Gawker, the gossipy and snarky pop-culture site rebooted in mid-2021, is shutting down for a second time, with the CEO of parent company Bustle Digital Group citing the need to prioritize “better-monetizing sites.” In addition to Gawker’s shutdown, BDG chief Bryan Goldberg announced a layoff of 8% of staff across the company.
In July 2021, Gawker relaunched under the ownership of Bustle Digital Group, whose founder and CEO Bryan Goldberg bought the website’s assets for $1.35 million in a bankruptcy auction in 2018. The original Gawker went dormant in 2016 after Gawker’s parent company went belly-up after losing a legal battle with wrestler Hulk Hogan.
BDG had hired Leah Finnegan, who worked at the old Gawker, as editor-in-chief of the new Gawker. On Wednesday, Finnegan said in a tweet that Gawker was folding.
