Arik Hesseldahl

Recent Posts by Arik Hesseldahl

Benioff: Larry Canceled Me Because I Was Mean to Him on Facebook

Could it really be that the whole Marc Benioff-Larry Ellison kerfuffle that erupted so publicly yesterday happened because Marc was mean to Larry on Facebook? How very high school!

That’s the version of events Benioff offered during a Q&A session that followed the speech he gave at the St. Regis hotel, following Oracle’s cancellation of his previously scheduled appearance at Oracle OpenWorld.

Benioff says he’s sorry for this but on Sunday he posted on Facebook that Ellison’s keynote address at the event Sunday night had set a “low bar” for the other speakers to follow. Benioff offered this explanation in response to a question. He also said he’s apologized in an email note to Ellison, but that it was also an example of the kind of hardball be learned at Ellison’s knee during his years at Oracle. See? It wasn’t complicated at all!

It also makes it sound like the explanation one might offer in the principal’s office for fighting in the cafeteria. Hear it in the audio below.

For its part, Oracle had no comment.

Marc Benioff Facebook Comment (mp3)

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There was a worry before I started this that I was going to burn every bridge I had. But I realize now that there are some bridges that are worth burning.

— Valleywag editor Sam Biddle