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Kara Swisher Calls BS on Wired's "Gay Mafia" Story

February 22, 2026 / 00:44

This episode discusses the Wired article about the so-called gay mafia in Silicon Valley, featuring a critique of its portrayal and illustrations.

The host expresses skepticism about the existence of a gay mafia, referencing past communications with Wired and their interest in discussing the topic.

Specific criticism is directed at an illustration in the article, which the host finds offensive and insulting to the LGBTQ+ community.

The host emphasizes the absurdity of the imagery used, particularly the depiction of hands and the use of humor that they believe undermines the seriousness of the topic.

TLDR

The episode critiques a Wired article on the gay mafia in Silicon Valley, highlighting offensive illustrations and questioning the concept's validity.

Episode

0:44

00:00:00

Wired published a story about the gay mafia in Silicon Valley. They had written me about it and I was like,

00:00:05

there's no such thing. There just isn't. Sorry. They had contacted me years ago

00:00:08

about it and they're like, "Let's talk about you and the game." I'm like,

00:00:11

"There is no I don't I'm friends with Kim Cook. There's no gay mafia." But I

00:00:14

thought it was a silly idea and I still think it is. And I have to say I think they're going to get a lot of push back

00:00:19

for the illustration which shows two hands coming out of two crotches, one with a rainbow Apple watch on, but the

00:00:26

penises are hands and they're shaking. So, I thought that was so [ __ ] insulting to gay people. I'm sorry,

00:00:32

guys. That was a terrible illustration. Why do you have penis hands? We don't

00:00:37

need penis hands.

Episode Highlights

Wired's Controversial Gay Mafia Story
Wired published a story claiming a gay mafia exists in Silicon Valley, which the speaker disputes.
“There just isn’t.”
@ 00m 05s
February 22, 2026
Critique of Illustration
The speaker finds the illustration in the article insulting to gay people.
“That was a terrible illustration.”
@ 00m 32s
February 22, 2026

Episode Quotes

There just isn’t.
Kara Swisher Calls BS on Wired's "Gay Mafia" Story
That was a terrible illustration.
Kara Swisher Calls BS on Wired's "Gay Mafia" Story
Why do you have penis hands?
Kara Swisher Calls BS on Wired's "Gay Mafia" Story

Key Moments

Gay Mafia Denial00:05
Illustration Controversy00:32