Journalist Taylor Lorenz’ reporting on the “Libs of TikTok” Twitter account sparked backlash.
Lorenz penned a piece for The Washington Post titled, “Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine.”
She opened her piece by mentioning a clip posted on the account that was featured on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program.
“Libs of TikTok reposts a steady stream of TikTok videos and social media posts, primarily from LGBTQ+ people, often including incendiary framing designed to generate outrage,” Lorenz wrote.
She continued, “Videos shared from the account quickly find their way to the most influential names in right-wing media. The account has emerged as a powerful force on the Internet, shaping right-wing media, impacting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and influencing millions by posting viral videos aimed at inciting outrage among the right.”
Lorenz noted the tweets reach millions.
The journalist pointed out the woman behind the account appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show anonymously to “complain about being temporarily suspended for violating Twitter’s community guidelines.”
According to Lorenz, “The identity of the operator of Libs of TikTok is traceable through a complex online history and reveals someone who has been plugged into right-wing discourse for two years and is now helping to drive it.”
Later in her report, Lorenz identified the operator behind the account.
“Chaya Raichik had been working as a real estate salesperson in Brooklyn when, in early November 2020, she created the account that would eventually become Libs of TikTok,” Lorenz wrote.
Her report claims under Raichik’s first handle she minimized the COVID-19 pandemic and cast doubt on results of the election.
The account tweeted, asking, “Hi [Taylor Lorenz]! Which of my relatives did you enjoy harassing the most at their homes yesterday?”
Hi @TaylorLorenz! Which of my relatives did you enjoy harassing the most at their homes yesterday? pic.twitter.com/QehkBSgcmG
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2022
Others expressed their anger with Lorenz’ reporting.
Now, after tracking down the Libs Of Tik Tok's relatives, Taylor Lorenz will whine that people are being meeeeeeean to her. F*** off, lady.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 19, 2022
Taylor Lorenz just last week was crying about being traumatized from people on the internet criticizing her. Now she's doxxing an anonymous account. Lorenz is a typical crybully scumbag. She deserves all the backlash coming her way after this. I hope it makes her cry again. https://t.co/V3QYeHqZwd
— Dr. Matt Walsh, Women’s Studies Scholar (@MattWalshBlog) April 19, 2022
Taylor Lorenz is about to "expose" the private citizen behind some anonymous account on Twitter, and when people criticize her for it, she and her friends will claim Taylor is the Real Victim™ and anyone criticizing this type of "journalism" will be guilty of causing her trauma. https://t.co/RnAsVLRbDu
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 19, 2022
This was Taylor Lorenz a couple of weeks ago.
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) April 19, 2022
She was crying victim of "harassment”.
Today she tracked down and harassed family members of the @libsoftiktok account for an article she’s working on.
It turns out Taylor’s the perpetrator, not victim.pic.twitter.com/CifXGvASCV
Meghan McCain tweeted, “Does Taylor truly think she is the only person who should be granted empathy, privacy and respect? She is doxxing families of anonymous twitter people and showing up at their homes like an absolute sociopath.”
She added, “This woman hurts all journalists and the [Washington Post] as an entity.”
Does Taylor truly think she is the only person who should be granted empathy, privacy and respect?
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) April 19, 2022
She is doxxing families of anonymous twitter people and showing up at their homes like an absolute sociopath.
This woman hurts all journalists and the @washingtonpost as an entity https://t.co/uS2E3VVlz3
Lorenz later argued there is “lots of convo about the ‘harm’ of covering a powerful online figure, but not much abt the harm done to the average LGBTQ+ ppl the acct seeks to drive out of schools and public life.”
Lots of convo about the “harm” of covering a powerful online figure, but not much abt the harm done to the average LGBTQ+ ppl the acct seeks to drive out of schools and public life. I hope people read this whole story and understand this account’s impact https://t.co/p5dNT7tHa3 pic.twitter.com/LMIwlRL3QR
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) April 19, 2022
She continued, “I hope people read this whole story and understand this account’s impact.”
