• Mark Zuckerberg has publicly praised former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg amidst accusations he blamed her for inclusivity program failures.
• Zuckerberg referred to Sandberg as a “legend” and highlighted her significant contributions to Meta.
• The controversy arose following a meeting with a Trump aide where Zuckerberg reportedly criticized DEI initiatives.
• Sandberg expressed her gratitude towards Zuckerberg, emphasizing their enduring friendship.
• Meta is reportedly rolling back its diversity and inclusion programs while facing backlash for its corporate culture.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently expressed gratitude towards former COO Sheryl Sandberg after reports emerged suggesting he blamed her for issues related to company inclusivity programs. In a post on the social media platform Threads, Zuckerberg acknowledged Sandberg’s pivotal role at Meta, stating, “Sheryl did amazing work at Meta and will forever be a legend in the industry. She built one of the greatest businesses of all time and taught me much of what I know” (Business Insider).

This statement came as a response to a user who highlighted a previous article in which Zuckerberg humorously mentioned that Sandberg had raised him “like a parent.” The user remarked that this sentiment “didn’t age well.” In light of the backlash against Zuckerberg’s alleged comments to a Trump aide regarding diversity, he labeled claims of blaming Sandberg as “bogus,” adding that he merely answered a question about the phrase “bring your whole self to work” during the meeting (The Daily Beast).

Responding to Zuckerberg's post, Sandberg expressed her appreciation, saying, “Thank you, @zuck. I will always be grateful for the many years we spent building a great business together — and for your friendship that got me through some of the hardest times of my life and continues to this day.”

Reports surrounding the incident reveal that Zuckerberg may be distancing himself from the previous operational strategies focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as Meta prepares for a shift in corporate culture. With indications that Meta is rolling back these initiatives, the company's approach to workplace culture is under scrutiny (The New York Times).

Amid these changes, Zuckerberg’s remarks on the importance of various energies in the workplace indicate broader shifts in corporate philosophy. He emphasized that both masculine and feminine energies have roles to play within corporate culture, which he discussed during a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.

This evolving narrative underscores the ongoing transformation at Meta, especially concerning its commitment to inclusivity and how it relates to external political pressures. For more details on these developments, see Business Insider and The Daily Beast.