'A Smile Is Not a Crime': Vanity Fair Drops Journalist for Winking During Lindsay Clancy Trial

The trial of Lindsay Clancy has become an event of public scrutiny, as the 36 year old woman faces charges for the deaths of her three children. As media outlets covered the case and the proceedings, journalist Brittany Romano prompted backlash for her behaviour during the trial.

Clancy is facing three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children. She pleaded not guilty with her defence team arguing that she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis and was unable to control or understand her actions when she killed her children.

During Clancy's trial, Romano, who had gone to the proceedings under Vanity Fair credentials, was recorded smiling and winking at the camera.

Romano Was Clancy's Neighbor in Their Childhood

Romano, dubbed 'Green Dress Lady' by the internet, is a freelance journalist who contributed pieces for publications such as Glamour, Teen Vogue, Elle, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan. She had been covering the Clancy trial for Vanity Fair because she knew the defendant when they were young. They both grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut, and they lived in the same street.

In August, Romano had posted a carousel of photos on Instagram, including one of her and Clancy together. The post has since been deleted.

The video of Romano at the trial sparked intense criticism, with many condemning her for her inappropriate laughing and smiling during a case on the murder of three innocent children. 'Her behaviour was childish and unprofessional... shows immaturity and lack of awareness,' one person commented.

Vanity Fair Drops Brittany Romano Following Controversial Video

Romano cited a comment from her father about how she 'looked bad' on court TV, leading her to be conscious when the camera panned in her direction. She also said that she laughed because Clancy looked at her direction and she looked back when the camera was on her.

Regardless of the reason, Vanity Fair told Romano that they were no longer interested in her article. 'After clear conflicts with our editorial standards and processes, we informed Romano that we were not moving forward with her essay and informed the court that she is no longer credentialed by Vanity Fair,' the publication stated.

Romano has been on the defensive on social media ever since, saying that 'a smile is not a crime' and that she 'had nothing to apologise for'.

'I smile through anxiety. I smile when I'm uncomfortable. That is not indifference, it is a nervous system managing strain the only way it knows how,' Romano elaborated on a lengthy Instagram post. 'Cry, and a woman is dramatic. Smile, and she doesn't care. Stay composed and something must be wrong with her. We decide the meaning first and spend the rest of the time making her prove it, and that is the identical logic that has followed Lindsay for two years.'

Lindsay Clancy's Trial Nears Closing Arguments Later This Week

The Lindsay Clancy murder trial is approaching closing arguments, with challenges to the defense arguing against the claim that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children in 2023.

One controversial moment came during the testimony of prosecution psychiatrist Dr. Avram Mack who told jurors that while Clancy had been suffering from severe depression, they found no evidence that she was psychotic when she committed filicide.

After a cross-examination from defence attorney Kevin Reddington, Mack maintained that psychosis does not automatically prevent someone from understanding right from wrong, a statement which the jurors must decide for the resolution of the case.

Prosecution expert Dr. Kirk Heilbrun gave a different diagnosis, stating that Clancy had bipolar II disorder. Despite these diagnoses, both experts rejected the notion that Clancy was experiencing acute psychosis when the children died.

An additional rebuttal testimony will take place before closing arguments later this week, when jurors will begin deliberating whether Clancy was criminally responsible for killing her three children.