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Gawker

Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:10:57 PM Wikipedia source

Gawker was an American blog founded by Nick Denton and Elizabeth Spiers that was based in New York City and focused on celebrities and the media industry. According to SimilarWeb, the site had over 23 million visits per month in 2015. Founded in 2002, Gawker was the flagship blog for Denton's Gawker Media. Gawker Media also managed other blogs such as Jezebel, io9, Deadspin and Kotaku. Gawker had come under scrutiny for posting videos, communications and other content that violated copyrights or the privacy of its owners, or was illegally obtained. Gawker's publication of a sex tape featuring Hulk Hogan led Hogan to sue the company for invasion of privacy. Hogan received financial support from billionaire investor Peter Thiel, who had been outed as gay by Gawker against his wishes. On June 10, 2016, Gawker filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay Hogan $140 million in damages. On August 18, 2016, Gawker Media announced that its namesake blog would be ceasing operations the following week. Its other websites were unaffected, and continued publication under Univision as the renamed Gizmodo Media Group. Founder Nick Denton created the site's final post on August 22, 2016. The Freedom of the Press Foundation independently archived the Gawker website and its articles in 2018. On July 12, 2018, Bryan Goldberg, owner of Bustle and Elite Daily, purchased Gawker.com and its archive in a bankruptcy auction for less than $1.5 million. Gawker relaunched under the Bustle Digital Group on July 28, 2021, with Leah Finnegan as editor. On February 1, 2023, Bustle Digital Group suspended the site's operations. Finnegan tweeted that the publication was folding. In November 2023, Gawker was acquired by Meng Ru Kuok. The Gawker digital archive was not included in this purchase, with all articles wiped from the original website and relocated to gawkerarchives.com.

Infobox

Type of site
Blog
Founded
2002 (original)2021 (relaunch)
Dissolved
August 22, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-08-22) (original)February 1, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-02-01) (after 2021 relaunch)
Headquarters
New York City
Owner
Gawker Media (2002–2016)Bustle Digital Group (2018–2023)Meng Ru Kuok (2023–present)
Founders
mw- Nick DentonElizabeth Spiers
Editor
Leah Finnegan
URL
gawker.com
Commercial
Yes
Launched
2002; 23 years ago (2002) (original)July 28, 2021; 4 years ago (2021-07-28) (relaunch)
Current status
Shut down

Tables

· Staff › Editor in chief
Elizabeth Spiers
Elizabeth Spiers
Editor-in-chief
Elizabeth Spiers
Editor from
2003
Editor to
2003
Choire Sicha
Choire Sicha
Editor-in-chief
Choire Sicha
Editor from
2003
Editor to
2004
Jessica Coen
Jessica Coen
Editor-in-chief
Jessica Coen
Editor from
2004
Editor to
2006
Jesse Oxfeld
Jesse Oxfeld
Editor-in-chief
Jesse Oxfeld
Editor from
2005
Editor to
2006
Alex Balk
Alex Balk
Editor-in-chief
Alex Balk
Editor from
2006
Editor to
2007
Emily Gould
Emily Gould
Editor-in-chief
Emily Gould
Editor from
2006
Editor to
2007
Choire Sicha
Choire Sicha
Editor-in-chief
Choire Sicha
Editor from
2007
Editor to
2007
Gabriel Snyder
Gabriel Snyder
Editor-in-chief
Gabriel Snyder
Editor from
2009
Editor to
2010
Remy Stern
Remy Stern
Editor-in-chief
Remy Stern
Editor from
2010
Editor to
2011
A.J. Daulerio
A.J. Daulerio
Editor-in-chief
A.J. Daulerio
Editor from
2012
Editor to
2013
John Cook
John Cook
Editor-in-chief
John Cook
Editor from
2013
Editor to
2014
Max Read
Max Read
Editor-in-chief
Max Read
Editor from
2014
Editor to
2015
Leah Beckmann
Leah Beckmann
Editor-in-chief
Leah Beckmann
Editor from
2015
Editor to
2015
Alex Pareene
Alex Pareene
Editor-in-chief
Alex Pareene
Editor from
2015
Editor to
2016
Dan Peres
Dan Peres
Editor-in-chief
Dan Peres
Editor from
2019
Editor to
2019
Leah Finnegan
Leah Finnegan
Editor-in-chief
Leah Finnegan
Editor from
2021
Editor to
2023
Editor-in-chief
Editor from
Editor to
Elizabeth Spiers
2003
2003
Choire Sicha
2003
2004
Jessica Coen
2004
2006
Jesse Oxfeld
2005
2006
Alex Balk
2006
2007
Emily Gould
2006
2007
Choire Sicha
2007
2007
Gabriel Snyder
2009
2010
Remy Stern
2010
2011
Daulerio
2012
2013
John Cook
2013
2014
Max Read
2014
2015
Leah Beckmann
2015
2015
Alex Pareene
2015
2016
Dan Peres
2019
2019
Leah Finnegan
2021
2023

References

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  2. The New York Times
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  9. Wired
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  10. CNN
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  11. TheWrap
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  12. Variety
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  13. Variety
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  18. Times
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  19. "Extremely literal boss demotes editor to columnist – self-referential – Gawker"
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  20. "Consumerist Is For Sale"
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  21. "AdweekMedia: Best of the 2000s – Blog of the Decade"
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  22. The New York Times
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  23. Gawker
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  24. Capital New York
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  25. Gawker Will Be Conducting An Experiment, Please Enjoy Your Free Cute Cats Singing And Sideboobs Archived June 17, 2012,
    http://gawker.com/5878065/gawker-will-be-conducting-an-experiment-please-enjoy-your-free-cute-cats-singing-and-sideboobs
  26. Four truths about Gawker-Brian Williams e-mail thing Archived August 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Erik Wemple, The
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/post/four-truths-about-gawker-brian-williams-e-mail-thing/2012/01/17/gIQAUktt5P_blog.html
  27. A.J. Daulerio Is Leaving Gawker for 'Who the F#@K Knows' Archived January 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Kara Bloomga
    https://observer.com/2013/01/a-j-daulerio-is-leaving-gawker-for-who-the-fk-knows/
  28. A.J. Daulerio Out as Gawker Editor in Chief Archived January 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Charlie Warzel, AdWeek, J
    http://www.adweek.com/news/press/aj-daulerio-out-gawker-editor-chief-146450
  29. A.J. Daulerio Out As Gawker Editor; John Cook to Step Up Archived January 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Joe Coscarel
    http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/aj-daulerio-out-as-gawker-editor.html
  30. Cision
    http://www.cision.com/us/2014/03/max-read-takes-reins-at-gawker/
  31. Poynter Institute
    https://web.archive.org/web/20141128120629/http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/246113/gawker-bans-internet-slang/
  32. TheWrap
    http://www.thewrap.com/gawker-rips-buzzfeed-ban-internet-slang/
  33. The New York Observer
    https://observer.com/2014/04/massive-attack-gawker-goes-after-whopping-word/
  34. BostInno
    http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2014/04/03/gawker-editor-bans-internet-slang/
  35. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/10/ban-internet-slang-steven-poole-derp-amazeballs-lulz-wtf
  36. The New Republic
    https://newrepublic.com/article/117289/gawker-language-memo-encourages-use-adult-language
  37. Observer
    https://observer.com/2015/06/gawker-votes-to-form-union/
  38. "In A First For Online Media, Gawker Writers Join Union"
    https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/04/412042028/in-a-first-for-online-media-gawker-writers-join-union
  39. "How We're Voting on the Union, and Why"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150721121035/http://gawker.com/how-were-voting-on-the-union-and-why-1707427120
  40. Women's Wear Daily
    http://wwd.com/media-news/digital/gawker-nick-denton-tries-to-calm-staff-as-fallout-continues-10190742
  41. The Huffington Post
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gawker-closing_us_57b5e870e4b0fd5a2f41cbb5
  42. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2016/09/22/univision-rebrands-gawker-media-as-gizmodo-media-group-starts-translating-content-for-univision-com/#4b64345e44ad
  43. The A.V. Club
    http://www.avclub.com/article/hulk-hogan-further-vindicated-univision-shuts-down-241350
  44. Gawker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160818215743/http://gawker.com/fate-of-gawker-com-remains-unclear-after-univision-acqu-1785392239
  45. Splinter
    https://splinternews.com/here-are-the-media-chuds-joining-fake-gawker-1831782448
  46. Esquire
    https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a29501602/gawker-bryan-goldberg-bustle-digital-group/
  47. The Daily Beast
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/gawker-writers-quit-over-editorial-director-carson-griffiths-offensive-tweets-workplace-comments
  48. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/business/media/gawker-editor-dan-peres.html
  49. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/business/gawker-bustle-reboot-canceled.html
  50. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/media/daily-beast-carson-griffith-lawsuit
  51. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/media/carson-griffith-gawker-defamation-case-daily-beast
  52. Insider
    https://www.businessinsider.com/daily-beast-defamation-lawsuit-gawker-implosion-dismissed-2023-5
  53. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/business/media/gawker-return.html
  54. Variety
    https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/gawker-relaunch-bustle-digital-group-1235029633/
  55. CNN
    https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/01/media/gawker-shuts-down/index.html
  56. TheWrap
    https://www.thewrap.com/gawker-acquired-caldecott-music-group-bustle-media-bmg/
  57. Futurism
    https://futurism.com/dead-gawker-promote-joe-rogan-donald-trump
  58. "Letter From the Ex-Editor: It's a Long Way to Tipperary, It's a Long Way to Go"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20060705103252/http://www.gawker.com/news/jesse-oxfeld/letter-from-the-exeditor-its-a-long-way-to-tipperary-its-a-long-way-to-go-184928.php
  59. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/business/media/gawker-politics-media.html
  60. Columbia Journalism Review
    https://www.cjr.org/special_report/microfilm-newspapers-media-digital.php/
  61. Intelligencer
    https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/08/save-the-trash-why-the-gawker-archive-is-important.html
  62. "Describing dynamic data journalism: developing a survey of news applications"
    https://slub.qucosa.de/landing-page/?tx_dlf%5bid%5d=https%3A%2F%2Fslub.qucosa.de%2Fapi%2Fqucosa%253A16654%2Fmets
  63. TechCrunch
    https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/01/freedom-of-the-press-foundation-will-preserve-gawkers-archives/
  64. Columbia Journalism Review
    https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/the-dire-state-of-news-archiving-in-the-digital-age.php/
  65. "Introducing Gawker Stalker Maps"
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  66. "Gawker.com launches 'stalker' map"
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  67. Larry King Live
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  68. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/business/dealbook/peter-thiel-tech-billionaire-reveals-secret-war-with-gawker.html
  69. Tom's Hardware
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  70. "Church of Scientology Claims Copyright Infringement"
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  71. "The Cruise Indoctrination Video Scientology Tried To Suppress"
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  72. "Sarah Palin's Personal Emails – Exclusive"
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  73. "Palin Emails Reveal Press Hate – Close read"
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  74. "Palin Hackers May Dodge Feds via DOJ Loophole – News and Analysis by PC Magazine"
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  75. "CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – McCain camp seeks investigation over reported e-mail hack « – Blogs from CNN.com"
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  76. "I Had a One-Night Stand With Christine O'Donnell"
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  77. "NOW to Media: Stop Reducing Women Candidates to Sex Objects"
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  78. "Twitter / elliottjustin: Today, we are all Christine O'Donnell"
    https://twitter.com/elliottjustin/status/29014215829
  79. "Gawker Honcho: "Writers are Successful to the Extent That They Can Sublimate Their Egotism""
    http://www.theawl.com/2010/10/gawker-honcho-writers-are-successful-to-the-extent-that-they-can-sublimate-their-egotism
  80. Forbes
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  81. "Gawker website Hacked by Gnosis; Gnosis says they are not 4chan or Anonymous"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20101216021934/http://techshrimp.com/2010/12/13/gawker-website-hacked-by-gnosis-gnosis-says-they-are-not-4chan-or-anonymous/
  82. Mediaite
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  83. "Gawker hackers release file with FTP, author & reader usernames/passwords"
    https://thenextweb.com/media/2010/12/13/gawker-hackers-release-file-with-ftp-author-reader-usernamespasswords/
  84. "Commenting Accounts Compromised – Change Your Passwords"
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  85. "Advisory Notice (No action required)"
    http://gawker.com/5712646/advisory-notice-no-action-required
  86. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906977.html?hpid=topnews
  87. "Even for a Minute, Watching Hulk Hogan Have Sex in a Canopy Bed is Not Safe For Work but Watch it Anyway"
    http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150703232454/http://gawker.com/5948770/even-for-a-minute-watching-hulk-hogan-have-sex-in-a-canopy-bed-is-not-safe-for-work-but-watch-it-anyway
  88. BuzzFeed
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  89. Gawker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130428130143/http://gawker.com/a-judge-told-us-to-take-down-our-hulk-hogan-sex-tape-po-481328088
  90. "A judge told us to take down our Hulk Hogan sex tape post. We won't"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160319090210/https://twitter.com/Gawker/status/327537977922318337
  91. The New York Observer
    https://observer.com/2014/09/spare-us-the-sanctimony-the-gross-hypocrisy-of-online-media-in-the-nude-photo-leak/
  92. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/business/media/gawker-nick-denton-moment-of-truth.html
  93. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/06/07/behind-peter-thiel-plan-to-destroy-gawker/#357fbad15848
  94. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/business/dealbook/peter-thiel-tech-billionaire-reveals-secret-war-with-gawker.html
  95. Fortune
    http://fortune.com/2016/01/20/gawker-funding/
  96. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/business/media/gawker-hulk-hogan-verdict.html
  97. CNNMoney
    https://money.cnn.com/2016/03/18/media/hulk-hogan-gawker-jury-deliberations/index.html
  98. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/business/media/hulk-hogan-damages-25-million-gawker-case.html
  99. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/media/gawker-hulk-hogan-settlement.html?_r=0
  100. The Daily Telegraph
    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/michael-brutsch-exposed-as-the-reddits-violentacrez-the-worlds-worst-internet-troll/story-fnddckzi-1226495497037
  101. "Unmasking Reddit's Violentacrez, The Biggest Troll on the Web"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121012213707/http://gawker.com/5950981/unmasking-reddits-violentacrez-the-biggest-troll-on-the-web
  102. "Reddit bans Gawker links over Adrian Chen story about porn purveyor Violentacres"
    http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/11/reddit_bans_gawker_links_over_adrian_chen_story_about_porn_purveyor_violentacres.html
  103. Daily Dot
    http://www.dailydot.com/news/gawker-reddit-banned-adrian-chen-violentacrez/
  104. "Leaked Reddit Chat Logs Reveal Moderators' Real Concern"
    https://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/leaked-chat-logs-between-reddit-moderators-and-sta
  105. Wired
    https://www.wired.com/2012/10/truth-lies-doxxing-internet-vigilanteism/
  106. The Next Web
    https://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/10/27/the-problems-with-anonymous-trolls-and-accountability-in-the-digital-age/
  107. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fed-interns-office-grievances-court/story?id=19476629
  108. TheWrap
    https://www.thewrap.com/gawker-beats-former-interns-in-legal-battle-over-wages/
  109. "Goodbye to All That Gawking"
    https://adamweinstein.tumblr.com/post/124342415120/goodbye-to-all-that-gawking
  110. "A Statement From the Gawker Media Editorial Staff"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150719013412/http://politburo.gawker.com/a-statement-from-the-gawker-media-editorial-staff-1718649722
  111. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/07/17/gawkers-apparent-outing-cfo-meets-internet-backlash/30280505/
  112. "Gawker retreats and deletes controversial story"
    https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/17/media/gawker-removes-post/index.html
  113. Gawker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150721024215/http://gawker.com/tommy-craggs-and-max-read-are-resigning-from-gawker-1719002144
  114. Politico
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151024001133/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/07/8572873/gawker-buyout-watch
  115. The Daily Beast
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/25/gawker-s-season-of-fear-and-loathing.html
  116. CNBC
    https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/10/gawker-files-for-bankruptcy-and-says-it-will-sell-the-company-to-ziff-davis-or-someone-else.html
  117. CNBC
    https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/10/gawker-media-files-for-ch-11-bankruptcy-protection.html
  118. "Univision deletes six controversial Gawker Media posts"
    https://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/09/univision-to-delete-six-controversial-gawker-media-posts-004753/
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