When Peter Thiel let the world know that he had indeed been funding Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against gossip website Gawker, seemingly over a story that the site had published about him nine years ago, there was no doubt it would set off a firestorm of controversy.
People seem to be somewhat split about what Thiel has done. Some seem him as a crusader, someone standing upo against yellow journalism, while other see him as a billionaire who used his own money to take down a website he didn’t like.
Silicon Valley itself seems split, with entreprenuers and VCs taking both sides of the issue.
On Thiel’s side was Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, who got into a Twitter debate with Recode’s Kara Swisher about the topic (no surprise, she is on Gawker’s side).
@karaswisher @Recode click bait journalists need to be taught lessons. Far less ethics and more click chasing in press today. I’m for #theil
— Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) May 26, 2016
@karaswisher @NellieBowles To each their own interpretation. Only #theil knows the truth driving him. I’d trust him beofre I trust #gwaker
— Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) May 26, 2016
Also backing up Thiel was Marc Andreessen, his fellow Facebook board member, and founder of Andreessen Horowitz.
Analysis: NAACP vs Button held that litigation and sponsorship of it is a form of free expression. https://t.co/w0GQ2i33HL
— Marc Andreessen (@pmarca) May 26, 2016
And his partner, Ben Horowitz, who retweeted this status:
Along with Chris Sacca from Lowercase Capital, who seemed uncomfortable with Thiel’s actions while also mostly taking his side.
1) Great analysis. 2) I agree that this is a horribly dangerous precedent. 3) Nick Denton is a bully. 4) Karma. https://t.co/DfCY47Kecm
— Chris Sacca (@sacca) May 26, 2016
Consider directing your outrage at a justice system so expensive that only the rich can get a fair trial. (Criminal and civil.)
— Chris Sacca (@sacca) May 26, 2016
Meanwhile, plenty of others took the opposite side of the debate. Among those who are standing against Thiel’s actions include Homebrew founder Hunter Walk.
TKO @gruber https://t.co/4NbxpNhCkZ pic.twitter.com/iMjLARXDGX
— Hunter Walk (@hunterwalk) May 26, 2016
And Mitch Kapor of Kapor Capital, who used the opportunity to take a shot at Thiel’s support for Donald Trump.
Thiel funds Hogan lawsuit. Feather in his cap to wear as Trump delegate. https://t.co/7XiXnz7COb
— Mitch Kapor (@mkapor) May 24, 2016
Though he also seemed to admit that neither side has really come out looking great in this situation.
All this chatter about Thiel vs. Gawker makes me think of Alien vs. Predator (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
— Mitch Kapor (@mkapor) May 26, 2016
Still, not everyone was praising or condeming Thiel. Some, like Ethan Kurzweil of Bessemer Venture Partners, were confused why he was even doing this in the first place.
Here’s my question about #theil -given the potential verdict, wouldn’t most lawyers take the case on contingency? Why did Hulk need funding?
— Ethan Kurzweil (@ethankurz) May 27, 2016
(Image source: vanityfair.com)
