Aaron Sorkin Apologizes for Blasting Tim Cook's 'Opportunistic' Comment

[KALLT]

That’s not an apology, that’s an attempt at damage control and a spin to make him look better. He’s still saying that “both went a little too far”, i.e. downplaying the fault in his actions while still discrediting Cook. It makes the apology worthless, but he will be remembered as the one who openly apologised.

Cook was entitled to his opinion and I wholeheartedly agree with him. It would piss me off as well.

 

[DaveTheRave]

If you're like me, I wanted to hear more about Tim's take on who Steve was as a human....

Me too, and how Tim reconciles his "not the Steve I knew" attitude with the proven fact that Jobs denied paternity to Lisa for years. IMO someone who denies his own daughter is a total peice of sh*t. Maybe you have to be a parent to understand...

 

[macduke]

This is all so weird. Like I said before, all publicity is good publicity. Especially for a controversial movie about real life events. And considering how many Apple fans are going to see this, it makes sense that he would apologize now. Doesn't seem sincere. So it's probably a combination of "Let's keep talking about this in the media" and "Oh crap, we just pissed off a big market segment for this entire movie!"

 

[nouveau-apple]

His comment explains why the movie is not accurate or good right there!

 

[5105973]

Me too, and how Tim reconciles his "not the Steve I knew" attitude with the proven fact that Jobs denied paternity to Lisa for years. IMO someone who denies his own daughter is a total peice of sh*t. Maybe you have to be a parent to understand...

There is no doubt he was a real messed up nasty piece of work early in his life. His frantic quests for enlightenment bore witness to that. But as someone who was a completely different person myself in my youth, I'd hate to be depicted as frozen in time, with no acknowledgement of the real personal growth I attained later in life. If you were to interview the people who knew me well only from high school to age 30, you'd get a very incomplete and inaccurate picture of who I am as a whole person over the course of my life. And I can say a great many of my friends would also find that true of themselves and their lives.

I'll give Steve Jobs the benefit of a doubt that something similar happened to him. So much focus has been given to Lisa because it's sensationalistic. What do we know of the kind of father he was to his other children in a more stable relationship after he matured? And Lisa did eventually have a relationship with her father.

As for Sorkin, Tim did not specifically name any one movie and certainly did not name Sorkin. He spoke in general terms and could have been referring to any number of films. He also issued the disclaimer that he hadn't seen any of them and mainly objected to the idea of such films. Sorkin went too far issuing such a personalized baseless response and would have given Steve a run for his money in terms of being hotheaded.

It might be time to have a movie made about Sorkin! I bet it would be quite colorful.

 

[wigby]

I think Sorkin was basically spot on on his first comment, I also think it was his only sincere comment, this second one is clearly steered by economic interests of a stronger source than his own self. Apple is the best example of efficient capitalism, planned obsolescence, and for sure, not green, at-all...

Well done Sorkin, and I´m looking forward to see this movie, which, good or bad, will be the Jobs biopic.

Why don't you think it's possible that in the heat of the moment Sorkin said some childish things (whether you like Apple or not you have to admit that Sorkin's tone and facts sound like a bad forum comment on Engadget) and has now had a change of heart. What possible implications could there be for his career and this movie? He fired the first shot so the publicity had already begun. If anything, it's more likely that his first comments were lies and meant to stir up something.

Regardless, I think his statements came from a place of emotion and not intellect which is similar to Cook's comments too. The only difference is that Cook isn't being interviewed all month long to promote a movie. Otherwise maybe Cook would clarify and say that he hasn't seen Sorkin's movie and was limping them all together with things he heard from other movies.

 

[jvaska]

Regardless, I think his statements came from a place of emotion and not intellect which is similar to Cook's comments too. The only difference is that Cook isn't being interviewed all month long to promote a movie. Otherwise maybe Cook would clarify and say that he hasn't seen Sorkin's movie and was limping them all together with things he heard from other movies.

How many movies do there need to be about Steve Jobs (roughly at the same time)? This is what Cooks comment was about. They certainly are being opportunistic trying to find profit from Steve's life and death.

 

[Penfold2711]

I'm sure Tim will forgive the children in factories jibe, Sorkin has obviously had a bad nights sleep or he's just realised he has pissed of a company who could reduce him to a envelope stuffer pretty quick

 

[inhalexhale1]

There is no doubt he was a real messed up nasty piece of work early in his life. His frantic quests for enlightenment bore witness to that. But as someone who was a completely different person myself in my youth, I'd hate to be depicted as frozen in time, with no acknowledgement of the real personal growth I attained later in life. If you were to interview the people who knew me well only from high school to age 30, you'd get a very incomplete and inaccurate picture of who I am as a whole person over the course of my life. And I can say a great many of my friends would also find that true of themselves and their lives.

I'll give Steve Jobs the benefit of a doubt that something similar happened to him. So much focus has been given to Lisa because it's sensationalistic. What do we know of the kind of father he was to his other children in a more stable relationship after he matured? And Lisa did eventually have a relationship with her father.

As for Sorkin, Tim did not specifically name any one movie and certainly did not name Sorkin. He spoke in general terms and could have been referring to any number of films. He also issued the disclaimer that he hadn't seen any of them and mainly objected to the idea of such films. Sorkin went too far issuing such a personalized baseless response and would have given Steve a run for his money in terms of being hotheaded.

It might be time to have a movie made about Sorkin! I bet it would be quite colorful.

Very true. But you also have to own your life. You can be who you are now, and that's great, but if you dodge your past because "that's not me" your a coward. (Not saying you personally). With Jobs, if he indeed treated his daughter like that, and someone tells the story years later, too bad if Cook or anyone else doesn't like it. That's him, alongside any of the positives.

 

[5105973]

Very true. But you also have to own your life. You can be who you are now, and that's great, but if you dodge your past because "that's not me" your a coward. (Not saying you personally). With Jobs, if he indeed treated his daughter like that, and someone tells the story years later, too bad if Cook or anyone else doesn't like it. That's him, alongside any of the positives.

I think Tim Cook was concerned too much focus was placed on the negative and didn't allow a more comprehensive picture of Steve to emerge. Unfortunately Steve isn't here to own his past.

Tim is just doing what any loyal friend would do, and that's standing up and speaking up for a friend who no longer can. Tim did a different interview explaining that. And I think anyone who might write him off as just trying to preserve the Apple Image needs to consider Tim went to great trouble to determine he could be a liver tissue donor to Steve. He had genuine love for his friend.

There must have been something that Steve had going for him beyond his power and wealth to inspire such a generous gesture from Tim. What that "something" was would be lovely to know but that's not the story anyone has put into a movie or documentary yet.

I'd really love to know more about Tim Cook at this point, too.

 

[pdaholic]

Tim's comment generalized too much.

Sorkin's comment was over-the-top.

Both were inappropriate. Moving on.

 

[inhalexhale1]

I think Tim Cook was concerned too much focus was placed on the negative and didn't allow a more comprehensive picture of Steve to emerge. Unfortunately Steve isn't here to own his past.

Tim is just doing what any loyal friend would do, and that's standing up and speaking up for a friend who no longer can. Tim did a different interview explaining that. And I think anyone who might write him off as just trying to preserve the Apple Image needs to consider Tim went to great trouble to determine he could be a liver tissue donor to Steve. He had genuine love for his friend.

There must have been something that Steve had going for him beyond his power and wealth to inspire such a generous gesture from Tim. What that "something" was would be lovely to know but that's not the story anyone has put into a movie or documentary yet.

I'd really love to know more about Tim Cook at this point, too.

Yea, I get that he would defend his friend if the movie leans toward putting Jobs in a negative spotlight. But for some, maybe that was the Jobs they knew. Or at that time, that was him.

 

[Jmausmuc]

Why isn't the movie about the iPhone launch???? Would have been ten times better!
Very disappointing.
I have watched the first iPhone keynote more than 5 times. Just amazing.

 

[5105973]

Yea, I get that he would defend his friend if the movie leans toward putting Jobs in a negative spotlight. But for some, maybe that was the Jobs they knew. Or at that time, that was him.

The longer this thread goes on the more I find myself intrigued by Tim Cook! I want the next documentary to be about Tim! He won the confidence of one of the most demanding difficult personalities in business. What is HE really like?

 

[gijoeinla]

Given the context of Cook's original comments, I'm pretty sure he was referring mostly to the "other" Steve Jobs movie (Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine). Colbert kind of asked him about both, but I think Tim was using his stock answer that may not apply quite as much to Sorkin's movie.

I think you meant movies. Forgetting last years Jobs movie...

 

[iZac]

Tim: "Do you want this movie distributed on iTunes or not?"

 

[simon48]

Just waiting for Taylor Swift to chime in on this.

She already shook it off... Ok, that was bad.

 

[charlituna]

Good man. He had every right to feel… annoyed by Cook's attitude, but the hyperbole was a little over the line. (They don't employ children… knowingly… and don't pay nearly that badly.)

Exactly. And sorry but Tim Cook is not the only one who called the rush of Steve Jobs movies 'opportunistic'. Sure Sorkin is just the hired hand but his bosses are just as guilty of jumping on the whole "Apple is Awesome" and "Steve Jobs" hoopla as Ashton etc.

 

[charlituna]

Well, Sorkin clearly went a little further than Cook did. I guess he realized that very quickly, that's why he now tries to row back this badly.

The lesson to be learned: don't f*** with Apple's sacred peeps??

 

[Porco]

A much-improved second draft.

 

[Gasu E.]

So a pathetic Hollywood jerk, uses calling Tim Cook names to get self promotion for his crap movie. Yeah never have seen that before - invoke Jobs, Apple, Cook for headlines, click bait or whatever. But I'm sure Sorkin's mother likes his movie.

I'm heard some trolls have loving mothers too; can you confirm?

 

[Gasu E.]

Just waiting for Taylor Swift to chime in on this.

Taylor Swift references no longer "feel snappier".

 

[Gasu E.]

deleted

 

[macs4nw]

.....Apple is the best example of efficient capitalism, planned obsolescence, and for sure, not green, at-all...

You've got to be kidding.....

 

[btrach144]

I don't think he need to apologize. Cook is the one who should keep his mouth shut.