Kabas publicizes Waite's termination on Bluesky
1 Nov 3 9:41 AM · 5d ago · 1 article · 1 post · 2 sources · development 1 of 1
Marisa Kabas posts that she is 'in shock' that the Times fired Waite over the repost of criticism she and Mark Jacob made, linking to a fuller account and statement from Waite.
“Honestly in shock. @nytimes.com terminated the contract of romance fiction columnist Olivia Waite because she reposted on Bluesky criticism I and @markjacob.bsky.social had of the paper's lack of coverage of the new rape allegations against Donald Trump.”
Marisa KabasOlivia Waite NYT romance fiction columnistPatrick Healy NYT assistant managing editor for standards and trust
Marisa Kabas Independent journalist, The HandbasketMark Jacob Journalist, Stop the Presses newsletterTina Jordan Editor, NYT Book Review
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Reported in the same hours no headline names this development itself — these 1 claim were published in its stretch
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1 outlet The New York Times Terminates Contract with Romance Columnist Olivia Waite After Bluesky Repost
first by Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches …, 5d ago
What people said 24 voices · best of 335 · verbatim
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M
Honestly in shock. @nytimes.com terminated the contract of romance fiction columnist Olivia Waite because she reposted on Bluesky criticism I and @markjacob.bsky.social had of the paper’s lack of coverage of the new rape allegations against Donald Trump. Details and a statement from Olivia here:
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L
So now they're silencing journalists who are pointing out the weird lack of coverage of the latest rape accusations against the President of the United States. "The New York Times Terminates Contract with Romance Columnist Olivia Waite After Bluesky Repost" A fine way to draw attention to the story https:// smartbitchestrashybooks.com/20…
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Waite: “On the eve of a national midterm election, the Times reached all the way over to the Book Review & parted ways with a writer in the genre that most often presents rape scenes from the perspective of the victim, in stories that insistently end with the victim triumphant, beloved, and happy.”
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L
"But it’s shocking, appalling, and outrageous to see them dismiss a fiction columnist for sharing someone else’s post criticizing coverage of rape allegations against Trump." https:// smartbitchestrashybooks.com/20 26/11/the-new-york-times-terminates-contract-with-romance-columnist-olivia-waite-after-bluesky-repost/
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Waite tells @smartbitches.bsky.social that she received an email from Tina Jordan, editor of the Book Review, “saying that Olivia’s clear sentiments about the Times mean that the paper is no longer a good fit for her column.” This was what Waite reposted:
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The august @nytimes does not like being called out as soft-on-fascism -- so it may not be pleased with my noting that it published a flattering puff piece on Hitler's mountain retreat literally TWO WEEKS before he started WWII.
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So they will hold staff accountable after all. Just not for poor journalism.
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C
They fired the romance columnist for a repost. A repost. She did not write the criticism, she just shared it, and that was enough to make her 'not a good fit.' The paper of record, terrified of a share button.
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Posting cuz the New York Times is watching.
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G
All of them, Joe Kahn, Patrick Healy, AG Sulzberger Jr are so full of it. They are so scared of appearing partisan that they've over-corrected and are/have been appeasing Trump and the GOP. It's better than being accused of liberal bias I suppose.
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Yeah, it’s over for the NYT. Entirely captured. What a disgrace.
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I really don't think they are afraid of appearing partisan. I think they're 100% on board with fascism.
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Yet another reminder that conservatives are only and exclusively about free speech for me but not for thee.
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Anything to keep the myth of “liberal media” alive when in fact they’re 100% fascists.
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S
they don't think a woman being raped by the president of the United States is newsworthy. they don't think women are full people, just obstacles to a conservative white man's career
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not beating the "paper that maintains a database of all their contributors social media activity related to the company" allegations
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H
this is some fucked up fuckery right here
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The Times has never had less direct legacy competition after Bezos smashed the Post, and it has responded by becoming almost unbelievably thin-skinned as an institution, full of self-righteous arrogance and hostility to well-earned criticism. Awesome.
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Olivia Waite’s statement is well worth the read. She’s an insightful woman. As is Marisa.
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When it questions their coverage of Dear Leader, they take action
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I was a long time freelancer (including writing one of their newsletters for years) for the NYT and had publicly disagreed with their reporting choices before. Nothing happened to me. This is appalling.
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The new allegation is news—and is consistent with the already corroborated facts which NYT previously reported in 2025 Newsweek covered it
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you've uncovered something important about the NYT here Marisa. don't let this go. I hope you will keep digging
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yes, despite the horrors, i maintain the ability to be shocked at unscrupulous behavior—even from known bad actors.
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