Digital news company Mic announced on Tuesday that they fired reporter Jack Smith IV after multiple women accused him of emotionally abusive behavior and sexual misconduct.
“Because of the multiple, disturbing allegations made in this story against Jack Smith, we have terminated our contract with him, effective immediately,” executive news director Kerry Lauerman told Mic staff on Monday night, according to a report by The Wrap.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’ll have more to say in the coming days, but wanted to let the staff know of our decision tonight, given the nature,” Lauerman added.
Smith was implicated in a Jezebel article published on Monday. As Jezebel noted, the way Smith treated women in relationships was at odds with his public persona as a champion for social justice and women’s rights.
Five women told Jezebel on the record that Smith emotionally abused and manipulated them. Three of those women said Smith’s abusive behavior led to coercive sex.