Meeting One of the Most Hated Men in America — on Tinder

When Eve Peyser, a writer and comedian based in New York City, went on Tinder recently, she found someone who was more than a potential hookup -- she found "one of the most hated men in America," drug company executive Martin Shkreli.

Shrkeli is the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, which recently announced plans to raise the cost of Daraprim, a drug used with other meds to treat toxoplasmosis, which is sometimes a complication of HIV, by 5,000 percent, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Shrkeli then walked back that statement and said the company wouldn't raise the price quite that much, but hasn't said how much the drug will end up costing.

"When I saw [Shrkeli's] face pop up in my Tinder matches, I had to swipe right, especially because I had just written an article mocking his OkCupid account," Peyser writes in a Mic piece published Monday. "I immediately knew it was him, although his profile description, 'American entrepreneur,' was a little vague."

"I was curious to know how he felt about being pilloried for something his industry did on a regular basis," Peyser continues. "But I also wanted to know why he did what he did." She started out by playing coy and acting like she was interested in him romantically, but found she "couldn't resist asking him if he was 'DTGMAD,' or 'down to give me AIDS drugs?'"

Trending stories

Meet the 'Ultimatum: Queer Love' season 2 couples & how to follow them

What divas can teach the world about LGBTQ+ advocacy

Grindr is reminding us why jockstraps are so sexy and iconic

Queer Joy Alert: This TikTok star helps LGBTQ+ singles find love — and chaos — online

Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

From small town charm to big city Pride: exploring LGBTQ+ Ontario

11 excellent lesbian and sapphic shows to stream on HBO Max

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Rachel Levine fought HIV & STIs at HHS. Now she’s speaking out because that progress is being undone

Colton Ford, legendary gay adult film star, dies at 62

Rising star LAVERN says LGBTQ+ ravers 'bring the fire' ahead of EDC performance

Apple App Store removes queer cruising app Sniffies

More than a stay: Airbnb’s latest release is built for the way we travel today

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

11 queer songs that belonged on Spotify's Song of the Summer 2025

Everything we know about 'Pillion', the kinky gay film taking over Cannes

HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts

Deja Skye says 'Drag Race' fandom saved them: 'There was contemplation of unaliving myself'

Lesbian Pride: Here's every Dyke March in the U.S. in 2025

The Tryst Puerto Vallarta is the perfect destination for gays to embrace their worst behavior

11 best LGBTQ+ true crime docs and where to watch them

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

They exchanged a few more messages, with Shrkeli criticizing how the story of the price hike has been reported and defending capitalism. Peyser wanted to go deeper into the latter subject, but Shrkeli severed their connection after she asked if he was the "Snowden of AIDS drugs," referring to former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked confidential information about government surveillance of citizens.

Screen grabs of their conversation have gone viral, but Peyser, while deploring Shrkeli's business decision, came away thinking of him and other Tinder matches with a bit more sympathy.

"Did I want Martin's face in my home? Certainly not," she concludes. "But I do believe that Martin Shkreli believes he is doing good for the world, or else he wouldn't have engaged with me. And even though Martin Shkreli is the current face of all that is wrong with capitalism, I do have sympathy for the guy. After all, even questionably sociopathic pharma bros deserve to get laid."