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Wikipedia Has Edited Sarah Jeong’s Page To Include Racist Tweets Controversy

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Mike Brest Reporter
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Wikipedia added a section to New York Times’ writer Sarah Jeong’s page Monday about the racist tweets that sparked a controversy last week.

Their addition comes after discussions between Wikipedia writers and editors about whether or not a section about the tweets should be included on her page at all.

The paragraph they added about her tweets said:

The hiring sparked a strongly negative reaction in conservative media and social media, which highlighted derogatory tweets about white people that Jeong had posted mostly in 2013 and 2014. Critics characterized her tweets as being racist; Jeong said that the posts were “counter-trolling” in reaction to harassment she had experienced, and that she regretted adopting that tactic. The Times stated that it had reviewed her social media history before hiring her, and that it did not condone the posts.

Prior to Monday, there were no mentions about the tweets and there was only a blurb about her new position as the “lead writer on technology” for the Times. (RELATED: Activist Wikipedia Editors Forbid Any Mention Of Sarah Jeong’s Racist Tweets In Her Page)

Before the recent additions, one of the writers who wanted it included on her page said, “I am aware that she is ‘notable’ for appearing in earlier news articles, but anyone learning of her in the coming days will be learning about her because of this controversy, not because they are interested in a random journalist.”

The NYT claimed that Jeong was “imitating” the behavior of people who harassed her online. (RELATED: NYT’s Sarah Jeong Also Sent Anti-Cop, Anti-Men Tweets)

Jeong’s anti-white, anti-man, and anti-police tweets resurfaced at the end of last week after she announced her position.

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