Twitter Rocked By Story Of Journalist Who Abandoned Life To Chase Fruitless Romance With Martin Shkreli

Just two short weeks away from the end of 2020, Twitter has been rocked by the image of infamous "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli as a sexual entity of unparalleled magnetism.

This is due to a story that recently dropped in Elle Magazine about Christie Smythe, a Brooklyn journalist for Bloomberg Magazine who, while covering Shkreli as he turned into one of the most hated men in America, fell in love with him and threw her life away to be with him.

The story is a slow-burning horror story, tracking Smythe's journey from being happily married in Brooklyn to getting divorced, dating Shkreli, and subsequently freezing her eggs for him as he entered the spotlight for outrageous price-gouging on a potentially life-saving drug, buying the lone copy of a Wu-Tang Clan album, and trolling female reporters and politicians online until he was finally sent to prison for fraud.

Featured in the story is a photo-board Smythe keeps in her apartment with memes and relevant Shkreli news. The board includes memes like Lawyer Dog and Enslaved Moisture.

Their romantic relationship began with Shkreli in prison yet the two have shared no physical intimacy beyond a hug and kiss. While the two are technically engaged, she hasn't seen Shkreli in a year and he has ceased communication with her. Commenting for the story, Shkreli's statement reads "Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors." Towards the end of the article, Smythe says she believes this is Shkreli's way of subtly telling her their paths "will fork." Elle writer Stephanie Clifford opines, "She wants Shkreli, and hopes putting their love on the record might at last give her some power in the relationship."

On Twitter, Smythe wrote a short addendum to the article.

I realize it's hard for many people to accept that 1. Martin is not a psychopath, and 2. a woman can choose to do something with her life (which does not affect you) that you in no way approve of. But that's OK.

— Christie Smythe (@ChristieSmythe) December 21, 2020

Reactions to the piece were strong, as it was difficult to imagine someone taking the career and life-shattering path Smythe did to be with someone as odious in the public eye as Shkreli.

Imagine a reporter came to you, an editor, and said "I just need to declare something: I fell in love with a source,” then you said, okay, what’s the damage, and she said “it’s Martin Shkreli.” How many times would she have to say it before you stopped laughing and called HR?

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) December 21, 2020

I don't care how bad your love life has been this year. If it doesn't approach getting ghosted by Martin Shkreli from prison after torching your career and marriage for him, you're doing just fine, Sweetie.

— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) December 21, 2020

God imagine being the dude whose wife left him for MARTIN SHKRELI

— Bingus Hooters (@antitractionist) December 21, 2020

Martin Shkreli running a Ponzi scheme from his prison cell but for human emotions instead of money is the most 2020 thing that has ever happened.

— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) December 21, 2020

There were also many references to how the story appeared to mirror the arc of Harley Quinn and the Joker.

The article about the woman who fell for Martin Shkreli is like reading Harley Quinn fall for The Joker, watching a heinous person manipulate someone past any semblance of rationality.

— Mathew Buck (@FB_BMB) December 21, 2020

Did not have Martin Shkreli involved in a great value brand Harley Quinn and Joker romance on my 2020 apocalypse bingo card. https://t.co/uOyHtjGtjN

— Mongrel (@MongrelQueen) December 21, 2020

I usually think “Omg it’s like Video Game/Comic/Movie” is tacky and dumb but the Shkreli story is straight up Harley Quinn

— J O L S O N (@JolsonTweets) December 21, 2020

The whole fiasco is truly one last tasty morsel of media drama to wrap up 2020. It may have been a bad year for all of us, but at least the majority of us didn't completely burn a romance and career built over years to get "future endeavors"-ghosted by Martin Shkreli.