Ex-Kleiner Partner Denies ‘Kill the Buzz’ Remark in Pao Case

One of the most colorful allegations in Ellen Pao’s gender discrimination lawsuit against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is that a male partner deliberately excluded women from a 2011 networking dinner at former Vice President Al Gore’s San Francisco apartment, saying they would “kill the buzz.”

Chi-Hua Chien, the former Kleiner partner who allegedly made the statement, on Wednesday denied ever saying it. Chien, who organized the dinner and was called as a witness by Pao’s attorneys at a trial over her claims, said gender didn’t play a role in choosing attendees.