United States: CFWIJ is concerned about the controversial termination of Lauren Wolfe

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January 25, 2021- Lauren Wolfe, a former New York Times editor, tweeted a picture last Tuesday of President Biden’s plane landing in Washington captioned, “I have chills”. Lauren was then viciously trolled by far-right supremacists, targeted with rape and death threats. Following the outcry, news of her termination from The New York Times was announced. While the newspaper has clarified its position that Lauren was not a contract employee, her friends came to her defense on Twitter, calling out the right-wing radicals behind the retaliation. CFWIJ is utterly dismayed by the New York Times’ decision against the journalist. We hope she will be compensated for her hard work and dedication.

On Tuesday, Lauren Wolfe sparked controversy among the far-right with the tweet of a picture captioned, “Biden Landing at Joint Base Andrews. I have Chills." In response, right-wing supporters launched a malicious campaign against the journalist, leading her to delete the disputed tweet. In a subsequent post on Saturday, she said, “Well, NYT may not be standing behind me, but I’m left getting messages like this” describing an explicit message she was sent.

Lauren was viciously trolled with death and rape threats. The journalist’s long-time friend Josh Shehryar wrote a detailed thread about what happened on his Twitter account. He emphasized her accomplishments and criticized the NYT decision for succumbing to the pressure of trolls and the far-right. Josh also criticized The New York Post for stalking Lauren and her dog in their neighbourhood and publishing their pictures without consent.

Yashar Ali, a journalist for New York Magazine and the Huffington Post, also shared the news of Lauren’s termination on his Twitter account, saying that she has asked people to keep their NYT subscription. He also shared the statement of the NYT media workers union.

Lauren Wolfe is an award-winning journalist who has reported on issues surrounding women’s rights and sexual violence. She has worked with the Committee to Protect Journalists in the past. She has also reported on war crimes from war zones in Syria and Congo. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned by the online harassment and dismissal of journalist Lauren Wolfe. We urge the New York Times management to reconsider their decision and evaluate their position on respecting free speech.