Gawker is being universally criticized for a story published Thursday about Condé Nast CFO David Geithner’s plans for a weekend rendezvous with a gay porn star in Chicago.
Geithner, the brother of former United States Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and married-to-a-woman father of three, allegedly sent a series of text messages to “Ryan,” a gay porn star, promising to pay $2,500 for three hours of his services, flight, and room at the Four Seasons.
The website published a series of text messages between the two, as well as an image of mail sent to Ryan from Geithner with the first installment of the payment upfront before their weekend together. There were also sexual images sent.
“But this would not be a simple sexual transaction. Geithner, it seems, fucked with the wrong escort,” Gawker’s Jordan Sargent wrote.
“The escort — who does not want to reveal his identity for professional reasons, but whom we will call Ryan — says he bailed on the date with the married (to a woman) father of three because Geithner declined to use his influence to help with a housing dispute.”
The response to the story was overwhelmingly negative.
I dont say this lightly: This is repugnant, shameful journalism @jordansarge.
— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) July 17, 2015
Generally supportive of gossip and gawker but this is terrible, repugnant, dishonorable
— Juliet Lapidos (@julietlapidos) July 17, 2015
Gawker’s “history” of cruel, mean-spirited posts just came roaring into the present. https://t.co/77B1QqiLdG
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) July 17, 2015
There’s no excuse for the Gawker piece, which I won’t link to. It’s disgraceful, and it shouldn’t be referred to as journalism.
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) July 17, 2015
what the goddamn hell, Gawker. Seriously. Dude tries a shake down of a closet case, then randomly outs him. https://t.co/FqNkxXKMNI
— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) July 17, 2015
Those who can, report the news. Those who can’t, write gossip columns. Those with no lives or consciences, write for Gawker.
— Julia Kite (@juliakite) July 17, 2015
Dont read Gawker much as it is. But that’s the end of it for me.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) July 17, 2015
I’ve never seen more opprobrium heaped on a reporter than what @jordansarge @gawker is getting. And I’ve never seen anyone deserve it more
— BGrueskin (@BGrueskin) July 17, 2015
@jordansarge It’s very possible this article will become a defining moment in journalistic ethics for online media outlets. Congratulations?
— Adam Levenberg (@StarterScript) July 17, 2015
.@jordansarge So, why did you get into journalism? Was participating in blackmail part of the dream? Get your values straight, man.
— JS Dust (@Justsomedust) July 17, 2015
That piece is just sick, mean and creepy. I just don’t understand why’d they publish.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) July 17, 2015
Gawker Senior Writer Adam Weinstein also chimed in, criticizing his website: “I had no part in this. I would not have chosen to run it as is.”
The two never ended up meeting up, as Geithner called it off after Ryan asked if he could help him in a housing dispute. Geithner denied the story to Gawker, telling them this was a “shakedown” and he never communicated with Ryan and doesn’t know him.
The story was published at 8:26 p.m. ET Thursday. As of Friday morning, author Jordan Sargent has not commented on the outrage aimed his way.
Gawker did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.