Do you remember Gawker?
It was a liberal gossip blog that was originally founded way back in 2002. Then in 2015, they got sued by Hulk Hogan for realeasing a sex tape video of Hogan and his wife.
Hogan won the lawsuit and the decision destroyed the site’s business. Gawker then relaunched in 2021 but things haven’t worked out as planned and now they’re shutting down for a second time.
Gawker Is Shutting Down https://t.co/SILVd5IlxD
— Variety (@Variety) February 1, 2023
From Variety:
Gawker, the gossipy and snarky pop-culture site rebooted in mid-2021, is shutting down — for a second time, with the CEO of parent company Bustle Digital Group citing the need to prioritize “better-monetizing sites.”
In addition to Gawker’s shutdown, BDG chief Bryan Goldberg announced a layoff of 8% of staff across the company.
In July 2021, Gawker relaunched under the ownership of Bustle Digital Group, whose founder and CEO Bryan Goldberg bought the website’s assets for $1.35 million in a bankruptcy auction in 2018. The original Gawker went dormant in 2016, after Gawker’s parent company went belly-up after losing a legal battle with wrestler Hulk Hogan.
The EIC Leah Finnegan tweeted this:
Well, after an incredible 1.5 years, BDG has decided it is done with Gawker 2.0. Can't say enough about how proud I am of the site and all the brilliant people who worked to create it, and what a staggering shame this is. I had an absolute blast, and I love you.
— Leah Finnegan (@leahfinnegan) February 1, 2023
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Not everyone is sad about this news.
I wasn’t sorry then, and I’m not sorry now. Good riddance.
— annette conlon ⓥ🌱💚🌎 (@annetteconlon) February 1, 2023
It's even better the second time!
— Hugh Jass (@jass1stnamehugh) February 1, 2023
Good
Rotten people— Joe Duffy (@JoeDubh) February 1, 2023
Some even see this as a good thing.
https://twitter.com/Will_A_II/status/1620807480011034626?s=20&t=YVXLYMUBo9xCUt0DkXzkmg
Somewhere, Hulk Hogan is laughing.
https://t.co/gW9NRqwMCr pic.twitter.com/ekT44ALB9s
— Alex "The Hatman" Baldwin (@TheHat2) February 1, 2023
So long, Gawker 2.0. We hardly knew ye.
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