When CEOs wished the mic wasn’t on | CNN Business

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Business
Markets
Tech
Media
Calculators
Videos
More
Markets Tech Media Calculators Videos
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Markets
Tech
Media
Calculators
Videos

Follow CNN
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App
Business

When CEOs wished the mic wasn’t on: Can you match the gaffe to the boss?

Updated 9:35 PM EST, Sun November 2, 2014
Link Copied!
Which of these two tech bosses recently said that women who don't ask for a pay rise will receive good karma? Click on the next image to get the answer.
They said what? —
Which of these two tech bosses recently said that women who don't ask for a pay rise will receive good karma? Click on the next image to get the answer.
AFP/Getty Images
The answer is Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Nadella, who reportedly receives an annual salary  of $84 million, soon disavowed the controversial comments he made at a women's tech conference last month saying via Twitter he had been "inarticulate."<br />
CEO gaffes —
The answer is Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Nadella, who reportedly receives an annual salary of $84 million, soon disavowed the controversial comments he made at a women's tech conference last month saying via Twitter he had been "inarticulate."
"Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online." Which of these fashion designers (Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole) tweeted this during the Arab Spring? Click on the next slide for the answer.
CEO gaffes —
"Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online." Which of these fashion designers (Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole) tweeted this during the Arab Spring? Click on the next slide for the answer.
AFP/Getty Images
The answer is Kenneth Cole. The Twittersphere erupted when American designer Kenneth Cole used the 2011 uprising in Egypt's Tahrir Square to plug his latest range. Some web users called for a boycott, while others created a parody KennethColePR account with quips like "Wardrobe got you water-BORED? GITMO of our new spring collection."
Foot in mouth not a good look —
The answer is Kenneth Cole. The Twittersphere erupted when American designer Kenneth Cole used the 2011 uprising in Egypt's Tahrir Square to plug his latest range. Some web users called for a boycott, while others created a parody KennethColePR account with quips like "Wardrobe got you water-BORED? GITMO of our new spring collection."
D Dipasupil/Getty Images
Which Italian food company's boss said: "If gays don't like it, they can always eat another brand."
When CEOs wish the mic wasn't on —
Which Italian food company's boss said: "If gays don't like it, they can always eat another brand."
AFP/Getty Images
The answer is Barilla's Guido Barilla.<br /><br />Outraged LGBT advocates called on consumers to boycott the world's largest pasta maker in 2013 after Barilla's chairman said commercials for his products wouldn't feature same-sex couples because the company prefers the "traditional" family. Barilla apologized and pledged to make changes to better promote diversity<br />
CEO gaffes —
The answer is Barilla's Guido Barilla.

Outraged LGBT advocates called on consumers to boycott the world's largest pasta maker in 2013 after Barilla's chairman said commercials for his products wouldn't feature same-sex couples because the company prefers the "traditional" family. Barilla apologized and pledged to make changes to better promote diversity
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
 "We had 49 artists in Finland and I don't think there are 49 Finns who can sing." Which former music industry executive said this when announcing job cuts?
When CEOs wish the mic wasn't on —
"We had 49 artists in Finland and I don't think there are 49 Finns who can sing." Which former music industry executive said this when announcing job cuts?
AFP/Getty Images
The answer is EMI's Alain Levy. <br /><br />Finns had their egos bruised in 2002, when EMI's then-chief executive Alain Levy joked about their country's musical talents (or as he saw it, lack thereof) while explaining why the company was slashing its roster of artists.<br />
CEO gaffes —
The answer is EMI's Alain Levy.

Finns had their egos bruised in 2002, when EMI's then-chief executive Alain Levy joked about their country's musical talents (or as he saw it, lack thereof) while explaining why the company was slashing its roster of artists.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images/File
"Put that camera down, right now. Abel, you're fired. Out." Which one of these three CEOs (Steve Ballmer, Marissa Mayer, Tim Armstrong) said this to an employee with more than one thousand people listening?
When CEOs wish the mic wasn't on —
"Put that camera down, right now. Abel, you're fired. Out." Which one of these three CEOs (Steve Ballmer, Marissa Mayer, Tim Armstrong) said this to an employee with more than one thousand people listening?
AFP/Getty Images
The answer is AOL's Tim Armstrong.<br />The AOL chief executive made headlines in August 2013 after he sacked an employee on the spot for trying to make a video recording of a conference call about layoffs. Armstrong said the public firing was a "mistake" (but didn't give the employee his job back).
When CEOs wish the mic wasn't on —
The answer is AOL's Tim Armstrong.
The AOL chief executive made headlines in August 2013 after he sacked an employee on the spot for trying to make a video recording of a conference call about layoffs. Armstrong said the public firing was a "mistake" (but didn't give the employee his job back).

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Business
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. US market indices are shown in real time, except for the S&P 500 which is refreshed every two minutes. All times are ET. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor’s and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices Copyright S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates. Fair value provided by IndexArb.com. Market holidays and trading hours provided by Copp Clark Limited.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.