Vanity Fair ends credentialing of reporter after courtroom camera captures smile

A live CourtTV feed captured journalist Brittany Romano, who was covering the Lindsay Clancy murder trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, smiling and winking at the camera while other reporters remained solemn. Romano later explained that she was in the courtroom because she grew up with Clancy and that a family member had encouraged her to appear less sad on television.

Vanity Fair announced on Tuesday that it would no longer credential Romano, stating that “after clear conflicts with our editorial standards and processes, we informed Romano that we are not moving forward with her essay and that she is no longer credentialed by Vanity Fair.”

Romano, who also contributed to New York Magazine, was not present in the courtroom on Tuesday, though her name remained on the gallery list. She posted on Instagram that she had received online criticism and described the messages as “vile” and encouraging self-harm.

The trial, in which prosecutors seek a murder conviction and the defense argues not-guilty by reason of insanity due to alleged postpartum psychosis, is expected to conclude later this week.