A new book, set to release on August 13, promises to ignite controversy surrounding Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates. The book claims that Microsoft banned Bill Gates from private interactions with interns.
Authored by Anupreeta Das, the book accuses Gates of inappropriate behaviour toward women, prompting Microsoft to implement measures to manage his interactions with young interns, according to the New York Post.
The narrative portrays Mr. Gates as someone who, despite his philanthropic image, consistently made unwelcome advances toward employees and interns.
Moreover, the book alleges that Gates flirted with interns at the Gates Foundation, putting them in difficult positions regarding their career paths while they tried to evade unwanted attention from their superiors.
In contrast, a former Microsoft executive defended Mr. Gates, asserting that he never forced women into sexual acts for professional advancement. This source emphasized that Gates’ behaviour was not predatory and was far less severe than that of Harvey Weinstein.
In response, a spokesperson for Gates challenged these allegations, criticizing the book for its dependence on indirect and anonymous sources. The spokesperson noted that the author ignored several factual corrections from Gates’ office, opting for a more sensational account.
These allegations also reportedly affected Gates’ marriage to Melinda French Gates. Concerned about her husband’s behaviour, she reorganized his security details and restricted his access to personal contact information.
The stress from these issues, alongside Gates’ continued association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, played a part in their eventual divorce.
Despite strong denials from Gates and his representatives, who dismissed the book’s claims as exaggerated and unfounded, the allegations will likely attract considerable public and media attention.
