BuzzFeed Chairman to Host Dem Fundraiser Following Site’s RNC Flap

BuzzFeed’s chairman Kenneth Lerer will be hosting President Obama at an upcoming DNC fundraiser.

BuzzFeed told CNN’s Brian Stelter that these two actions are unconnected, and Lerer himself said, “My political activities are personal and have nothing to do with any of my business responsibilities at Buzzfeed.”

Now, the reason this is notable for media observers is that earlier this week BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti made the decision to terminate the site’s ad deal with the RNC because of Donald Trump.

Naturally, people on the right found the fundraiser curious after the other news, and an RNC spokesman pounced:

Don't need listicle to c they support @HillaryClinton–@Buzzfeed chair hosting Democratic fundraiserhttps://t.co/dqHet5qt5Q @brianstelter

— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) June 7, 2016

Again, just so we’re all clear: these are separate decisions being made by two separate sectors of the company, something that BuzzFeed reporter Andrew Kaczynski made abundantly clear on Twitter:

Do you people understand no one on politics/editorial had *any input in this? https://t.co/8yxOVaR1f9 pic.twitter.com/3ZAKreKLTZ

— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) June 7, 2016

I didn't knew BF had a deal w/the RNC until yesterday. To impugn the motives of people on politics over this is ludicrous.

— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) June 7, 2016

Didn't know we were taking politics ads until it was announced. Didn't know we had deal w/RNC. Sep. of business/editorials means no idea.

— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) June 7, 2016

Here's how many times I've interacted with Kenneth Lerer in five years as a BuzzFeed reporter: 0 pic.twitter.com/ohWY89BoUn

— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) June 7, 2016

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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