Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg want you to know they’re still friends and definitely not mad at each other

Thursday, New York Times Post a About the rise to power of Stephen Miller, a longtime loyalist of Donald Trump known for his hard-line views on immigration. Normally, a story like this wouldn’t get much attention in the tech press. But the article opened with an anecdote about Mark Zuckerberg that immediately raised eyebrows.

The story details the last meeting Miller had with Zuckerberg when the Meta CEO traveled to Mar-a-Lago last year. according to The timesZuckerberg – who will soon ditch his former meta Efforts and trenches Programs – “He blamed former COO Sheryl Sandberg for Facebook’s inclusion initiative that encouraged employees to express themselves in the workplace.”

This line sparked a new round of speculation (and some anger) in tech circles. Sandberg, who left dead She rose to fame after authoring The Manifesto for Women in the Workplace Lean inis best known for its close partnership with Zuckerberg at the top of Facebook. Zuckerberg will blame his former assistant for promoting “inclusivity” in his company, Even among longtime observers of the company.

“She always knew who Mark Zuckerberg was and covered him.” New York Times Reporter Shira Frankel, who co-authored a book about Facebook’s dominance, noted . “The question is whether she will continue to do so when he blatantly throws her under the (Trump) bus.” Journalist and longtime tech analyst Kara Swisher likewise that “the people I spoke to tonight from the Mark/Cheryl Facebook era were shocked but not surprised that she was being blamed.”

I also weighed in my own Share the link to A Business insider From February in which he quoted an interview in which Zuckerberg said Sandberg raised him “like a parent.” I joked that the comment wasn’t good.

But on Friday, Zuckerberg decided to let me (and I think everyone) know that he and Sandberg are still cool, after all. “Cheryl has done an amazing job in Meta and will forever be a legend in the industry,” he wrote. To my post. “You created one of the greatest companies of all time and taught me so much of what I know.”

Zuckerberg did not respond when I asked him whether Sandberg was too focused on DEI initiatives at Meta or whether she had moved away from the “masculine energy” he had lately. Companies should embody. (It is worth noting that he did not deny it The Times Report his comments on Sandberg.)

But, after a few minutes, Sandberg To let me know there are no hard feelings on her part either. “Thank you, @Zook. I will always be grateful for the many years we spent building a great business together — and for your friendship that helped me get through some of the toughest times in my life and continues to this day.

Zuckerberg responded with .

So, I think that settles it. There’s nothing to see here, guys. Mark and Cheryl are definitely still friends. They may not work for the same company anymore, but they are still able to work together to avoid any eventuality. What could be more inspiring than that?