Update: The New York Post has announced that a rogue employee is to blame for the website and Twitter account hack that led to racist, violent and sexually explicit messages.
“The New York Post’s investigation indicates that the unauthorized conduct was committed by an employee,” the Post said in a statement, “and we are taking appropriate action. This morning, we immediately removed the vile and reprehensible content from our website and social media accounts.”
Original story: The website and Twitter account of the New York Post was hacked Thursday morning, leading to racist and sexually explicit headlines against multiple politicians.
Among the targets of the headlines posted during the hack were prominent Democrats like President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, Queens Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. The hacker also edited stories on the website, adding false claims that right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro recommended Ocasio-Cortez’s assassination, among others.
The hack extended its vitriol to Republicans, as well, posting a headline claiming that Hochul’s GOP election challenger Lee Zeldin made sexually explicit threats against Hochul and racist insults against Eric Adams. Another headline targeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, saying that he would use the Border Patrol to start “slaughtering” migrants.
The tweets were quickly taken down and replaced with one acknowledging the hack, which is still being investigated.
In a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson for Hochul denounced the toxic comments and demanded an explanation from the Post for the hack.
“The New York Post has long fostered an ugly, toxic conversation on their front pages and social accounts, but these posts are more disgusting and vile than usual,” the statement read. “The New York Post needs to immediately explain how this reprehensible content was made public. While the Post has made its preferences very clear in the New York Governor’s race, there is no room for this violent, sexist rhetoric in our politics. We demand answers.”
