Scientific American editor steps down after election comments draw backlash
The Washington Post (archive.ph)
By Herb Scribner
2024-11-14 23:37:48GMT
Laura Helmuth in 2017, when she worked at The Washington Post. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
Laura Helmuth announced her resignation as editor-in-chief of the Scientific American on Thursday after facing backlash for comments she made about the 2024 election and voters.
“I’ve decided to leave Scientific American after an exciting 4.5 years as editor in chief,” she wrote in a post on the social media site Bluesky. “I’m going to take some time to think about what comes next (and go birdwatching).”
Helmuth did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kimberly Lau, president of the magazine, said in a statement that it was Helmuth’s decision to leave, and the magazine is already seeking a new editor.
“We thank Laura for her four years leading Scientific American during which time the magazine won major science communications awards and saw the establishment of a reimagined digital newsroom,” Lau said in a statement. “We wish her well for the future.”
Helmuth’s decision comes shortly after she was criticized for social media posts about the Nov. 5 election. In a series of Bluesky posts, which were later deleted, Helmuth wrote that “my Gen X is so full of f---ing fascists.” In another, she wrote, “Solidarity to everybody whose meanest, dumbest, most bigoted high school classmates are celebrating early results because f--k them to the moon and back.”
In a third post, she wrote, “Every four years I remember why I left Indiana (where I grew up) and remember why I respect the people who stayed and are trying to make it less racist and sexist. The moral arc of the universe isn’t going to bend itself.”
In a post that’s still online, Helmuth asked, “Any advice for what workplaces can do to help people who are devastated by the election?”
On Thursday, Nov. 7, Helmuth apologized for the posts, calling them “offensive and inappropriate.”
“I respect and value people across the political spectrum,” she wrote. “These posts, which I have deleted, do not reflect my beliefs; they were a mistaken expression of shock and confusion about the election results. These posts of course do not reflect the position of Scientific American or my colleagues. I am committed to civil communication and editorial objectivity.”
A screenshot of her posts circulated on X, and one account called “The Rabbit Hole” asked its followers on Nov. 12 if Helmuth was “someone who is entirely dedicated to uncompromising scientific integrity?” or “a political activist who has taken over a scientific institution?”
Elon Musk, owner of X and close ally of president-elect Donald Trump, reacted to the post four minutes later with “the latter” — which spawned thousands of comments, replies and likes.
Lau, the president of Scientific American, did not respond to questions about whether Helmuth’s resignation was related to the backlash from Musk and others.
Helmuth has criticized Trump before. On Oct. 15, she wrote on Bluesky that “Trump’s racist rants are straight-up eugenics” while sharing a Scientific American article with a similar title.
Helmuth has previously worked as an editor at Smithsonian magazine, Slate and Science magazine, according to her LinkedIn profile page. In 2016, she joined The Washington Post as a health and science editor. She left The Post in April 2020 to become editor-in-chief of the Scientific American.
The Washington Post (archive.ph)
By Herb Scribner
2024-11-14 23:37:48GMT
Laura Helmuth in 2017, when she worked at The Washington Post. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
Laura Helmuth announced her resignation as editor-in-chief of the Scientific American on Thursday after facing backlash for comments she made about the 2024 election and voters.
“I’ve decided to leave Scientific American after an exciting 4.5 years as editor in chief,” she wrote in a post on the social media site Bluesky. “I’m going to take some time to think about what comes next (and go birdwatching).”
Helmuth did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kimberly Lau, president of the magazine, said in a statement that it was Helmuth’s decision to leave, and the magazine is already seeking a new editor.
“We thank Laura for her four years leading Scientific American during which time the magazine won major science communications awards and saw the establishment of a reimagined digital newsroom,” Lau said in a statement. “We wish her well for the future.”
Helmuth’s decision comes shortly after she was criticized for social media posts about the Nov. 5 election. In a series of Bluesky posts, which were later deleted, Helmuth wrote that “my Gen X is so full of f---ing fascists.” In another, she wrote, “Solidarity to everybody whose meanest, dumbest, most bigoted high school classmates are celebrating early results because f--k them to the moon and back.”
In a third post, she wrote, “Every four years I remember why I left Indiana (where I grew up) and remember why I respect the people who stayed and are trying to make it less racist and sexist. The moral arc of the universe isn’t going to bend itself.”
In a post that’s still online, Helmuth asked, “Any advice for what workplaces can do to help people who are devastated by the election?”
On Thursday, Nov. 7, Helmuth apologized for the posts, calling them “offensive and inappropriate.”
“I respect and value people across the political spectrum,” she wrote. “These posts, which I have deleted, do not reflect my beliefs; they were a mistaken expression of shock and confusion about the election results. These posts of course do not reflect the position of Scientific American or my colleagues. I am committed to civil communication and editorial objectivity.”
A screenshot of her posts circulated on X, and one account called “The Rabbit Hole” asked its followers on Nov. 12 if Helmuth was “someone who is entirely dedicated to uncompromising scientific integrity?” or “a political activist who has taken over a scientific institution?”
Elon Musk, owner of X and close ally of president-elect Donald Trump, reacted to the post four minutes later with “the latter” — which spawned thousands of comments, replies and likes.
Lau, the president of Scientific American, did not respond to questions about whether Helmuth’s resignation was related to the backlash from Musk and others.
Helmuth has criticized Trump before. On Oct. 15, she wrote on Bluesky that “Trump’s racist rants are straight-up eugenics” while sharing a Scientific American article with a similar title.
Helmuth has previously worked as an editor at Smithsonian magazine, Slate and Science magazine, according to her LinkedIn profile page. In 2016, she joined The Washington Post as a health and science editor. She left The Post in April 2020 to become editor-in-chief of the Scientific American.
