--- title: "There May Be a Secret Reason Sheryl Sandberg Is Leaving Facebook" description: "It sounds like Sheryl Sandberg, the outgoing COO of Meta, might have left the social media giant for more complicated reasons than she initially let on." date: "2022-06-03" modified: "2022-06-03" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/sheryl-sandberg-meta-investigation" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "facebook" - "Meta" - "social media" - "the digest" --- # There May Be a Secret Reason Sheryl Sandberg Is Leaving Facebook ![It sounds like Sheryl Sandberg, the outgoing COO of Meta, might have left the social media giant for more complicated reasons than she initially let on.]() *UNSPECIFIED - SEPTEMBER 9: In this screengrab, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speaks at the Step Up Together Digital Summit on September 09, 2021. (Photo by Step Up/Getty Images for Step Up) \Image: Getty Images\* ## Leaning Out Sheryl Sandberg, the outgoing COO of [Facebook-now-known-as-Meta](), made major waves this week when she announced her departure from the social media giant that she was instrumental in building. But while there seem to be some practical reasons for the decision — [Facebook's rebrand](), personal and family life — [*The Wall Street Journal* is now reporting]() that her exit comes in the midst of a hushed company probe into some seriously questionable behavior. ## Investigations According to the *WSJ*, the internal inquiry launched earlier this year at the hands of the publication's own investigation into the "Lean In" author, who they confirmed had, on two separate occasions, [pressured UK tabloid *Daily Mail* to kill unflattering stories]() regarding her then-boyfriend, Activision Blizzard Inc. Chief Executive Bobby Kotick. The gaming bigwig was said to have been the subject of a 2014 restraining order taken out by an ex-girlfriend, and Sandberg's team was supposedly worried that the information would impact her reputation as a [champion for women in the workplace](). Potential abuse of Meta assets is also in question— the probe reportedly then snowballed into "a review of her use of corporate resources to help plan her coming wedding" to Tom Bernthal, consultant and brother to [Jon Bernthal](), the actor of "Punisher" fame. ## It's Complicated Meta, however, maintains that the investigation had nothing to do with the [TED Talker's]() choice to step down. "None of this has anything to do with her personal decision to leave," Meta spokesperson Caroline Nolan told the *WSJ*. Saying that the Silicon Valley staple has changed drastically since founder and [sunscreen-wearer]() Mark Zuckerberg first poached Sandberg from Google in 2008 is an understatement, and she was undoubtedly a key engineer of its success. But the relationship between the two moguls apparently fell under duress as Facebook faced multiple scandals involving [data breaches](), [teenage mental health](), and [the general fabric of democracy](). "I am not entirely sure what the future will bring," the [ex-metamate]() wrote in — what else — an [emotional Facebook post](). "I have learned no one ever is." **More on Meta confusion:** [*In Extremely Confusing Twist, Facebook Says It Isn't Building a Metaverse After All*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()