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A reporter who drew widespread public criticism after being captured smiling on camera during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial has broken her silence following the loss of her writing assignment.
The trial, currently in its third week, involves former nurse Lindsay Clancy, who faces charges over the deaths of her three young children: Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan.
While the defense maintains Clancy was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for the January 2023 deaths, prosecutors argue she planned the killings.
As the proceedings resumed, a livestream broadcast swept across the press section of the courtroom. While most journalists remained serious, reporter Brittany Romano, dressed in green, flashed a brief smile and appeared to wink at the camera.
The video clip quickly circulated online, where social media users labeled her "Green Dress Lady" and criticized her demeanor during the heavy proceedings.
Following the online reaction, Vanity Fair distanced itself from Romano. The media outlet had initially considered publishing a personal piece by Romano regarding her shared history with Clancy.
However, Vanity Fair issued a statement to The New York Post confirming it would no longer move forward with the piece. The publication stated that due to clear conflicts with its editorial standards and processes, it informed Romano that it was ending the assignment and notified the court that she was no longer credentialed on behalf of the magazine.
Romano addressed the situation in a lengthy Instagram post, writing that "a smile is not a crime, telling a woman to slit her wrists is." She explained her physical reaction in the courtroom, stating, "I smile through anxiety. I smile when I'm uncomfortable. That is not indifference, it is a nervous system managing strain the only way it knows how."
She noted that other press members were also smiling in the footage, but stated she was targeted specifically for a brief moment on camera. Romano expressed frustration over the backlash after working for two years to cover the case with a focus on women's mental health.
She added, "I have been told, repeatedly, to take accountability and apologise, when I have nothing to apologise for."
Pointing out the hostile messages sent by users who claim to defend mental health awareness, Romano urged observers to focus on the facts of the trial rather than her facial expression.
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