Tim Cook has filed a restraining order against Virginia woman Julia Lee Choi who has allegedly been harassing the Apple CEO over the last few years. Cook has recalled numerous incidences with Choi dating back all the way to 2020.
The ordeal first reportedly began in the fall of 2020 (via Fox Business), when Choi first tweeted that Cook was the father of her twin children and Cook’s wife. This appeared to be the inciting incident that put her on Cook’s radar. Since that time, Choi has allegedly driven cross-country from McLean, Virginia to Palo Alto, where Cook resides. Apparently, Choi visited Cook’s home at least twice on Oct. 22, 2021. Local police towed her vehicle once on scene and discovered she had driven with an expired licence.
“Given [Choi’s] erratic, threatening, and bizarre behavior, including her direct contact with Apple’s executive team, Apple’s CEO and with Apple’s corporate and security teams, all Apple employees should be protected by this restraining order,” reads one of the documents.
The documents in the restraining order also reportedly cover an incident when Choi sent threats to Cook and told him to “vacate his residence.” Apparently, when speaking to Palo Alto police, she said that she “could be violent”
Jose Berrera, an Apple global security specialist, wrote in the petition stating:
“I have significant concerns that my physical safety along with the safety of Apple’s CEO, the other members of Apple’s security team, and Apple employees in general, is in danger from [Choi].”
Other concerning incidences regarding Choi include screenshots of a Twitter account registered under the name Julia Lee Cook, of which the banner image is of Cook’s face.
Additionally, she has emailed Cook accusing him of “abusing” her. In another email, she states, “I have to take mental medicine because of you.” On Nov 2, the same day as sending the aforementioned email, she sent a photo of a gun. “My new gun,” Choi wrote in the email. “Will never return it at this time before I shoot!” it continues to read. Later that day, Cook received an image of a box of bullets. To make matters worse, the next day, Cook received an image of a loaded weapon and the message: “I warned and told you to stop trying to kill me. You made me buy this instead of going for a Christmas [tree].”
Currently, Apple has not provided any additional statements beyond those within the court filings.
On top of specific threatening incidences, the court filings also cover Choi’s demand of $500 million in cash to “forget and forgive all” as well as fake business filings Choi has allegedly registered.
