal, in front of everyone on the call.
“The incident, first reported by Vice News, happened during an election simulation involving the New Yorker and WNYC radio last week,” says BBC.
“I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera,” said Toobin.
“I believed I was not visible on Zoom,” Toobin told Vice. “I thought no-one on the Zoom call could see me. I thought I had muted the Zoom video.”
Yeah, that’s the usual excuse, used by three-year-olds everywhere.
While amongst the many benefits that accrued to America during the pandemic, the widespread adoption of Zoom video as a substitute for actual meeting participation was not one of them, as this incident shows.
Because short of being a Hollywood producer it’s much harder—pun intended– to make the mistake Toobin made in face-to-face meetings, I’ve heard.
But the good news is that apparently Toobin isn’t too old to learn some lessons about boundaries.
After reportedly being fired or suspended from the New Yorker, which sponsored the Zoom conference, the publication said that they were investigating the matter.
That’s good news for anyone who wants the media to investigate someone– anyone’s–laptop, even if it’s just Toobin’s.
For his part, Toobin told his main employer CNN that he wanted to take some time off.
“Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted,” said CNN.
Thank goodness he seems to have learned that it’s better that some things remain private.
Better late than never.
At least we know what his next book will be about.
I just hope it doesn’t have pictures.
PHOTO: Dipasupil/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation
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