BuzzFeed Editor Has a Profanity-Laced Message For Clerks Who 'Don't Want to Issue Marriage Licenses

A BuzzFeed news editor has a profanity-laced message for county clerks who don't wish to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples: "STEP THE F*** ASIDE."

Rachel Zarrell made the comment in a tweet early Saturday morning while linking to a story about how some same-sex couples are struggling to get marriage licenses, despite the recent Supreme Court decision.

Image source: Twitter

In a tweet to this reporter, Zarrell denied that her tone was brash, adding that the BuzzFeed ethics guide "states there is only one side to same-sex marriage."

While BuzzFeed's ethics guide does contend "there are not two sides" to the marriage debate, it also states that "reporters and editors should refrain from commenting in a partisan way about candidates or policy issues."

A representative for BuzzFeed did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze. Zarrell later deleted the tweet, but didn't issue an apology on her account.

BuzzFeed news editor Rachel Zarrell (Image source: Twitter)

Zarrell previously made headlines earlier this year for a series of pro-gun control tweets she posted while news of the deadly Lafayette theater shooting unfolded.

"Let's just give everyone guns, right? It's in the goddamn constitution," she tweeted at the time, adding, "Don't pray. Push for gun control."

Only after an individual tweeted at BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith asking him to comment, did Zarrell apologize at the time.

This story has been updated to reflect that Zarrell deleted her tweet. Last update: 2:06 a.m. ET.

—

Follow the author of this story on Twitter and Facebook:

Follow @oliverdarcy