Gawker Sued by Facebook Board Member: A Timeline of Peter Thiel's Controversial Career

Peter Thiel, a billionaire investor and Facebook board member, has made headlines in recent years for his controversial actions and views. One notable example is his role in the demise of online media company Gawker, which he sued out of existence. But what else has Thiel been up to? In this article, we'll explore some of the most significant events in his career.

Thiel's early days as a student at Stanford University were marked by controversy when he co-authored a book with David Sacks called 'The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus.' The book was criticized for its views on date rape, which Thiel and Sacks argued was often the result of 'seductions that were later regretted' rather than genuine assault. They also suggested that efforts to stop date rape were driven by a hatred of men.

Fast-forward to 2016, when Thiel used his financial resources to fund Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker, ultimately leading to the company's bankruptcy and shutdown. The suit was sparked by Gawker's publication of a sex tape featuring Hogan, which he claimed had invaded his privacy. Many saw Thiel's involvement as an attempt to silence Gawker's journalists and limit freedom of speech.

Thiel's views on free speech have been subject to scrutiny in recent years, particularly after he used his platform to support presidential candidate Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He also donated $1.25 million to Trump's campaign immediately after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.

In a bizarre twist, Thiel has also become embroiled in a controversy surrounding David Sacks' company, Zenefits. Sacks, who is CEO of Zenefits, has spent the past year cleaning up regulatory controversies at the human resources app platform. However, an article in The Guardian today resurfaced an old controversy from 20 years ago, when Thiel and Sacks co-authored a book that critics have called 'ugly' and 'problematic.'

As this timeline shows, Peter Thiel has been involved in some of the most controversial events in recent years. From his views on date rape to his role in silencing Gawker's journalists, Thiel's actions have sparked widespread debate and criticism. It remains to be seen what he will do next, but one thing is certain: his career is marked by controversy and intrigue.

Gawker sued by facebook board member