Gawker

Gawker
Type of site
Blog
Founded2002 (original)
2021 (relaunch)
DissolvedAugust 22, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-08-22) (original)
February 1, 2023; 21 months ago (2023-02-01) (relaunch)
HeadquartersNew York City
OwnerGawker Media (2002–2016)
Bustle Digital Group (2018–2023)
Meng Ru Kuok (2023–present)
Founder(s)
EditorLeah Finnegan
URLgawker.com
CommercialYes
Launched2002; 22 years ago (2002) (original)
July 28, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-07-28) (relaunch)
Current statusShut down

Gawker is an American blog founded by Nick Denton and Elizabeth Spiers that was based in New York City and focused on celebrities and the media industry.[1] According to SimilarWeb, the site had over 23 million visits per month in 2015.[2] Founded in 2002, Gawker was the flagship blog for Denton's Gawker Media. Gawker Media also managed other blogs such as Jezebel, io9, Deadspin and Kotaku.

Gawker had come under scrutiny for posting videos, communications and other content that violated copyrights or the privacy of its owners, or was illegally obtained. Gawker's publication of a sex tape featuring Hulk Hogan led Hogan to sue the company for invasion of privacy. Hogan received financial support from billionaire investor Peter Thiel, who had been outed by Gawker against his wishes. On June 10, 2016, Gawker filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay Hogan $140 million in damages.[3][4] On August 18, 2016, Gawker Media announced that its namesake blog would be ceasing operations the following week.[5] Its other websites were unaffected, and continued publication under Univision as the renamed Gizmodo Media Group. Founder Nick Denton created the site's final post on August 22, 2016.[6] The Freedom of the Press Foundation independently archived the Gawker website and its articles in 2018.[7][8]

On July 12, 2018, Bryan Goldberg, owner of Bustle and Elite Daily, purchased Gawker.com and its archive in a bankruptcy auction for less than $1.5 million.[9] Gawker relaunched under the Bustle Digital Group on July 28, 2021, with Leah Finnegan as editor.[10] On February 1, 2023, Bustle Digital Group suspended the site's operations. Finnegan tweeted that the publication was folding.[11]

In November 2023, Gawker was acquired by Meng Ru Kuok.[12] The Gawker digital archive was not included in this purchase and all articles have been removed from the website.[12][13]

  1. ^ Mahler, Jonathan (June 12, 2015). "Gawker's Moment of Truth". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  2. ^ "Gawker.com" Archived June 30, 2015, at the Wayback Machine SimilarWeb. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Ember, Sydney (June 10, 2016). "Gawker Said to Plan Sale After $140 Million Award to Hulk Hogan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  4. ^ Thompson, Derek (February 23, 2018). "The Most Expensive Comment in Internet History?". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Denton, Nick (August 22, 2016). "How Things Work". Gawker. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Victor, Daniel (February 1, 2018). "Saving Gawker and Alt-Weeklies From Deletion". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Matsakis, Louise. "The Gawker Archives Aren't Going Anywhere". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Kludt, Tom; Darcy, Oliver (July 12, 2018). "Gawker.com sold to Bleacher Report co-founder Bryan Goldberg in bankruptcy auction". CNN. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ellefson 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 1, 2023). "Gawker Is Shutting Down". Variety. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (November 15, 2023). "Gawker Sold to Founder of Singapore's Caldecott Music Group: 'It Has the Opportunity for Reinvention' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).