Taylor Lorenz Reportedly Called Maggie Haberman a ‘B*tch’ on New York Times Slack

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A new report details tensions at the New York Times “Styles” section that include an alleged clash between two stars at the paper: tech reporter Taylor Lorenz and politics reporter Maggie Haberman.

The Daily Beast dropped a report Wednesday night peeling back the curtain on why buzzy Times editor Choire Sicha was moved from Styles section to a position working on newsletters. The piece describes friction between Sicha and Times management, despite the raving reviews of the direction of Styles under his watch.

The move of Sicha reportedly has to do with how he managed writers like Lorenz, who has grown increasingly prominent thanks to her coverage of internet culture, as well as work that landed in sections of the paper beyond Styles. Lorenz also happens to have a major social media following, which reportedly prompted the Times to hold internal conversations about their staff guidelines for social media, as well as their effort to deal with attacks and harassment that she receives, which recently included some mockery from Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.

Sicha was described as “too hands-off” when it came to addressing these matters, and the Beast reports that Lorenz’s social media activities prompted deputy managing editor Carolyn Ryan to recommend Lorenz have a chat with Haberman. Ryan reportedly thought Lorenz and Haberman would connect since the latter frequently attracts online fury thanks to her critical reporting of Democratic politicians as well as former President Donald Trump.

Lorenz denied Ryan ever suggested she speak to Haberman, but they have had conversations. The Beast reported that one of those was a “blow-up” over Lorenz’s coverage of the family drama between Kellyanne Conway and her daughter Claudia. That’s what led to Lorenz to Haberman a “bitch,” according to the Beast. Lorenz denied ever making disparaging comments about her colleague.

Per the Beast:

“I don’t remember every single specific conversation but I have a great working relationship with Maggie and everyone else on the politics team,” Lorenz said. “It is so disappointing that people are trying to sow controversy and instigate acrimony when there is none. Maggie is amazing. She’s talented and I’m so lucky to be her colleague.”

Following the conversation, Lorenz made a number of critical and disparaging remarks about Haberman in Time’s Slack chats, three people familiar with the matter said, including complaining about how the political reporter had treated her, and using the word “bitch” to underscore her frustration.

Haberman declined to comment for this story, and Lorenz said she had never made disparaging comments about Haberman or any other colleague “in any sort of public Slack.”