Vanity Fair has severed ties with reporter Brittany Romano after she was filmed smiling and winking at a camera during the ongoing murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of strangling her three children. The magazine stated that Romano's actions conflicted with its editorial standards.
Romano was reporting on the trial, which is determining whether Clancy should be convicted of murder or found not guilty by reason of insanity. The case has been described as particularly horrific, with one potential juror reportedly leaving the courtroom in tears before the proceedings began.
During a live CourtTV broadcast on Monday, Romano, dressed in a green outfit, appeared to smile and wink at the camera while other journalists in the courtroom gallery maintained somber expressions. When questioned about her demeanor, Romano claimed she had a personal connection to Clancy, having grown up with her. She also stated that her father had told her she looked sad on live television, prompting her reaction.
Despite her explanations, Romano's conduct led to significant online criticism. She posted about the backlash on her Instagram stories, referencing "trolls" who had sent her hateful messages, including death threats. One post sarcastically thanked users for boosting her analytics.
Vanity Fair confirmed in a statement that it had initially been interested in a personal essay from Romano about her experience growing up with Clancy. However, following the incident and a review of her conduct, the magazine informed Romano that it would not proceed with the essay and notified the court that she was no longer credentialed by Vanity Fair.
Romano was not present in court on Tuesday, though her name had previously been listed outside the courtroom as a reporter for New York Magazine and Vanity Fair. The trial of Clancy, a 36-year-old mother from Duxbury, Massachusetts, is nearing its conclusion, with witness testimony expected to wrap up soon. Clancy's defense argues that she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis and hearing voices at the time of the alleged killings and her subsequent suicide attempt.