Rachel Marsden/Jimbo Wales deleted statement

<Rachel Marsden

===Statement of Jimmy Wales===
:March 1, 2008

Over the last few days, a few gossip websites have decided that my personal life is somehow of interest to people and, against my
wishes, are publicizing details about a brief relationship I had with [[Rachel Marsden]].  While, typically, this would not warrant a response, because my role with Wikipedia is being dragged into it, I felt the need to set the record straight on a couple of issues.

First, while I find it hard to imagine that anyone really cares about my sex life, the facts are: I am separated from my wife. I considered myself single at the time of my one meeting with Rachel Marsden on February 9th, 2008. I am no longer involved with Rachel Marsden.  Gossipy stories suggesting that I have been in a relationship with her "since last fall" are completely false.

The second, and far more important, issue is this false notion which is being peddled that I intervened inappropriately to redraft her Wikipedia biography.  The facts are that, in Wikipedia, I work closely with a team called "[[WP:OTRS|OTRS]]," which handles email complaints and works hard to address concerns relating to the biographies of living persons.  Rachel Marsden first approached me via email two years ago with complaints about her bio.  We had never met. I subsequently reviewed her bio and I found it not to be up to our standards.  My involvement in cases like this is completely routine, and I am proud of it.

I decided to meet Rachel Marsden in person for the first time in early February of this year.  Accordingly, three days before that meeting, to avoid any appearance of a potential conflict of interest, I disclosed my plans to OTRS and further disclosed that it was a personal matter.  I recused myself from any further official action with respect to her biography.

I care deeply about the integrity of Wikipedia, and take very seriously my responsibilities as a Member of the Board and as a
member of the Wikipedia community.  I would never knowingly do anything to compromise that trust.