Vanity Fair journalist covering Lindsay Clancy trial sparks outrage for SMILING on camera as she says ‘I’m proud of myself’ in face of backlash
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Brittany Romano, the freelance journalist stripped of her Vanity Fair press credential after being filmed smiling and appearing to wink at courtroom cameras during Lindsay Clancy's murder trial, has now responded publicly, saying she is "proud" of how she handled the backlash. In social media posts, she said she had received a flood of abusive messages, some reportedly telling her to harm herself, and accused critics of being "absolutely vile" while using the trial as cover for their behaviour.
Romano was filmed on day 19 of the Massachusetts trial reacting to the courtroom camera in ways many viewers considered inappropriate, prompting Vanity Fair's parent company, Condé Nast, to withdraw her accreditation over "clear conflicts with our editorial standards". She had earlier explained the moment by saying she was smiling at Clancy, whom she said she grew up with, and separately that a celebrity stylist friend had urged her to smile for the cameras after her father criticised her appearance on a previous broadcast. Clancy, 36, denies murdering her three children, Callan, Dawson and Cora, in January 2023.
- Romano says she is "proud" of her response to the backlash
- She reports receiving abusive messages, including some urging self-harm
- Vanity Fair had already revoked her credential over the smiling incident
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Lindsay Clancy, 36, is on trial in Massachusetts accused of killing her three young children, Callan, Dawson and Cora, in January 2023. She has pleaded not guilty, and the case has drawn heavy media attention, including live courtroom cameras that broadcast the proceedings to a wide audience.
Brittany Romano was covering the trial with press credentials from Vanity Fair when footage from inside the courtroom showed her smiling and appearing to wink at the camera. Given the seriousness of the case, the clips spread widely online and drew criticism, and Vanity Fair's parent company, Condé Nast, later withdrew her press credential, citing conflicts with its editorial standards.
Romano has said she knew Clancy growing up and has given her own explanations for her behaviour on camera, while also saying she received a large volume of hostile messages afterwards. The episode has become a story in its own right about media conduct at high-profile trials, separate from the underlying criminal case against Clancy.
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