Lindsay Clancy Reporter Brittany Romano Receiving Death Threats After She Defends Grinning in Court: 'I Smile When I'm Uncomfortable'

Journalist Brittany Romano lost a job and faces severe online backlash, including violent death threats, due to her behavior during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial.

Vanity Fair had originally commissioned Romano to write a personal essay about her experience growing up with Clancy.

Romano, who was wearing Vanity Fair credentials while sitting in the front row of the courtroom gallery on Monday, August 24, became the focus of intense scrutiny when a live CourtTV feed caught her grinning as other reporters remained stone-faced.

"Ok, this is a lunatic move. Her name is Brittany Romano, and she works for Vanity Fair. Deplorable behavior. 3 children are dead, and this fool is acting like that??? Disgusting," one person wrote via X.

"Imagine treating a trial for three murdered children like a red carpet photo op, and then being arrogant enough to lash out when people call out your complete lack of basic empathy. Unbelievable,” wrote someone else.

“My god, the narcissism is literally dripping off of her face," a third critic penned. "She cannot be more happy to have a camera on her."

In response to the viral moment, Vanity Fair announced on Tuesday that it had severed ties with Romano and revoked her court credentials, stating her behavior conflicted with its editorial standards.

"We were interested in the prospect of a personal essay by Brittany Romano about her experience growing up with Lindsay Clancy," Vanity Fair said in a statement. "Yesterday, after clear conflicts with our editorial standards and processes, we informed Romano that we were not moving forward with her essay and informed the court that she is no longer credentialed by Vanity Fair."

Romano later posted screenshots of the "vile" messages and death threats she received on her Instagram account, initially mocking the situation by thanking users for "boosting my analytics" before condemning the severe harassment.

"I smile through anxiety. I smile when I'm uncomfortable. That is not indifference; it is a nervous system managing strain the only way it knows how,” she said on Instagram.

Romano claimed she giggled because Clancy looked at her and because her father had previously texted her saying she looked too mad on TV.

The backlash was amplified due to the somber nature of the high-profile trial. Clancy is facing three counts of first-degree murder for the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her young children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan.

The presentation of evidence at trial is expected to conclude on Wednesday, August 26, with the judge indicating that closing arguments will likely begin on Thursday, August 31.

In court, prosecution rebuttal witnesses, including an FBI forensic psychiatrist, have been testifying to cast doubt on claims that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and lacked the moral awareness of her actions.