• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • US judge throws out Texas ban on drag acts, calls it unconstitutional
  • Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say
  • ‘American Horror Story’ Star Angelica Ross Calls Out Ryan Murphy For Ghosting Her After She Complained About ‘Racism’ On Set

Internet Turns on Gawker After Gossip News Site Attempts to Out High Profile Media Executive

Kyler Geoffroy July 17, 2015 Leave a Comment

Nick Denton

A story published on Gawker late last night purporting to out a high-profile media executive has drawn heavy criticism from online commenters, journalists, and even other writers for the “Today's gossip is tomorrow's news” site.

The article, using screencapped text messages and mailing labels, brought to light an aborted tryst between a gay porn star and the CFO of a rival mass media company. According to the story, the CFO contacted the gay porn star (referred to as ‘Ryan' in the article) and offered to pay $2,500 cash to meet while visiting Chicago. The two continued to text each other until Ryan discovered who he was dealing with and attempted to have the CFO use his connections to help the porn star with an ongoing dispute with the United States Department of Housing and Development (HUD). The CFO ended up backing out of the planned meet up and Ryan brought the story to Gawker writer Jordan Sargent, who published the illicit correspondence.

Sarget contacted the executive about the story and was provided the following statement:

I don’t know who this individual is. This is a shakedown. I have never had a text exchange with this individual. He clearly has an ulterior motive that has nothing to do with me.

Negative reactions to the article quickly began piling up. Among those who voiced their discomfort (and/or disgust) with the story:

https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/621873669472710656

Been a long time since I've seen such universal media revulsion for a media company's editorial decision: @jordansarge

— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) July 17, 2015

To be clear: Geithner not a public figure. Closeted gay. Didn't have affair – backed out. So blackmailer goes to Gawker. Gawker cooperates.

— Jeff B. is *BOX OFFICE POISON* (@EsotericCD) July 17, 2015

https://twitter.com/petersuderman/status/621888097492402176

There's no excuse for the Gawker piece, which I won't link to. It's disgraceful, and it shouldn't be referred to as journalism.

— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) July 17, 2015

what the goddamn hell, Gawker. Seriously. Dude tries a shake down of a closet case, then randomly outs him. https://t.co/FqNkxXKMNI

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) July 17, 2015

Dont read Gawker much as it is. But that's the end of it for me.

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) July 17, 2015

@reason We need to hit them where it hurts. Contact Gawker's advertisers here: http://t.co/JXPyPOXqIk pic.twitter.com/3e2ZsUcQFG

— Best Mom Eva (@mombot) July 17, 2015

moynihan

Gawker senior writer Adam Weinstein also came out against the article:

weinstein

Gawker Editor-in-Chief Max Read has defended the story, however, saying: “given the chance gawker will always report on married c-suite executives of major media companies f**cking around on their wives.”

A cached version of the original article can be found here. What do you make of all this?

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this post used a photo of the CFO and provided his name. After considering feedback from readers and out of respect for the executive's family we have removed the photo. The image above is of Nick Denton, the managing editor of Gawker.

Topics: Uncategorized More Posts About: I'm Gay, News

Related Posts
  • Chase Chrisley Posts Cryptic Message About ‘Getting Through’ Tough Situations After Todd Allegedly Paid Blackmailer
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Is Dennis Rodman Gay? Been With A Man? Just a Fantasy, He Says. A Fantasy He’s Had…But Hasn’t Acted On. Dennis Rodman Just Came Out ‘Gay Adjacent’ and Free
  • Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

    Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

    Published by Reuters KAMPALA (Reuters) – The consideration and passage by Uganda's government of one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws have unleashed a torrent of abuse against LGBTQ people, mostly committed by private individuals, rights …Read More »
  • ‘American Horror Story’ Star Angelica Ross Calls Out Ryan Murphy For Ghosting Her After She Complained About ‘Racism’ On Set

    ‘American Horror Story’ Star Angelica Ross Calls Out Ryan Murphy For Ghosting Her After She Complained About ‘Racism’ On Set

    Published by uInterview.com Angelica Ross has spoken out about the alleged mistreatment she was subjected to throughout her time on the show American Horror Story: 1984, and show creator Ryan Murphy‘s failure to support her. Ross …Read More »
  • ‘Grave matter’: White supremacist-turned-FBI informant gets suspended sentence on N.Y. weapons charge

    ‘Grave matter’: White supremacist-turned-FBI informant gets suspended sentence on N.Y. weapons charge

    Published by Raw Story Michael Alan Jones, a former Proud Boy and self-admitted paid FBI informant, is a free man after a federal judge issued a suspended sentence with two years of supervised release — a …Read More »
  • Fetterman trolls James Comer by gifting him a case of Bud Light to drink during impeachment inquiry

    Fetterman trolls James Comer by gifting him a case of Bud Light to drink during impeachment inquiry

    Published by Raw Story (UK) Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) had some more fun at the expense of congressional Republicans Thursday as they launched their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden despite the fact that the government …Read More »
Previous Post: « 5,000 Kenyans to Strip Naked in Protest of Obama’s ‘Aggressive Support for Homosexuality’: VIDEO
Next Post: Anti-gay Oregon Bakery Raises Over $450,000 After Discriminating Against Lesbian Couple »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • US judge throws out Texas ban on drag acts, calls it unconstitutional

    US judge throws out Texas ban on drag acts, calls it unconstitutional

  • Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

    Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

  • ‘American Horror Story’ Star Angelica Ross Calls Out Ryan Murphy For Ghosting Her After She Complained About ‘Racism’ On Set

    ‘American Horror Story’ Star Angelica Ross Calls Out Ryan Murphy For Ghosting Her After She Complained About ‘Racism’ On Set

  • ‘Grave matter’: White supremacist-turned-FBI informant gets suspended sentence on N.Y. weapons charge

    ‘Grave matter’: White supremacist-turned-FBI informant gets suspended sentence on N.Y. weapons charge

  • Fetterman trolls James Comer by gifting him a case of Bud Light to drink during impeachment inquiry

    Fetterman trolls James Comer by gifting him a case of Bud Light to drink during impeachment inquiry

  • 12+ Instagram Sure Shots in Miami for the Social LGBTQ Visitor. All Mapped with More Top Spots … In Time For Your Fall Getaway Plans

    12+ Instagram Sure Shots in Miami for the Social LGBTQ Visitor. All Mapped with More Top Spots … In Time For Your Fall Getaway Plans

  • Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

    Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

Adjacent News

  • Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

    Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

  • From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

    From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

  • As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

    As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

    Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

  • Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

    Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

  • After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

    After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

Partner Links

  • The Dam Breaks: First Co-Defendant In Georgia RICO Case Pleads Guilty
    Scott Hall, the bail bondsman who was involved in the Coffee […]
  • Tributes to Sen. Dianne Feinstein
    View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maria Shriver […]
  • Youth Climate Activists Occupy Qevin McQarthy's Office
    A group of youth climate activists occupied House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's […]
  • OMG, WATCH: The trailer for ‘SAW X’ is has arrived in time for the Halloween season to kick off
    That twisted hoe, Jigsaw, is back and this time it’s ‘more […]
  • Harvey Milk’s nephew Stuart pays tribute to Sen. Dianne Feinstein who has died at age 90
    View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stuart Milk […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×
×