Christie Smythe is an American journalist who rose to national and international attention not just for her reporting but for her personal involvement with one of the most infamous figures in pharmaceutical and financial history—Martin Shkreli, also known as “Pharma Bro.” Her professional journey, ethical challenges, and personal decisions sparked widespread debate and media coverage.
Early Life and Journalism Career
Christie Smythe earned her reputation as a sharp, detail-oriented journalist. She held degrees from the University of Missouri’s renowned School of Journalism and began her career covering legal affairs. She worked for major media outlets including:
- Bloomberg News
- The Arizona Daily Star
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
At Bloomberg, she carved out a niche in white-collar crime and federal investigations, quickly becoming a go-to name for legal financial reporting.
Breaking the Shkreli Story
In 2015, Christie Smythe was the first journalist to break the story of Martin Shkreli’s arrest for securities fraud. Shkreli was already publicly controversial for raising the price of the drug Daraprim by more than 5,000%, sparking outrage across the country.
Smythe’s reporting on the case gained attention due to her thoroughness and access. She covered the court proceedings, conducted interviews, and built professional connections within the legal and pharmaceutical worlds.
A Relationship Beyond the Headlines
What began as professional coverage of a major legal case slowly evolved into something more personal. According to reports and Smythe’s own accounts, she began to develop a personal relationship with Shkreli while covering his trial and imprisonment.
This eventually led her to make a series of major life decisions:
- She divorced her husband.
- She quit her job at Bloomberg.
- She publicly declared her romantic relationship with Shkreli, even though he was serving a 7-year prison sentence at the time.
Smythe revealed these details in a 2020 Elle Magazine profile, in which she described her feelings for Shkreli and the choices she made as a result. She famously said: “I fell down the rabbit hole.”
Public Reaction and Media Frenzy
The public response to Smythe’s revelations was swift and polarized. Many criticized her for compromising journalistic ethics and for seemingly romanticizing a convicted white-collar criminal. Others sympathized with her, seeing her as a woman who made personal choices in the face of intense public scrutiny.
Key issues raised in public debate included:
- Journalistic integrity: Did she cross ethical boundaries by getting involved with a subject of her reporting?
- Gender and power dynamics: Would the same scrutiny have applied to a male journalist?
- Media sensationalism: Was Smythe unfairly portrayed as a “cautionary tale”?
The Fallout and Her Life After Bloomberg
Following the fallout of her story becoming public, Smythe attempted to reshape her public image. She began writing for various outlets and started her Substack newsletter called “Frog & Toad.” The name is a subtle nod to her and Shkreli’s unusual bond.
She has since:
- Written openly about her choices and the consequences.
- Participated in interviews and podcasts explaining her side of the story.
- Advocated for rethinking traditional journalism norms when it comes to emotional boundaries.
Despite Shkreli reportedly cutting off contact with her after her Elle interview, Smythe maintained her position that she did not regret her decisions, though she has acknowledged the pain and difficulties it caused.
Where Is She Now?
As of the latest public updates:
- Christie Smythe remains a freelance writer and commentator.
- She continues publishing personal essays and investigative content on platforms like Medium and Substack.
- She occasionally appears on podcasts, panels, and in discussions about the intersection of journalism and personal ethics.
Her relationship with Martin Shkreli reportedly ended around the time of his release from prison in 2022, though the nature of their current relationship remains largely private.
Legacy and Lessons
Christie Smythe’s story is both a personal and professional case study. It forces us to consider the ethical limits of journalism, the complexities of human relationships, and how far people are willing to go for love or obsession.
Key takeaways include:
- Boundaries matter in professions built on impartiality and public trust.
- Human emotions are not easily separated from high-pressure jobs, especially those involving close contact with controversial figures.
- Public perception is powerful, and once a personal story goes viral, it can dominate someone’s professional identity.
Conclusion
Christie Smythe may have started as a legal journalist, but she became the center of her own headline. Her involvement with Martin Shkreli remains one of the most talked-about cases of blurred lines in modern journalism. Whether you view her as a cautionary figure, a romantic idealist, or a misunderstood individual, there’s no denying her story is a compelling chapter in media history.
