Bill Gates Was 'Pied' In the Face For 'Upholding Capitalist Status Quo' – Joked It Off Saying: 'The Worst Part Is, It Wasn't Even That Tasty'

In February 1998, Bill Gates found himself at the center of a surprising and messy situation in Brussels. As Gates, then CEO of Microsoft, was about to enter a building to meet with Belgian business and government leaders, he was suddenly hit with a cream pie. The man behind this pie attack was Noël Godin, a Belgian writer and anarchist known for targeting high-profile figures with his pie-throwing pranks.

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So, why did Godin target Gates? It wasn't just for laughs. Godin, also known as "L'entarteur" or "The Pieman," had a deeper motive. He saw Gates as a symbol of the capitalist establishment. In Godin’s view, Gates represented a system that must be questioned and mocked. Godin felt that despite Gates’ wealth and influence, he was simply playing within the confines of the status quo without really challenging it. The pie attack was his way of making a statement against what he saw as the excesses and flaws of capitalism.

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The incident raised questions at the time about Gates' security since it was so easy for a stranger to reach him in the street. Mark Murray, a Microsoft spokesman, commented: "We consider this an isolated incident. Bill takes security very seriously, while he also values his ability to be open.”

But what did Gates have to say about all this? Surprisingly, he handled it with a lot of grace. Instead of reacting angrily or pressing charges, Gates shrugged it off with humor. He later joked, "The worst part is, it wasn't even that tasty." That lighthearted response turned what could have been a tense moment into something almost comical.

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Interestingly, the incident wasn’t just a protest but also had a commercial angle. Shortly after the pieing, a mysterious caller offered to sell footage of the attack to Reuters Television, sparking a bidding war among TV networks. Some reportedly paid as much as $4,000 for the exclusive footage. Gates, however, remained unfazed. He took a moment to clean up and then continued his planned speech on technology and education. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, Gates was “surprised and disappointed” but unhurt and chose not to press charges against Godin or his accomplices.

The incident quickly became a hot topic, not just because it involved one of the world's wealthiest individuals but also because it highlighted how far some activists are willing to go to challenge symbols of power. For Godin, the pie wasn't just a prank – it was a form of protest, wrapped in whipped cream, aimed at one of the most powerful men in the world.

Ultimately, this pie incident didn't leave a mark on Gates but left an impression on the world. 

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