OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz, the journalist who doxed the Libs of TikTok account on Twitter, has been suspended from Twitter and she is blaming CEO Elon Musk.
She said that she did not violate Twitter’s Terms of Service and claimed that she was suspended because she asked for Musk’s comment on a story.
“Earlier tonight, Elon Musk suspended my Twitter account,” she said on her Substack account.
“I only had three tweets live on my account when it was banned. Two were promoting my social media profiles on other platforms,” she said before promoting those accounts, “and one was the tweet below where I asked Musk for comment.
“My colleague Drew Harwell, who has also been suspended, and I have been working on a story involving Musk and were hoping to get comment from him. We attempted to reach him several times through email over the past few days. At 8:30pm EST I tried reaching out for comment on Twitter by posting this,” she said before showing her tweet.
“Hi Elon, @drewhartwell and I sent you a couple emails about this. We’ve learned some information that we’d like to share and discuss with you. We’re taking this very seriously and want to ensure this is pursued in the right way. Thanks,” the now deleted tweet said.
“When I went to log in and see if he had responded to our query, I was suspended. I received zero communication from the company on why I was suspended or what terms I violated,” she said on her Substack.
“I have been on Twitter since 2010 and have run Twitter account for major media brands including Verizon, WordPress, The Daily Mail, People magazine, The Hill, and dozens more. Never once in my 13 year career in social media have I received a single terms of service or community guidelines violation, for my personal account or any account that I’ve run,” she said.
“Twitter has served as an essential real time news source and played a crucial role in the journalism world, but Musk’s arbitrary suspensions of journalists who report on him should worry anyone who values journalism and free expression.
Thankfully, Twitter is not my sole platform, if you’re interested in keeping up with my work, my thoughts on tech, and all the crazy and interesting ways the internet is reshaping the world around us,” she said.
Lorenz was the subject of scrutiny this year when she doxed the owner of the Libs of TikTok account.
The Washington Post backed its reporter when the controversy happened.
“Taylor Lorenz is a diligent and accomplished journalist whose reporting methods comport entirely with the Washington Post’s professional standards,” Cameron Barr, the newspaper’s senior managing editor said.
“Chaya Raichik, in her management of the Libs of TikTok Twitter account and in media interviews, has had significant impact on public discourse and her identity had become public knowledge on social media,” he said.
The New York Post reported.
Lorenz was widely criticized by conservative-leaning social media users for revealing Raichik’s identity just a few weeks after the journalist appeared on MSNBC and broke down in tears while recalling how she has faced “harassment” from critics online.
After Lorenz slammed MSNBC for the segment, it was removed from online platforms.
Critics also pointed out that Lorenz, a former New York Times reporter, has been sued by a businesswoman who claimed that she was defamed by a claim that she leaked nude images of one of her clients.
Lorenz also came under fire for accusing tech mogul Marc Andreessen of using the “R-word” — “retard” — during a private conversation on the Clubhouse app. The accusation proved to be false.
After Lorenz was suspended the Libs of TikTok account was among the conservatives who celebrated.
“BREAKING: Taylor Lorenz- the person who doxxed me was just suspended from Twitter,” it said.
BREAKING: Taylor Lorenz- the person who doxxed me was just suspended from Twitter pic.twitter.com/guCz7io6Ng
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 18, 2022
Watch Taylor Lorenz almost in tears as she discusses her ban.
It’s incredible watching these “journalists” just in absolute shock at finally being held to the same standard as everyone else. They’re so used to living by a different set of rules pic.twitter.com/BciVzLr0zA
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 18, 2022
“Watch Taylor Lorenz almost in tears as she discusses her ban. It’s incredible watching these ‘journalists’ just in absolute shock at finally being held to the same standard as everyone else. They’re so used to living by a different set of rules,” it said.
