Google exec’s tantrum becomes Twitterverse plaything
Google “Scott Jenson” and you come up with “jerk.”
The Google product strategist who pitched a hissy fit over the small audience turnout at an industry event in San Francisco has spawned a new hashtag — #iamgoogle — and plenty of mocking on Twitter.
Jenson proclaimed “I am Google!” before storming out of the Internet of Things Expo, where he was scheduled to give the 50-minute keynote Tuesday.
Jenson’s boorish behavior caught the attention of his fellow techies, who took to cracking jokes using his new catchphrase.
“Only 5 people on this conference call? I’m outta here — I do not speak to small groups! #iamgoogle,” a designer at a London mobile company tweeted.
Only 5 people on this conference call? I'm outta here – I do not speak to small groups! #iamgoogle
— skip allums (@skippr) May 8, 2014
“Not enough peanuts on my flight, I’m outa here #iamgoogle,” a Microsoft techie posted.
Not enough peanuts on my flight, I'm outa here #iamgoogle
— jameyt (@jameyt) May 7, 2014
“#IAmGoogle hashtags are entertaining to read,” wrote an executive at a data analytics firm. “Wondering if the next update will be #IAmFired.”
#IAmGoogle hashtags are entertaining to read. Wondering if the next update will be #IAmFired. @Contexti #Values No.1= #character
— Sidney Minassian (@SidneyMinassian) May 8, 2014
“It was the weirdest and least professional encounter any conference chair could ever wish for,” event chair Jeremy Geelan told The Post. “Not that Mr. Jenson even had the courtesy to speak with me before his untimely departure.”
Jenson told two women at the conference’s registration table that he was too important to speak at the event before unceremoniously storming out, according to Chelsea Montgomery, one of the two women present.
Jenson slammed his hand down on the table before proclaiming, “I am Google and I do not talk to groups this small,”according to Montgomery, who estimates there were about 50 people in attendance, including high-level tech executives from Cisco and the Linux Foundation.
Montgomery was the conference’s organizer, but she said she doesn’t think Jenson knew who she was at the time.
“He thought I was the registration girl,” she told The Post.
@marisolbueno85: I came home and there was only one husband waiting for me, I'm out of here #IAmGoogle @kaazing
— Marisol Bueno (@marisolbueno85) May 8, 2014
Even worse, the Google executive asked for a speaker slot in April, according to tech blog Readwrite, which first picked up on Jenson’s outburst.
Atmel employee and conference guest Sylvie Barak, who was also present for Jenson’s rant, scrambled to find a replacement keynote in Tenaya Irene Hurst, a performance artist who also teaches at the Tech Museum of San Jose.
“It’s kind of mean to bail on a conference,” said Hurst, who said she had 20 minutes to prepare after Jenson left the organizers in the lurch.
If you Google the word, Jerk, will Scott Jenson come up? #IAmGoogle http://t.co/g5QpqTwmzc #scottjenson
— Ken Okel (@KenOkel) May 8, 2014
Barak also had harsh words for Jenson.
“Wonder what it’s like to be so smug & self important that being a rude douchenozzle to conference staff feels satisfying. Eh, @scottjenson?” she tweeted.
Wonder what it's like to be so smug & self important that being a rude douchenozzle to conference staff feels satisfying. Eh, @scottjenson?
— sylvie barak (@sylviebarak) May 6, 2014
Neither Google nor Jenson responded to a request for comment.
“We would love to have Google back,” said Montgomery. “But if he is Google, then maybe we don’t.”