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Ex-WeWork CEO Adam Neumann apologizes to Tim Cook for being 'an idiot'

Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for TechCrunch

WeWork founder Adam Neumann says he blew a chance to learn from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Speaking at the The New York Times DealBook summit, shortly after Cook's interview, Neumann recounted meeting Cook in person. He says he had a chance to listen to Cook, but instead just talked at him.

"It made no sense. I had the chance to sit in front of a great person like that and learn, and I was busy talking," he said. "Again, it was where I was at the time. I was not in the right place in that sense."

Neumann then said he was hoping Cook would be at the DealBook online summit on Tuesday so that he could say sorry for the meeting.

"I was going to apologize to him and tell him that if I ever get a chance to speak to him again," said Neumann "I will listen and I apologize for being an idiot back then."

It isn't clear when the meeting between Cook and Neumann took place, or under what circumstances.

Neumann is known for co-founding the embattled co-working startup WeWork. The interview Tuesday represents his first public comments since being ousted as CEO of WeWork.

Apple is currently working on a limited Apple TV+ series about the rise and fall of WeWork. As of July, filing on the project, dubbed "WeCrashed," was underway.