Taylor Lorenz, the former Washington Post journalist known for her frequent social media controversies, has once again making headlines after a heated online rant. This time, the target of her ire was those who choose not to wear masks. Lorenz took to her Blue Sky account—a left-wing alternative to X, formerly known as Twitter—unloading an expletive-laden tirade in which she accused maskless individuals of “raw-dogging the air.”
The rant came in response to backlash she received over a recent book launch event, during which she says she took extensive precautions to keep COVID-19 at bay. Lorenz criticized her critics, who had found photos of her at the event where she claims she had briefly removed her mask for a photo.
“I love when ppl find photos where my mask is off for 5 seconds outside for a photo at my book party where every single attendee had to PCR test, as some kind of gotcha,” she wrote. “Planning a COVID safe book launch took months and THOUSANDS of my own dollars ensuring testing, outdoor space, far UV lights, and a litany of other precautions.”
Lorenz then escalated the tone of her message, directing an expletive at those who she believes are recklessly exposing others to the virus. “Meanwhile, u dumb f**ks are out raw dogging the air and spewing ur disease-laden breath all over ur elderly neighbors. We are not the same.”
After attacking her critics, she switched to a defensive position, positioning herself as a disabled harassment victim.
“I wear a mask in public due to being immunocompromised,” Lorenz explained in a follow-up post, further defending her position. “Oh boy the MAGA weirdos and Covid denialists found my post. I’m severely, severely immunocompromised. I am in and out of the hospital constantly bc I have the immune system of someone going through chemo. The pandemic is ongoing, wear a mask and stop harassing disabled ppl.”
Lorenz’s tirade came on the heels of a series of posts she shared earlier in the day regarding COVID-19, including one in which she lamented what she sees as an intentional downplaying of the pandemic by the U.S. government. She also made a pointed remark about “COVID denialism,” which prompted a wave of criticism from some conservative and right-wing social media users. They accused Lorenz of over-exaggerating the threat of the virus and criticized her for being out of touch with the larger public sentiment.
This public spat on Blue Sky marks another in a series of polarizing moments for Lorenz, who was previously known for her reporting on online culture, influencers, and the digital media ecosystem.
Earlier this year, Lorenz parted ways with The Washington Post after a controversy in which she labeled President Joe Biden a war criminal over his stance on the Israeli-Gaza conflict. The backlash from that incident, coupled with her history of combative interactions on social media, has led many to view Lorenz as a divisive figure.
Lorenz’s comments also draw attention to the ongoing tension between those who advocate for strict public health measures and those who argue that the threat of COVID-19 has been overstated or that the restrictions are no longer necessary.
At the end of the day, this episode highlights the emotional and sometimes hyperbolic nature of public discourse in the pandemic’s aftermath.
READ NEXT: Shocking Move By Special Counsel Could Ruin Biden Forever
So she STILL believes that a n95 paper mask is protecting you?
I did 36 years in NY Union construction and these masks were ALWAYS a joke on the job.
I even put a Marlboro through a hole in the mask while running a 40 ton locomotive 900 feet below the Bronx. My Sandhogs laughed very hard.
Dumb is funny.
You just aren’t spitting on others.
You’re restricting oxygen/blood balance, you’re spitting your own bacteria BACK into your face and behind you, you’re inhaling large amounts of carbon dioxide and you look like a fool.
I recommend an n99 with charcoal filters if you are truly concerned.
You said it all! Bravo!
A journalist that doesn’t stay abreast of developments…
Did you not hear Fauci admit THEY MADE IT ALL UP! Distancing, no social gatherings, no church services and MASKS! The whole twisted thing was Fauci’s fantasy!
Here we have an uninformed COVID Martyr…in her own mind.
With 40 years of professional medical experience spanning infectious disease, molecular genetics, and epidemiology, I can only say she is not just immune-compromised but mentally compromised as well. Research prior to Covid demonstrated no impact on viral transmission with surgical or N95 masks. As one put it, masks work just like a swim suit keeps the pee out of the pool. When science follows the money, medicine and science lose credibility.
I have no problem with people who think, rightly or wrongly, that masks help. Even BS specialist Fauci admitted they’re not effective, along with many other measures that were put in place at the time. If you want to wear one because your immune system is compromised, good for you. Just don’t rag me or other people making their own choice.
She’s compromised, all right, but it ain’t just her immune system.
The woman is clearly mentally ill and in need of serious counseling and medication for the sake of those around her! She needs a nice quiet soft walled room for her own sake!