Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales made a dramatic exit from an interview before it properly began, cutting short his appearance on a German web show after facing repeated questions about his founding title.
The explosive 48-second exchange
The incident occurred during an interview with independent German journalist Tilo Jung for his show Jung & Naiv, which aired on Friday. Tensions escalated immediately when Wales introduced himself as the 'founder of Wikipedia', prompting Jung to ask: "Founder or co-founder?"
Wales responded dismissively, calling it "the dumbest question in the world" and insisting he didn't care about the distinction. When Jung pressed further about whether there was any dispute over his title, Wales maintained that 'there's no dispute' and reiterated that it didn't matter how he was referred to.
The situation reached breaking point when Jung challenged Wales on the irony of neglecting facts, given Wikipedia's core principles. Wales laughed off the argument, stating his title was a matter of opinion rather than fact.
Walking out and online reaction
After answering the question four times, Wales abruptly ended the interview, stating "I'm done. Thank you" before collecting his phone and leaving the room just 48 seconds into the conversation.
As he stormed out, Wales told Jung: "It's stupid. Don't ask me stupid questions." The journalist appeared confused by the reaction and later joked to the camera that it was the shortest interview in his show's history.
The clip has since gone viral on social media, with viewers divided in their reactions. Some supported Wales' decision to walk away from repetitive questioning, while others questioned what was so provocative about the initial inquiry.
Wikipedia's founding history and ongoing tensions
Wikipedia was co-founded in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger after their previous project, Nupedia, failed to gain traction. Sanger left the organisation just one year later, though the circumstances surrounding his departure remain contested.
In recent years, Sanger has become a vocal critic of Wikipedia's direction, arguing in a September essay that the platform has lowered its standards in favour of progressive ideology. He told the Washington Post that "Wikipedia is like a bus careening down the highway without a driver and slamming into innocent people."
Unlike his estranged co-founder, Wales has remained committed to Wikipedia's mission and serves as Chair Emeritus of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has acknowledged the platform's shortcomings while maintaining that transparency remains key to maintaining public trust.
Jung is known for his irreverent interviewing style, deliberately asking simple questions that often unsettle guests. He previously described his approach to Nieman Lab as playing "a bad reporter, who's unprepared, who's not very good at his job, who asks seemingly naive questions."
