A journalist covering the Lindsay Clancy trial has drawn widespread criticism and had her press credentials revoked after appearing to smile and wink at a courtroom camera.
Brittany Romano, working under a Vanity Fair press pass, was observed smiling and tilting her head towards the camera as it panned across the Plymouth courtroom on the 19th day of Clancy's trial. The incident was captured on video, leading to accusations of unprofessional and disrespectful behavior.
Confronted outside the courthouse, Romano stated she was smiling at the defendant, Lindsay Clancy, due to a personal connection. "I was laughing because I grew up with Lindsay," Romano said. She further explained that a celebrity stylist friend had advised her to smile for the cameras after her father commented on her appearance in court during a previous broadcast. "My dad had saw [me] previously on CourtTV and he said I looked bad so I was giggling, you know what I mean?" she added.
Vanity Fair's parent company, Condé Nast, confirmed that the magazine revoked Romano's press credential following the incident. A spokesperson stated, "We were interested in the prospect of a personal essay by Brittany Romano about her experience growing up with Lindsay Clancy. Yesterday, after clear conflicts with our editorial standards and processes, we informed Romano that we were not moving forward with her essay and informed the court that she is no longer credentialed by Vanity Fair."
Romano faced a barrage of criticism on social media, with users calling her conduct "disrespectful" and "appalling." Some messages reportedly urged her to harm herself. In response to the backlash, Romano posted on Threads, "I'm actually proud of myself because these trolls have been absolutely vile: telling me to kill myself, telling me to slit my wrists, attacking me personally – and then blaming a trial for their behavior."
She also shared screenshots of critical messages on her Instagram stories, appearing to respond sarcastically to the intense criticism. She suggested that those with strong feelings about the case should redirect their energy towards advocating for better treatment of postpartum depression, a condition Clancy is alleged to have suffered from. "Write to your local officials, develop a program for PPS or PPD – anything but message me. If you cared so much you'd advocate for the cause instead of quick hit trolling me," Romano wrote.
Romano has been an active voice on social media regarding the case, previously posting a selfie with Clancy's defense attorney and other journalists. She has also been open about her personal connection to the defendant.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, faces murder charges in the January 2023 deaths of her children, Callan, Dawson, and Cora, who were aged 8 months to 5 years old. She has pleaded not guilty. The trial has focused significantly on her mental state at the time of the killings, with the defense arguing she was suffering from acute postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors contend the killings were planned.
Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, reportedly sought mental health treatment in the months leading up to the deaths and admitted herself to a psychiatric hospital. After the deaths of her children, she jumped from a second-story window and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
The trial is nearing its conclusion, with closing arguments expected soon after the final witnesses testify. Earlier in the proceedings, medical experts presented differing views on Clancy's mental state, with defense experts asserting postpartum psychosis rendered her not responsible for her actions, while prosecution experts are evaluating her psychiatric history.