Lauren Duca

Duca was born in New York City and grew up in an affluent New Jersey suburb. Her parents live in New Jersey, and she has a younger brother.{{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=Lauren Duca wants to change how women talk about politics|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lag34cH7aUU|work=Quartz|date=19 June 2018|format=video interview}}

In 2013, Duca graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor's degree in English and philosophy.{{cite news|last1=Loizzo-Desai|first1=Alexandra|title=20 in Their 20s: Lauren Duca|url=https://news.fordham.edu/fordham-magazine/20-in-their-20s-lauren-duca/|work=Fordham Magazine|publisher=Fordham University|date=29 June 2017}} During this time, she was editor in chief of the alternative newspaper, the paper.{{cite news|last1=Micalizzi|first1=Victoria|title=Grad Lauren Duca Speaks on Media and Politics|url=http://www.fordhamobserver.com/grad-lauren-duca-speaks-on-media-and-politics/|work=Fordham Observer|publisher=Fordham University|date=10 April 2017}} In 2015, Duca received her master's degree in journalism and critical theory from New York University.{{cite news|last1=Dzikowski|first1=Jennifer|title=Lauren Duca: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/01/lauren-duca-biography-journalist-tucker-carlson-interview-video-martin-shkreli-photos-teen-vogue-huffington-post-linkedin-twitter-instagram-facebook/|work=Heavy.com|language=en|date=8 January 2017}}

In 2013, Duca got her start working as an online editorial intern for New York Magazine. From 2013 to 2015, Duca worked as a reporter at The Huffington Post. In 2015, she began working as a freelance reporter, often writing for Teen Vogue.

In December 2016, Duca drew attention for an op-ed in Teen Vogue titled "Donald Trump is Gaslighting America,"{{cite news|last1=North|first1=Anna|title=Opinion: The Teen's Guide to the Trump Presidency|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/opinion/the-teens-guide-to-the-trump-presidency.html|work=The New York Times|date=19 December 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Peterson|first1=Lisa|title=Lauren Duca Talks Sexism, Trolls, and the Importance of Being "Defiantly Confident"|url=https://www.popsugar.com/career/Lauren-Duca-Interview-2017-43427067|work=PopSugar|date=27 July 2017}} which argued that then President-elect Donald Trump relied on deceit to undermine the truth so his critics would question their own judgment. As of December 23, 2016, the essay had been viewed 1.2 million times, becoming the magazine's most-viewed post.{{cite news|last1=Folkenflik|first1=David|title=Trump Essay Signals Shift In Approach For 'Teen Vogue'|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/12/23/506759094/trump-essay-signals-shift-in-approach-for-teen-vogue|work=All Things Considered|publisher=NPR|date=23 December 2016|language=en|format=Audio includes transcript}} Katie Mettler of The Washington Post said, "[T]he Internet lit up with praise for [Duca's] 'scorched-earth' op-ed."{{cite news|last1=Mettler|first1=Katie|title=In 'scorched-earth' op-ed, a Teen Vogue writer says Trump is 'gaslighting America'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/12/12/in-scorched-earth-op-ed-a-teen-vogue-writer-says-trump-is-gaslighting-america/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=12 December 2016|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223192029/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/12/12/in-scorched-earth-op-ed-a-teen-vogue-writer-says-trump-is-gaslighting-america/|url-status=live}} The essay was widely cited as a turning point in the fashion magazine's reputation, with a newly recognized political dimension.{{cite news| author-link1 = Mark Joseph Stern | last1 = Stern |first1=Mark Joseph|title=Teen Vogue's Fiery Trump Takedown Shouldn't Be a Surprise. Teen Vogue Rocks|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/12/12/teen_vogue_s_trump_takedown_is_not_a_surprise_because_the_magazine_rocks.html|work=Slate|date=12 December 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Sophie|title=Teen Vogue's Political Coverage Isn't Surprising|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/teen-vogue-politics/510374/|work=The Atlantic|date=12 December 2016|access-date=16 September 2017|archive-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213194720/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/teen-vogue-politics/510374/|url-status=live}}

Duca appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight on December 23, 2016,{{cite news|last1=Feldman|first1=Josh|title=Teen Vogue Writer Battles Tucker Carlson: 'You're Actually Being a Partisan Hack'|url=https://www.mediaite.com/online/teen-vogue-writer-battles-tucker-carlson-youre-actually-being-a-partisan-hack/|work=Mediaite|date=23 December 2016|language=en}} and in the heated exchange over her commentary on Ivanka Trump,{{cite news|last1=Wemple|first1=Erik|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/12/28/tucker-carlson-delivers-sexism-for-fox-news/|title=Tucker Carlson delivers sexism for Fox News|date=28 December 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en}} Duca criticized host Tucker Carlson for not allowing her to speak and called Carlson a "partisan hack." In response, he told her that instead of political commentary, she "should stick to the thigh-high boots," referring to her earlier articles on pop star Ariana Grande.{{cite magazine|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|title=Tucker Carlson Slammed for Interview with 'Teen Vogue' Writer|url=http://ew.com/tv/2016/12/24/tucker-carlson-lauren-duca-interview/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=24 December 2016|language=en}} Online harassment of Duca followed, including threats of sexual assault.{{cite news|title=Teen Vogue writer who appeared on Fox News receives threats|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lauren-duca-tucker-carlson-teen-vogue-writer-fox-news-receives-threats/|work=CBS News|agency=The Associated Press|date=27 December 2016|language=en}}

In response, Duca named her new column at Teen Vogue, begun in February 2017, "Thigh-High Politics."{{cite news|last1=Ellefson|first1=Lindsey|title=Lauren Duca Launches Teen Vogue Column, Calls It 'Thigh-High Politics' in Honor of Tucker Carlson|url=https://www.mediaite.com/online/lauren-duca-launches-teen-vogue-column-calls-it-thigh-high-politics-in-honor-of-tucker-carlson/|work=Mediaite|date=24 February 2017|language=en}} According to the magazine, "Thigh High Politics" "[broke] down the news, provides resources for the resistance, and just generally refuses to accept toxic nonsense."{{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=We Can Stop Brett Kavanaugh|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-nomination-feels-inevitable-we-can-stop-him|work=Teen Vogue|language=en|date=31 August 2018}} She also designed a t-shirt in July 2017 with the phrase "I like my politics thigh-high," and donated all of the proceeds from each $32 shirt to Planned Parenthood in Carlson's name.{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Sam|title=Teen Vogue Writer Designs T-Shirt, Donates Profits to Planned Parenthood in Fox News Anchor's Name|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/teen-vogue-writer-designs-t-shirt-donates-profits-planned-parenthood-fox-news-anchors-name-1021903|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=17 July 2017|language=en}} As of December 2017, over $10,000 were raised.{{cite news|last1=Klepper|first1=Dan|last2=Duca|first2=Lauren|title=Lauren Duca - Doubting Reality After One Year of Trump|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/6o3bub/the-opposition-with-jordan-klepper-lauren-duca---doubting-reality-after-one-year-of-trump|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406102342/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/6o3bub/the-opposition-with-jordan-klepper-lauren-duca---doubting-reality-after-one-year-of-trump|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2018|work=The Opposition with Jordan Klepper|publisher=Comedy Central|date=14 December 2017|format=Video interview}} In the face of backlash against Teen Vogue, Duca has defended the political commentary featured on the website, citing the disconnect between critics who find young women's interests as too silly for intellectual conversation and the reprimand young women face for not participating in political process.

In 2017, former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli attempted to contact Duca a number of times and referenced her routinely in social media. In early January 2017, Shkreli direct-messaged Duca, tweeted her directly, edited a collage of Duca for his Twitter banner, and superimposed his face on top of an image of Duca and her then-husband to use as his profile photo.{{cite news|last1=Mack|first1=David|title="Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli Suspended From Twitter After Harassing A "Teen Vogue" Writer|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/martin-shkreli-suspended-from-twitter|work=BuzzFeed|language=en|date=8 January 2017}} Duca made her discomfort in Shkreli's advances known on her Twitter, posting a screenshot of a direct message from Shkreli inviting her to Donald Trump's inauguration with the caption, “I would rather eat my own organs.”{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=817040025078681600|date=5 January 2017|title=I would rather eat my own organs}} Duca also posted screenshots of Shkreli's Twitter profile using her appearance, asking the platform's founder and CEO Jack Dorsey how Shkreli's actions were allowed.{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=818124094587752452|date=8 January 2017|title=How is this allowed @jack}} Shkreli's Twitter account was then suspended for violating the website's rules prohibiting targeted harassment.{{cite news|last1=Ohlheiser|first1=Abby|title=Martin Shkreli was suspended from Twitter for 'targeted harassment' of a journalist|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/01/08/martin-shkreli-was-suspended-from-twitter-for-targeted-harassment-of-a-journalist/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=8 January 2017}} On July 28, 2017, Duca released a Twitter statement on her thoughts regarding Shkreli's securities-fraud trial and his sexual comments on a Facebook livestream.{{cite magazine|last1=Killelea|first1=Eric|title=Martin Shkreli: 5 WTF Moments From Pharma Bro Trial|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/martin-shkreli-5-wtf-moments-from-pharma-bro-trial-196159/|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|date=28 July 2019}} Duca tweeted, "I would (still) rather eat my own organs. So much as touch me, and I'll gladly chop off one of yours."{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=890960104262180865|date=28 July 2017|title=Here's my statement on Martin Shkreli: I would (still) rather eat my own organs. So much as touch me, and I'll gladly chop off one of yours.}}

On 21 February 2018, Duca responded to Billy Graham's death by tweeting: "The big news today is that Billy Graham was still alive this whole time. Anyway, have fun in hell, bitch."{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=966342438460805120|date=21 February 2018|title=The big news today is that Billy Graham was still alive this whole time. Anyway, have fun in hell, bitch.}} Her post drew some backlash on the internet.{{cite news|last1=Williams |first1=Janice|title=Conservatives are furious with Teen Vogue's Lauren Duca after Billy Graham tweet|url=http://www.newsweek.com/lauren-duca-billy-graham-tweet-816778|work=Newsweek|date=22 February 2018|language=en}} In response to Fox News' coverage of her tweet, Duca noted: "The Fox article and segment on my stupid tweet are really miraculous in their bad-faith consternation. Billy Graham called being gay 'a sinister form of perversion,' and floated the idea that 'AIDS is a punishment from God.' If hell is real, that's exactly where he's headed."{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=966687575204335616|date=22 February 2018|title=The Fox article and segment on my stupid tweet are really miraculous in their bad-faith consternation. Billy Graham called being gay "a sinister form of perversion," and floated the idea that "AIDS is a punishment from God." If hell is real, that's exactly where he's headed}}

In May 2018, it was announced that Duca would be a visiting scholar at New York University's journalism department.{{cite news|last1=Golub|first1=Ali |title=Lauren Duca to be Visiting Scholar in NYU's Journalism Program|url=https://nyulocal.com/lauren-duca-to-be-visiting-scholar-in-nyus-journalism-program-22b2a7b44866|work=NYU Local|date=10 May 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Hoffman|first1=Lindsay|last2=Duca|first2=Lauren|title=National Agenda 2018: Midterm Matters with Lauren Duca|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA5OVAFgbBE|publisher=University of Delaware Center for Political Communication|date=26 September 2018|format=video interview}} In the summer of 2019, Duca taught a six-week course there entitled "The Feminist Journalist." The class was taught under the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and focused on intersections of feminist ideology and the practice of journalism, and was made up of high-school and college students.{{cite news|title=The Feminist Journalist (Session 2)|url=https://journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/course/2019-summer/the-feminist-journalist-session-2/|work=Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University|language=en-US|access-date=27 February 2019}} Four weeks after the course, students sent a collective formal complaint to school's journalism department regarding Duca's conduct during the class, writing, "We are disappointed at the department and NYU for hiring a professor with more interest in promoting her book than teaching a group of students eager to learn."{{cite news |last1=Koul |first1=Scaachi |title=How Did Lauren Duca's Revolution Backfire? |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/scaachikoul/lauren-duca-book-teen-vogue-how-to-start-a-revolution |access-date=20 May 2020 |publisher=BuzzFeed News|date=September 17, 2019}} Students allege that Duca targeted an exchange student, writing that she "consistently targeted this student on the basis of a communication difficulty the student cannot change."{{cite web |last1=Pilgreen |first1=Justin |title=Students of Lauren Duca's NYU Summer Class Formally Complain to the Journalism Department |url=https://nyulocal.com/students-of-lauren-ducas-nyu-summer-class-formally-complain-to-the-journalism-department-ef3ebecaa9b7 |website=NYU Local |date=19 September 2019 |access-date=20 May 2020}}

In September 2019, Duca released her first book, which was called How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics.

In September 2020, Duca announced her indefinite hiatus from journalism.{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=1302455335538491392|date=5 September 2020|title=Goodbye for now, Twitter✌️}}

In a Substack post following Tucker Carlson's departure from Fox News, Duca briefly reflected on her spirituality, theraputic use of ayahuasca, and departure from social media. She also announced she was making progress on a second book.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-24 |title=Did you hear about Tucker Carlson?

|url=https://laurenduca.substack.com/p/did-you-hear-about-tucker-carlson |access-date=2024-06-14 |last=Duca |first=Lauren |website=Substack |language=en}}

Duca lives in Tucson, Arizona. Duca was married to Kris Fleming,{{Cite web|date=2019-09-20|title=Meet Lauren Duca — Former 'Teen Vogue' Columnist Whose Entire NYU Class Filed Complaint Against Her|url=https://www.yourtango.com/2019328157/who-lauren-duca-new-details-influencer-and-teen-vogue-columnist-and-backlash-against-her|access-date=2021-10-16|website=YourTango|language=en}} but announced on Twitter on January 13, 2019, that she was getting divorced from her husband. Since her divorce, Duca has identified as queer,{{cite tweet|author=Lauren Duca|user=laurenduca|number=1084624676800872448|date=13 January 2019|title=Not that it's anyone's fucking business, but I'm getting divorced and I'm queer. Update my Wikipedia. ✌️}} and announced her second marriage on September 5, 2020.{{cite tweet|number=1302347339844079616|user=laurenduca|title=Some personal news 💍🌈💍 |date=5 September 2020}}

• 2015: Los Angeles Press Club, National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award, Online – Film/TV/Theater Feature for "The Rise of the Woman-Child"{{cite news|title=2015 Winners 8th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards|url=http://lapressclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2015-National-Arts-Entertainment-Journalism-Award-Winners.pdf|work=National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards|publisher=Los Angeles Press Club|date=2015}}
• 2017: Citizens' Committee for Children, Vanguard Award{{cite news|last1=Tocci|first1=Elora|title=Lauren Duca: An Advocate Online and Off|url=https://www.cccnewyork.org/blog/laurenduca/|work=CCC New York|date=12 October 2017|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225831/https://www.cccnewyork.org/blog/laurenduca/|url-status=dead}}
• 2017: Shorty Awards, Best in Journalism{{cite web|title=Lauren Duca - The Shorty Awards|url=http://shortyawards.com/9th/laurenduca|website=Shorty Awards|date=2017}}

• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=How Pop Culture Can Change The Way We Talk About Abortion|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/the-way-we-talk-about-abortion_n_6289906.html|work=Huffington Post|date=17 December 2014}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=The Rise Of The Woman-Child|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/woman-child_n_7191258.html|work=Huffington Post|date=12 May 2015}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=Wait, What Do You Know Richard Kind From?|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/richard-kind-interview_us_563bd131e4b0307f2cacb947|work=Huffington Post|date=6 November 2015}}
• {{cite magazine|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=Donald Trump's Path to Victory, As Told Through Headlines|url=https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/donald-trumps-path-to-victory-as-told-through-headlines|magazine=The New Yorker|date=28 January 2016|language=en}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=The Depressing Truth About How Sexism Changes Us|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/the-depressing-truth-about-how-sexism-changes-us/|work=The Nation|date=24 June 2016|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406102553/https://www.thenation.com/article/the-depressing-truth-about-how-sexism-changes-us/|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/donald-trump-is-gaslighting-america|work=Teen Vogue|date=10 December 2016|language=en}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=I'm a Professional Woman on the Internet — Here's a Shoutout to My Trolls|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lauren-duca-internet-trolls-online-harassment|work=Teen Vogue|date=10 January 2017|language=en}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=Sexual Abusers Must Be Held Accountable — Regardless of Political Party|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/sexual-misconduct-doesnt-have-a-political-ideology|work=Teen Vogue|date=1 December 2017|language=en}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=High Schoolers Have Always Been Political, So Start Paying Attention|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/high-schoolers-getting-political-should-come-as-no-surprise|work=Teen Vogue|date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
• {{cite news|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=In New Books for Kids, Women's Victories Speak Loud and Clear|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/books/review/womens-history-achievements-childrens.html|work=The New York Times|date=19 March 2018}}
• {{cite book|last1=Duca|first1=Lauren|title=How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of Politics|date=2019|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York|isbn=978-0-349-01192-9|oclc=1108723619}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

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{{Commons category|nowrap=yes}}

• [https://www.teenvogue.com/contributor/laurenduca Lauren Duca] at Teen Vogue
• {{Twitter}}
• [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/lauren-duca Lauren Duca] at The Huffington Post
• {{IMDb name|nm8646843|Lauren Duca}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:American magazine editors

Category:Fordham University alumni

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Category:American feminist writers

Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)

Category:American queer writers

Category:American women non-fiction writers

Category:American women magazine editors

Category:Journalists from New York City

Category:American feminist artists

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Category:American queer women