Martin Shkreli’s Twitter, Periscope accounts suspended following reports of harassment
“Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli has been suspended from Twitter and Periscope after he was reported for harassing writer Lauren Duca, and turning his account into a shrine to her.
@laurenduca@jack This might be the single creepiest thing I've ever seen on Twitter.
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) January 8, 2017
It all started when journalist Lauren Duca caught the attention of the former pharmaceutical executive - famed for raising the price of HIV medication by more than 5,000 per cent - after she made a number of media appearances that were critical of Donald Trump.
Shkreli, a Trump supporter, then sent her a direct message asking her to be his plus one to the presidential inauguration.
I would rather eat my own organs pic.twitter.com/IgeCRZqk8w
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) January 5, 2017
Duca replied: “I would rather eat my own organs” which only seems to have attracted Shkreli even more.
@jack wt actual f is this?!@laurenduca please let me know where I can send all the wine in the world pic.twitter.com/rVhK454Zwv
— Stephanie Lenore (@StephanieLenore) January 8, 2017
On Sunday, Duca tweeted a disturbing screengrab of Shkreli’s Twitter profile which featured a photograph of Duca and her husband in which Shkreli had photoshopped his own head to cover her husband’s. His profile read: “I have a small crush on @laurenduca (hope she doesn’t find out).”
@summerbrennan@laurenduca@jack hoooooooly shit that's creepy
— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) January 8, 2017
His cover photo was a collage of images of Duca, with the words: “For better or worse, till death do us part, I love you with every beat of my heart,” presumably the lyrics to 'I Swear' by All-4-One.
He had also tweeted that he had purchased the domain name “marrymelauren.com”.
“How is this allowed,” Duca wrote, tagging Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
How is this allowed @jackpic.twitter.com/Wof8MlYHTL
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) January 8, 2017
Many others were horrified by the tweet, and posted their complaints to Dorsey.
@laurenduca@jack This looks like a kidnapping film.
— Noman Ansari (@Pugnate) January 8, 2017
When @MartinShkreli turns his Twitter profile into a serial killer shrine of @laurenduca & @jack does shit. https://t.co/eAPM0rUIlq
— Tarah Wheeler (@tarah) January 8, 2017
@laurenduca@jack Reported for harassment
— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) January 8, 2017
@Karnythia@laurenduca@jack exactly. He knows exactly what he's doing and it's malicious. I reported his tweets & wish we could report pic
— uhhlizabeth (@ekingc) January 8, 2017
@ekingc@laurenduca@jack It's not just casually creepy either. It's stalking behavior.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) January 8, 2017
@laurenduca@jack reported this lizard for targeted harassment. Bringing this to @cagoldberglaw's attention, who can hopefully help.
— Iva (@ivadixit) January 8, 2017
Dorsey responded to the many reports and Shkreli’s account was suspended.
Glad to see Twitter suspend Martin Shkreli. His bizzare obsession with respected journalist @laurenduca is creepy and wildly innapropriate.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) January 8, 2017
@Eden_Eats@laurenducapic.twitter.com/Pb5XOmT7MR
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) January 8, 2017
@ivadixit@laurenduca@jack Where's the antiparasite drug when u need it? Oh, forgot: price went up 10,000%.
— Carrie A. Goldberg (@cagoldberglaw) January 8, 2017
