Uh oh. Taylor Lorenz -- The Washington Post's 'technology and online culture' reporter -- might have finally crossed a line.
But first, some background.
On Wednesday Lorenz attended a White House event for digital influencers. She posted a snap to Instagram with President Biden in the background and a caption that read 'War criminal :('.
At the time, Jon Levine of The New York Post posted a screenshot of the image on X:
Taylor Lorenz of the Washington Post calls President Biden a "war criminal" 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/ih0xWPw049
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) August 14, 2024
Like Twitchy, Levine knows Lorenz's M.O.:
She's denying it's real, but she has a long history of lying about things like this — and it came to me from someone reliable.
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) August 14, 2024
So take it as you will.
Lorenz did deny the post was real.
You people will fall for any dumbass edit someone makes
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) August 14, 2024
But now it appears Lorenz was lying about the post being faked.
Top Wash Post editors are reviewing Taylor Lorenz's private Instagram story which appeared to label President Biden a "war criminal" in a photo she took at White House event.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) August 16, 2024
She argues it was just a joke off a real social media meme
My story for NPR: https://t.co/JaJkPvpHsB
NPR has obtained a screengrab of Lorenz’s actual post, which contained that caption. It was not shared with her wider Instagram audience of 143,000 followers.
Four people with direct knowledge of the private Instagram story confirmed its authenticity to NPR. They spoke to NPR on condition they not be identified due to the professional sensitivity of the situation for Lorenz.
“Our executive editor and senior editors take alleged violations of our standards seriously,” a spokesperson for the newspaper told NPR. “We’re aware of the alleged post and are looking into it.” Lorenz declined to comment.
Lorenz is saying a friend put the caption on the image and she only posted as a joke.
Sure, Jan.
Employ crazy. Get crazy.
— Jim Stinson (@jimstinson) August 16, 2024
And WaPo has tolerated her brand of crazy for years now.
Comedy is illegal I guess!
— Talia Jane ❤️🔥 (@taliaotg) August 16, 2024
Run with the 'it was a joke' defense.
Good luck with that.
But's OK for NPR to call Donald Trump an "insurrectionist".
— Mike Kilo (@Mike___Kilo) August 16, 2024
A very fair point.
It shouldn't be.
How is a private Instagram story anyone’s business?
— El Magnífico (@MagnificoIX) August 16, 2024
Because Lorenz was there in an official capacity. And she's a journalist, so she should know better. She doesn't.
Oof no - please be this the final straw that turns this psycho in
— nhoj (@iAmJ0HN3) August 16, 2024
It would be the height of irony for Biden to indirectly take Lorenz down.
Lmao she told her editors it was fake https://t.co/0EEep1v9MR pic.twitter.com/jI1ZerNCWw
— Jarvis (@jarvis_best) August 16, 2024
Yeah, don't lie to your editors.
Wow.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) August 16, 2024
When @LevineJonathan posted about this, Lorenz replied and falsely claimed it was a manipulated image.
It even led to a community note on his post. https://t.co/T1Usa30rzM pic.twitter.com/JXCU3HJunV
We expected anything better from Lorenz?
They’re only now realizing she’s a liability? Did they finally get tired of her cluster-B manipulation? https://t.co/mqZzWw3p9y
— Jay (@OneFineJay) August 16, 2024
There's a line for everyone. Weird that this seems to be WaPo's line, but it's a line nonetheless.
And Lorenz appears to have crossed it.
This is why Taylor Lorenz has strategically made it part of her very public identity that she’s disabled. You can tell that sees herself as absolutely untouchable due to that classification. https://t.co/qarXI66L4C
— Doc Remy LeBeau (@raccoonrocket_) August 16, 2024
Bingo.
As if that disability absolves her of professional and ethical standards or something.
Lucky for her the WP editors probably don’t know how to check Threads because this would be a random Tuesday for her over there. https://t.co/Yl37Zb0xDc
— jeremysenderowicz (@senderowiczj) August 16, 2024
Oh really?
Worth some investigative reporter checking out, no?
Lmao Taylor Lorenz lied about the Biden war criminal post.
— VISH BURRA 🏴☠️ (@VishBurra) August 16, 2024
It’s actually real.
These are all shameless people. https://t.co/41yspfrxW4
Absolutely shameless.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member