Cumulus Media severs ties with Podcast Movement after Ben Shapiro controversy



Broadcasting giant Cumulus Media on Tuesday severed ties with Podcast Movement, the trade association that issued a groveling apology for "harm" purportedly caused by Daily Wire podcast host Ben Shapiro's presence at their conference in Dallas, Texas, last month.

Cumulus, the third largest owner and operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, said in a statement it was "dismayed and disappointed" by trade association's response after Shapiro visited the Daily Wire booth at the Podcast Movement conference and greeted fans and supporters. The Daily Wire was one of the event's sponsors.

The Cumulus Podcast Network has been the Daily Wire's advertising sales representative since 2016. The Atlanta-based company has also syndicated Shapiro's radio show through its Westwood One subsidiary since 2019.

"At Cumulus Media, our tenet is that Every Voice Matters and we support conferences and trade events where differing political viewpoints can be expressed and received with respect," Cumulus said. "As such, we were dismayed and disappointed by Podcast Movement's handling of the reaction to our partner, top podcaster, and conservative talk leader Ben Shapiro's mere presence at Podcast Movement.

"After giving the leaders of Podcast Movement sufficient time to appropriately address their misstep, we are disassociating from Podcast Movement, including canceling our 2023 sponsorship plans," the company announced.

Controversy exploded late last month after an attendee at Podcast Movement's conference complained that Shapiro's presence at the event did not make her feel "safe."

In response to the complaint, Podcast Movement posted an apology on Twitter taking "full responsibility for the harm done by his presence."

The trade association said Shapiro's presence at the event was "unacceptable," a statement that drew fierce backlash from conservatives. Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing accused the group of "unadulterated bigotry" against conservative podcasters in a tirade denouncing how Shapiro, his friend and business partner, was treated. On Tuesday, Boreing praised Cumulus' action and called on other media companies to defend free speech.

“I’m glad to see our longtime partner Cumulus/Westwood One taking such a strong and public stand against Podcast Movement’s outright and abject bigotry,” Boreing said, according to the Daily Wire. “Though Podcast Movement quietly removed their bigoted tweet thread over the weekend, they still have yet to retract and publicly apologize for their hateful comments about Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire.

“In an illiberal moment such as the one we’re currently living in, if we don’t stand up to this kind of bigoted behavior it’s only going to get worse,” he continued. “I certainly hope Cumulus’s strong response to Podcast Movement is the first of many others like it.”

In the wake of the controversy, Podcast Movement deleted the tweets apologizing for "harm caused by Shapiro's presence.

"We’re listening to our Podcast Movement community - many who’ve been with us since the start. We’re putting in place policies to guide our social media & events with inclusivity, diversity & respect for all," the group tweeted on Sept. 2. " It’s a journey. We’ll keep listening, keep growing together."

Taylor Lorenz blasted on Times Square billboard for doxxing Libs of TikTok. Lorenz reacts by saying she's 'grateful' for WaPo's 'strong security team.'



Washington Post tech reporter Taylor Lorenz got called out on a giant electronic billboard in New York City's Times Square. The billboard declares Lorenz "doxxed @LibsOfTikTok" and throws shade at the newspaper as well.

What are the details?

The ad's full text reads, "Hey WaPo / Democracy dies in darkness / That's why we're shining a light on you. / Taylor Lorenz doxxed @LibsOfTikTok." It's signed by @Timcast, which is the Twitter handle for journalist Tim Pool.

Pool said in his Twitter post Tuesday — which also featured video of the billboard — that Lorenz's story about the Libs of TikTok creator "included a link to private work details and an address listed as Libs' private home. They lied about it so I got an ad in Times Square calling them out."

The Washington Post and Taylor Lorenz Doxxed @libsoftiktok \n\nThey included a link to private work details and an address listed as Libs' private home\n\nThey lied about it so I got an ad in Times Square calling them out\n\nThanks to @JeremyDBoreing for the assistpic.twitter.com/mIupTc2rZ6
— Tim Pool (@Tim Pool) 1650988621

Pool also thanked Jeremy Boreing, CEO of the Daily Wire, for "the assist." Boreing noted Sunday in a Twitter reply to Pool that he's "good for half" the billboard's cost.

Yes. Do it. I\u2019m good for half.https://twitter.com/timcast/status/1518305029769383938\u00a0\u2026
— Jeremy Boreing (@Jeremy Boreing) 1650836981

What's the background?

Lorenz has been making headlines of late and getting lambasted for tone-deaf hypocrisy in the process. Recently, she burst into tears during an MSNBC interview complaining about being harassed online and added that she suffered from post-traumatic stress and even contemplated suicide.

That didn't sway Lorenz from online digging that resulted in her Post story on Libs of TikTok, a popular Twitter account that reposts leftist videos and which most recently focused on ways progressive public school teachers are indoctrinating children. Lorenz's story outed the identity of the Libs of TikTok account's creator and initially publishing a link to the creator's real estate license, which included personal details such as the creator's full name, address, phone number, and employer's name.

The Post later removed the link but stealth-edited the story, failing to tell readers via an editor's note about the changes. When asked why the information was deleted post-publication, a Post spokesperson said "ultimately, we deemed it unnecessary."

What did Lorenz have to say about the billboard?

Lorenz on Tuesday called the billboard "an attempt to discredit my reporting on Libs of TikTok." As for reactions to her tweet, only those Lorenz follows or has mentioned can comment on it, and for that others called her a "coward" and accused her of creating an "echo chamber of people she agrees with."

Lorenz added in another tweet that the billboard "is undeniably so idiotic it’s hilarious, but don’t forget that these campaigns have a much darker and more violent side. I’m grateful to be at a newsroom that recognizes these bad faith, politically motivated attacks and has a strong security team."

'Cry more Taylor!'

Libs of TikTok reacted in short-and-sweet fashion to Lorenz's claim that the billboard is "an attempt to discredit" her reporting:

Cry more Taylor! You actually discredited yourself all on your own pic.twitter.com/T5dH9w6mOE
— Libs of TikTok (@Libs of TikTok) 1650991989
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