[Edaily Reporter Kim Kyeo-Re ] It has been reported that Jensen Huang, the former CEO of NVIDIA—who resigned amid a scandal involving an extramarital affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy—expressed extreme frustration just before his departure and called himself “scum.” Former CEO Huang reportedly tried to hold onto his position for several weeks by denying the allegations of an affair, but ultimately accepted his resignation as further revelations continued to surface.

Bloomberg reported on the 12th (local time) that former CEO Huang appeared completely broken on the night of the 11th, the day before his resignation. Known for his strong drive and command of business affairs, he displayed a sense of resignation during his final discussion with the board just before stepping down, saying things like, “Do whatever you want,” and “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Former CEO Huang is reportedly deeply remorseful, recently berating himself as “human trash.” He is said to have stated that his greatest concern at the moment is not his own future but his wife. He also reportedly hopes that the lives of the women implicated in allegations of romantic relationships with him will not be ruined by this incident.
Former CEO Hwang’s crisis began late last month when reports surfaced about his close relationship with Alice Huang, who is suspected of being a Chinese spy. At the time, former CEO Hwang denied the affair to those around him. Although he had been asked about the rumors of an affair within the company since late last year, he had consistently maintained that he had never been unfaithful to his wife.
However, the situation changed dramatically on the 6th when the Financial Times (FT), citing U.S. government officials, reported that the two were in a romantic relationship. Tim Tatter, NVIDIA’s General Counsel, visited former CEO Hwang’s home to confront him about the facts, and Hwang eventually admitted to the affair.
Although the board was initially reluctant to respond publicly, it launched an investigation through an outside law firm on the 8th following strong pressure from Tatter. On the 8th, former CEO Huang sent an email to all employees acknowledging the affair, apologizing to his family, and promising to cooperate with the investigation.
As the scandal escalated, disruptions began to affect business operations. Former CEO Hwang had been receiving direct reports from approximately 60 executives and reviewing employees’ key tasks via email. While he typically responded immediately around the clock, it was reported that his replies had recently become delayed.
The final blow came on the 11th with a follow-up report by The New York Times (NYT). When allegations surfaced that former CEO Huang had also engaged in an extramarital affair with Kimberly Powell, vice president of NVIDIA’s healthcare division, the board of directors convened an emergency video conference. The board meeting continued late into the night, and ultimately, former CEO Huang had no choice but to resign.
Although former CEO Huang has stepped down from his official position at the company, he is unlikely to avoid testifying before the U.S. Congress. Congress is expected to question whether his relationship with Alice Huang posed a risk to NVIDIA’s cutting-edge semiconductor technology and national security.