As explained, Deadspin got killed effectively by the Hulk Hogan sex tape civil trial, a chilling and horrible verdict, but I have seen some reprehensible behavior by Deadspin and gawker style sites.
As a good example, Markelle Fultz was a first overall pick but suffered what appears to be some sort of pinched nerve issue that greatly affected his ability to shoot. He finally is an effective NBA player for the Orlando Magic, but Deadspin was brutal and unrelenting in mocking his difficulties rehabbing and regaining form.
This is not some attention-starved social media blusterer, it was just a garden variety lottery pick trying to make his way in the pro leagues.
Basically, his "sin" was that video surfaced of him awkwardly trying to shoot free throws, and then the great bully brigade of the internet got going.
One of the desperations of the gawker sites was that once a term or topic soared in "clickability", they would hammer that term over and over.
Some people like Trump and Musk love this, any publicity is good publicity. But Fultz was always quiet.
It also gets a bit hairy with players like Ben Simmons, who get publicly mocked and derided by armies of online sociopath/fans. Sure he's paid millions to "take it" to some degree, but there are clearly lines and gawker style sites push and cross them in desperation to gain relevancy (in an era when the relevancy of the old stalwarts like Sports Illustrated and local newspapers have evaporated).
A couple of those discomfort points were counterbalanced by just heaploads of great funny stories. Deadspin was the only site I checked multiple times a day, alas defector hasn't risen to that yet.