Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales storms out of interview after ‘co-founder’ question

A simple question prompted Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales to angrily storm out of an interview.

Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales has stormed out of an interview when asked whether he was the site’s co-founder or founder.

Mr Wales founded the site with Larry Sanger in 2001, and Mr Sanger departed a year later.

Since then, the pair appear to have fallen out, with Mr Sanger claiming the site lacks accuracy and suffers from left-wing bias.

Mr Wales has also minimised his former colleague’s involvement in the project.

In an interview with German podcaster Tilo Jung this week, the rift appeared to come to the surface.

Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia with Larry Sanger in 2001. Picture: Supplied

‘Founder or co-founder?’ Tilo Jung asked.

Mr Wales began his appearance on the Jung & Naiv show as the “founder of Wikipedia”.

“Founder or co-founder?” Mr Jung asked.

“I don’t care. It’s the dumbest question in the world,” Mr Wales said.

“There seems to be a dispute,” Mr Jung replied.

‘There’s no dispute. I don’t care. So, say what you like. It doesn’t matter,” Mr Wales said.

Mr Jung asked if that was a “problem” for Wikipedia, clarifying, “what are the facts?”

“Can I just say again – it doesn’t matter,” Mr Wales insisted after some back-and-forth.

“I’ve answered your question four times. You know what? I’m done. Thank you,” he said as he got up and left the room.

‘Don’t ask me stupid questions,’ Mr Wales fumed as he left the room.

A confused Mr Jung asked what was happening.

“It’s stupid. Don’t ask me stupid questions,” Mr Wales fumed.

The host then turned to the camera and joked that the interview – 48 seconds long – was the shortest he’d ever conducted.

Mr Wales has remained devoted to Wikipedia since 2001 and serves on the board of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation that runs the site.

In reports from the early 2000s, Mr Wales and Mr Sanger were often described as “co-founders,” and Mr Wales used the term himself.

Years later, however, he began to refer to himself as sole founder – and even took to Wikipedia to remove references to Mr Sanger.

Originally published as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales storms out of interview after ‘co-founder’ question