A lengthy report published in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday afternoon has leveled accusations of racism, misogyny, and inappropriate workplace behavior against several senior executives in charge of Saudi Arabia’s Neom megacity project.
The WSJ article reports on allegations made against multiple execs but gives significant space to allegations tabled against Neom Managing Director Wayne Borg. The WSJ reported that it had heard multiple audio recordings that featured Borg — a former Fox and Universal exec — making discriminatory and racist comments.
In one reported incident, after three manual workers on the project died, the paper reported that Borg said: “A whole bunch of people die so we’ve got to have a meeting on a Sunday night.”
The WSJ continued that Borg described South Asian migrant workers at Neom as “fucking morons” before adding: “That is why white people are at the top of the pecking order.” These specific comments were made on a phone call, the recordings of which the paper said it had obtained.
During a separate incident, the WSJ said Borg was reported to human resources after calling a Black female employee a “Black shit.” Borg denied using the phrase, according to the paper. The exec is also said to have discussed the incident during a meeting in another audio recording obtained by the WSJ. Borg referred to “that fucking episode I had with that Black bitch.”
The WSJ said Borg can also be heard on further audio clips referring to women from the Gulf region as “transvestites” and making lewd jokes about Islam in connection to sexual positions.
The Journal report cited several other examples of alleged inappropriate workplace behavior and corruption committed by other Neom execs. Neom chief executive Nadhmi al-Nasr can be heard in a recording obtained by the WSJ saying he “drives” staff like “slaves.”
Representatives for Neom didn’t immediately respond to comment on the allegations.
In a statement handed to the WSJ, Neom said: “Any allegations of wrongdoing and misconduct are thoroughly investigated. If any wrongdoing is substantiated, we take appropriate action.”
