Sequoia Partner Pushes Debunked Brown Shooting Theory
▼ Summary
– Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire falsely accused a Palestinian student of being the perpetrator of the Brown University shooting and an MIT professor’s murder, which authorities attributed to a different individual.
– Maguire has a history of posting inflammatory content, including targeting Muslims and pro-Palestine activists, which has previously sparked significant backlash within the tech industry.
– The incident raises questions about whether Sequoia’s new leadership will address Maguire’s conduct, especially after a senior executive left over the firm’s prior inaction.
– Former managing partner Roelof Botha defended Maguire’s right to “free speech” and described him as a valuable “spiky” person with deep ties to Elon Musk’s companies.
– The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for Maguire’s firing, labeling his accusations as irresponsible and dangerous.
A prominent Sequoia Capital partner is facing renewed scrutiny for promoting a thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory regarding a tragic campus shooting. Shaun Maguire used his social media platform to falsely suggest a Palestinian student was responsible for the December mass shooting at Brown University and a related murder at MIT. His since-deleted posts claimed it seemed “very likely” the student was the perpetrator, citing Brown University’s removal of the student’s online information. In reality, law enforcement identified the shooter as a 48-year-old Portuguese national with no connection to the student. University officials clarified they removed the digital footprint as a protective measure against precisely this kind of dangerous speculation.
This incident is not an isolated one for Maguire. His history includes leaving inflammatory content online, such as comments proposing the MIT professor was targeted for being Jewish. For months, his social media activity has targeted Muslims and pro-Palestine activists, including a post in July that incorrectly labeled a New York City mayor-elect as an “Islamist.” That earlier post sparked significant backlash, leading nearly 1,200 founders and tech professionals to sign an open letter urging Sequoia to take disciplinary action. A separate letter later emerged in support of Maguire.
The situation presents a direct challenge to Sequoia’s new leadership. Managing partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady, who assumed control last month, have yet to publicly address Maguire’s conduct. The firm’s inaction has already had consequences; its chief operating officer departed in August over the handling of Maguire’s anti-Muslim comments, according to prior reporting. Former managing partner Roelof Botha, who stepped down in November, previously defended Maguire during a public interview. Botha stated Sequoia believes in its partners’ right to “free speech,” celebrating internal diversity of opinion and valuing what he called “spiky” people. He noted that Maguire’s specific profile appeals to certain founders, referencing his leadership in defense tech and AI investments and his management of Sequoia’s stakes in several of Elon Musk’s ventures.
Botha did, however, concede that such outspokenness involves trade-offs. The lack of public response from the new leadership raises questions about their willingness or ability to manage the reputational risks associated with Maguire’s online behavior. Advocacy groups have grown increasingly vocal; The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for Maguire’s termination, describing his accusations as deeply irresponsible and dangerous. As the firm navigates this controversy, the tech industry watches to see if its leaders will implement a different standard for their partner’s public communications.
(Source: TechCrunch)