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Gay Times Editor Booted After Racist, Sexist, Anti-Semitic Tweets Emerge

Gay Times Editor Booted After Racist, Sexist, Anti-Semitic Tweets Emerge

'Gay Times' Editor Booted After Racist, Sexist, Anti-Semitic Tweets Emerge

Newly appointed editor Josh Rivers was sacked after his tweets disparaging Asian people, transgender people, obese people, lesbians, and the handicapped were uncovered by Buzzfeed.

Nbroverman

The appointment of Josh Rivers to run the U.K.'s most prominent LGBT publication -- the 33-year-old Gay Times -- was supposed to be a watershed moment in representation. The 31-year-old mixed-race British-American and former Gay Times marketing manager was set to bring a fresh voice for people of color in queer media. But Rivers has been fired before he even got to make an impression, after dozens of his horrifying tweets emerged.

In researching Rivers for an interview, Buzzfeed journalists uncovered tweets from 2010 to 2015 that used profane language to attack a whole cadre of minorities. Jews, Asians, Egyptians, Africans, lesbians, the homeless, people of size, transgender people, and even handicapped people were all cruelly mocked.

"Look here, tranny. 1) you look like a crackhead 2) YOU'RE A TRANNY & 3) your wig doesn't deserve a mention. Avert your eyes, honey," read one tweet.

"I wonder if they cast that guy as 'The Jew' because of that fucking ridiculously larger honker of a nose. It must be prosthetic. Must be," read another. Another tweet declared that, "Jews are gross."

Another: "At London Bridge waiting for my bus. That fat cunt is taking his sweet ass time eating that Cornish pasty." And another: ""People-watching in Soho is amaze. You'll never see a more confident bunch of ugly people." Another: "Was so close to casually asking this chav to keep her incested, down syndrome, retard children quiet. But I just switched carriages. #xmas." Also this: "The creepiest gay men are short, old asian men with long nails. Fact." And: "I hope that piece of machinery that asshole lesbian has been using since 8am cuts off her goddamn hand."

When Buzzfeed confronted Rivers on the offensive tweets -- of which there are many more -- Rivers expressed shock and then said it showed how he has since matured as well as how much self-loathing he once harbored. He then blamed the entire community for harboring prejudice. Rivers's publicist later released a statement:

"My tweets from a number of years ago show a great deal of self-loathing, a complete unawareness of the world around me and a disregard for others that I find deeply upsetting. To every single person these tweets will offend and disappoint: I am sorry. My role as editor of Gay Times today is to squash prejudice and represent our community in all its glorious and varied diversity. It is through my own development and desire to be a force for good in the world that I can apply my own learnings to help create a space for all of us to thrive within."

Regardless, Rivers's excuses couldn't save him. After Buzzfeed published their article on Wednesday, he was quickly suspended; by Thursday he was sacked and his articles scrubbed from Gay Times' website. On Saturday, the venerable publication will host an event honoring heroes in the LGBT community.

Nbroverman
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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.