Former Vice President Joe Biden's reported verbal scuffle with hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, as reported by Fox Business reported Friday, may have been mispresented.
Fox reported a verbal exchange quickly escalated and, according to three people in the room at the time, Biden told Ackman to "shut the hell up,"
A statement provided to New York magazine from the hosting organization described the report as "extremely inaccurate" and an "overwhelming misrepresentation of facts."
The statement debunked the details of the exchange as reported by Fox, which claimed it began when former Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush asked Biden why he did not run in the 2016 presidential election.
Biden explained it was because of his son's death in 2015 from brain cancer. He then became emotional and said, "I'm sorry . . . I've said enough."
To which Ackman replied, "Why? That's never stopped you before."
Biden then asked someone else in the room, "Who is this asshole?" referring to Ackman.
Without waiting for an answer, the former vice president scolded Ackman directly, saying, "Look, I don't know who you are, wiseass, but never disrespect the memory of my dead son!"
Ackman then tried to apologize, but Biden told him to "just shut the hell up," according to Fox Business.
New York magazine, however, reported Biden never made that statement "never disrespect my dead son," according who sources who debunked the original report.
A spokesman for Ackman would not dispute the exchange took place, but claimed it was not an argument, saying, "Bill had a great time at the dinner and enjoyed spending time with the former vice president."
Both Ackman and Biden were featured speakers at the Skybridge conference, Fox Business reported.
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