Journalists and entertainers fired over old posts
Reporters, editors, hosts, analysts and performers. 9 published news cases, 2015 to 2023.
Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.
- 8 of 9cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.
- 5 of 8cases with a known age involved content a year or more old.
In 8 of the 9 the person lost the role: 6 were dismissed, 2 resigned. In the other 1 they kept it, regained it or faced a suspension or reprimand instead. The content most often concerned gender (5), race (3), politics (2).
By type: post or comment (6), meme or image (2), like (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs) and 2 involved a shared meme or image (see the meme and repost cases).
5 of the 8 cases with a stated age involved content a year or more old.
These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.
The 9 cases
Lost the role2023Voice actor on an independent animated seriesLiked a post that Fox News said equated Muslims with ISIS; she later unliked it, saying she hadn't read it closely. Her other posts condemned Hamas
- What surfaced
- Liked a post that Fox News said equated Muslims with ISIS; she later unliked it, saying she hadn't read it closely. Her other posts condemned Hamas
- How it came out
- A screenshot of the like was shared on X; the show announced a recast on X
- Outcome
- Recast. The show cited “a trend” in her online activity; she said she was fired for being Jewish, and the show replied that other voice actors and writers on it are Jewish
- What to look for in your own history
- A like on a post that demeans a group or endorses violence. A like counts even though you didn't write the post.
Source: Fox News, Sportskeeda
Lost the role2021Incoming magazine editor-in-chief, New York, NYTweets CNBC called racist and homophobic
- What surfaced
- Tweets CNBC called racist and homophobic
- How old it was
- About 10 years, posted as a teen; deleted in 2019
- How it came out
- Screenshots recirculated after the hire was announced
- Outcome
- Resigned before her start date
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: CNBC
Lost the role2019Newspaper reporter, Des Moines, IA2010 tweets that iMediaEthics described as using a racial slur and mocking gay marriage
- What surfaced
- 2010 tweets that iMediaEthics described as using a racial slur and mocking gay marriage
- How old it was
- About 9 years
- How it came out
- Surfaced after he flagged a charity fundraiser's own old tweets and critics dug up his
- Outcome
- Fired. He says he was told to quit or be fired and calls it unfair; the paper said it took “appropriate action”
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: iMediaEthics, Fox News
Lost the role2019Radio presenter, BBC Radio 5 Live, UKA tweeted photo of a couple holding hands with a chimpanzee in clothes, captioned "Royal baby leaves hospital"; the BBC called it a "serious error of judgment"
- What surfaced
- A tweeted photo of a couple holding hands with a chimpanzee in clothes, captioned "Royal baby leaves hospital"; the BBC called it a "serious error of judgment"
- How old it was
- 1 day
- How it came out
- Backlash on Twitter; he deleted it and apologized, saying it was a joke about royals and circus animals, not race
- Outcome
- The BBC said he would no longer present his weekly show; he described it as being sacked
- What to look for in your own history
- A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: Al Jazeera
Lost the role2018Newspaper opinion writer (new hire), New York, NYTweets with slurs and a retweet of one
- What surfaced
- Tweets with slurs and a retweet of one
- How old it was
- 4 to 5 years
- How it came out
- Users found them hours after the hire was announced
- Outcome
- Dropped the same day; she disputed the reading
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: BuzzFeed News
Lost the role2018Awards show hostTweets ABC called homophobic
- What surfaced
- Tweets ABC called homophobic
- How old it was
- About 8 years
- How it came out
- Resurfaced days after he was named host
- Outcome
- Stepped down
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: ABC News
Kept or regained it2018Film directorJokes about pedophilia and rape
- What surfaced
- Jokes about pedophilia and rape
- How old it was
- 7 to 10 years
- How it came out
- Activists dug through his posts
- Outcome
- Fired in July 2018; rehired in March 2019, about 8 months later
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: FOX 5 NY
Lost the role2016Baseball analyst, sports network, Bristol, CTA reposted image about transgender people and restroom access, with his own comment added
- What surfaced
- A reposted image about transgender people and restroom access, with his own comment added
- How old it was
- Days
- How it came out
- He posted it on Facebook; the network had pulled him from its baseball broadcasts in 2015 over a different post
- Outcome
- Fired; the network said his conduct was "unacceptable"
- What to look for in your own history
- A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: NPR, AP via ABC11
Lost the role2015Sports reporter, public broadcaster, AustraliaAnzac Day tweets the broadcaster called "inappropriate and disrespectful"
- What surfaced
- Anzac Day tweets the broadcaster called "inappropriate and disrespectful"
- How old it was
- Same day
- How it came out
- The broadcaster said the tweets breached its code of conduct and social media policy
- Outcome
- Fired over the weekend, per the broadcaster; a confidential settlement followed in 2016
- What to look for in your own history
- Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
More cases by group
- School boards and local office (15)
- Athletes (10)
- Teachers (9)
- Police (9)
- Candidates and appointees (8)
- Executives (8)
- Healthcare (7)
- Fire, EMS and military (7)
- Finance and banking (7)
- Students (6)
- Coaches (5)
- Law (5)
- Volunteers (4)
- Clergy and religious employers (4)
- Tech and corporate (4)
- Nonprofit and university leaders (4)
- Likes (11)
- Memes (23)
See all 127 cases and the key numbers
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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.
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