Taylor Lorenz, a high-profile tech journalist known for her polarizing commentary, is facing renewed criticism following her comments about the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The controversy has resulted in Vox Media deciding not to renew its distribution deal for her podcast and YouTube show, marking yet another abrupt shift in her turbulent career.

Vox has decided to part ways with Taylor Lorenz, who also recently left the Washington Post. Lmao.

Lorenz recently agreed with the taking out of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. This decision was reportedly made “before” she endorsed the k*lling.

Where is she to go next? pic.twitter.com/Jjsv0qxFdV

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 9, 2024

Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans

Lorenz’s remarks, made in a newsletter essay and subsequent interviews, drew widespread condemnation.

In her essay on her Substack publication, User Mag, titled Why “We” Want Insurance Executives Dead, Lorenz sought to contextualize public frustration with the U.S. healthcare system.

However, critics argue that her framing, made in the wake of Thompson’s death, was tone-deaf and inflammatory.

“If you have watched a loved one die because an insurance conglomerate has denied their life-saving treatment as a cost-cutting measure, yes, it’s natural to wish that the people who run such conglomerates would suffer the same fate,” Lorenz wrote in the essay.

The duality of Taylor Lorenz is that breathing outside without wearing a mask is a violent, psychotic act but executing a guy in cold blood is not. pic.twitter.com/7QRsMGuABc

— Jeremiah Johnson (@JeremiahDJohns) December 5, 2024

She cited data showing that UnitedHealthcare denied 32% of claims—double the industry average—and included personal accounts from patients and families affected by such practices.

The controversy escalated when Lorenz reiterated her stance in an interview with TMZ, stating, “Am I going to shed tears or have a lot of empathy for somebody that has facilitated the deaths of thousands of innocent Americans through intentionally denying them coverage? I am not going to weep over it.”

Thompson, 50, was fatally shot last Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where UnitedHealthcare was hosting an investor event.

Authorities believe the attack was targeted.

The killing has sparked debates about the healthcare industry’s practices and the increasing hostility toward corporate executives.

Lorenz’s comments came under fire across the media landscape, with Fox News accusing her of “appearing to endorse violence” and others labeling her remarks as an exploitation of a tragedy to push a political agenda.

The backlash was immediate, with critics calling her essay inflammatory and unprofessional.

Vox Media, which had signed a short-term licensing deal with Lorenz in February to distribute her podcast and YouTube show, announced it would not extend the partnership into 2025.

According to Semafor, this decision was made before her latest comments but underscores the mounting challenges in her career trajectory.

Lorenz’s departure from Vox Media follows a series of high-profile exits from other major outlets.

After stints at The Daily Beast, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, she left the latter in October to focus on independent journalism through User Mag.

Known for her sharp takes on internet culture and her outspoken presence on social media, Lorenz has long been a divisive figure in the media world.

Her career has been marked by controversies, including unmasking the creator behind the Libs of TikTok account and her zealous promotion of COVID-19 safety measures, which some have criticized as excessive.

JUST IN: Taylor Lorenz giggles and says she felt “joy” when Brian Thompson, a husband, father, and CEO of UHC was k*lled. pic.twitter.com/Y57NTWfM6C

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 9, 2024

As the fallout continues, Lorenz remains a lightning rod for debate.

While some supporters defend her critique of the healthcare industry as a valid reflection of public frustration, others see her comments as emblematic of a growing trend of media figures exploiting sensationalism for attention.

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