A journalist covering the ongoing trial of Lindsay Clancy in Massachusetts has become the center of attention after a courtroom camera captured her smiling and winking during proceedings on Monday, January 29.
Brittany Romano, a New York City-based editor and writer contributing to outlets including Vanity Fair, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Teen Vogue, was seated in the courtroom gallery when the moment occurred. The video, which spread rapidly across social media, shows Romano appearing to smile and wink toward the camera as it panned across the spectators.
Romano, who has covered the trial and posted about it on social media, was later questioned about the incident outside the courthouse. She stated that she was smiling at Clancy, claiming they grew up together. Romano also attributed her demeanor to a stylist’s advice, saying a friend suggested she smile for the camera after her father criticized her appearance in an earlier photo.
The moment has drawn widespread criticism from social media users, who described her conduct as unprofessional, disrespectful, and inappropriate given the nature of the trial, which involves the 2023 strangling deaths of Clancy’s three young children. Some viewers accused her of lacking decorum during a case involving such serious allegations.
Romano has defended her actions, stating in a social media post that she was ‘proud of herself’ for handling the backlash. She also addressed the criticism directly, saying she had received abusive messages in the fallout.
Lindsay Clancy, the defendant in the case, does not deny the charges. Her defense argues she was not criminally responsible due to undiagnosed postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings. The trial, now in its 19th day, has drawn significant public attention, with Clancy’s parents launching a global fundraiser that has surpassed $830,000.
Romano’s presence in the courtroom and her interactions with Clancy’s attorney have also been noted, including a recently posted selfie with Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, on social media.
The controversy has fueled speculation about Romano’s relationship with Clancy, with some social media users circulating a childhood photograph that appears to show the two together, though no formal connection has been confirmed.