In one of its last posts, highlighted the problem with people with deep pockets being able to hold web sites to ransom. Is it worrying that a web site can be forced out of business in such a way?
While Univision decided to rid itself of, it will continue to operate Gawker Media’s other brands, including the tech site Gizmodo, sports site Deadspin, and Jezebel, a site aimed at women. An article published last year about a married male media executive who sought to hire a gay escort, for example, drew widespread condemnation, had to be pulled, and led to the resignation of two top editors. Desirable though the other properties are, we have not been able to find a single media company or investor willing also to take on .” As popular as was, the brand had become a hot potato, with the financial risks of owning it outweighing the benefits. Why did Univision buy, then get rid of ?Īfter Gawker Media got a new owner, Denton, who also faces personal bankruptcy, said: “…Neither I nor … are coming along for this next stage. Ever since then, Thiel had been looking for a way to punish Gawker - and Hogan’s case became the shoulder he decided to fire from. The post’s title read “Peter Thiel is totally gay, people”.
Thiel had been antagonised by Gawker in 2007, when he was outed as gay by Valleywag, one of Gawker Media’s now-defunct blogs. Hogan did not fund the lawsuit himself, but was secretly backed by technology billionaire Peter Thiel, known for founding PayPal with Max Levchin and Elon Musk.