What's your opinion on the Gawker case? Did they deserve what happened?
BTW I also think it was fine for Alex Jones to get deplatformed and sued for encouraging people to harass school shooting victims. Free speech doesn't mean libel, slander, blackmail, targeted harassment, sex abuse, etc. won't get you sued.
What is alleged with the National Enquirer here is much worse. It looks a lot like they are acting as blackmail enforcers for Trump and/or the Saudis. Like I said others are now coming forward.
I'm pretty sure this has been done. Normally, they get out in front of it, so they can at least cash in. Personally, I'm not thrilled with rich people being able to shut down publications that they don't like. That said, I don't know how to feel about the Gawker case. It's easy not to care, when the victim is so unsympathetic.
Whenever a magazine publishes some trash story attacking someone they should ask themselves what's the worst that could happen.
When you attack people like Bezos and Thiel, you better be sure of what you're doing.
The law should be the same for everyone.
Are Thiel and Bezos above the law, or are they the only ones that can afford the protection of the law?
If so, then we have failed as a society.