NBC News' disinformation reporter Ben Collins' 'death threats'

May 2024 · 4 minute read

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Ben Collins, NBC News’ controversial “disinformation” reporter who was once suspended from covering Elon Musk after mocking the mogul following his acquisition of Twitter, took to social media to declare that he was “irrevocably depressed and anxious” in the face of “death threats” he was receiving for his reporting.

Collins posted several items on the Twitter-like micro-blogging app Bluesky on Wednesday and Thursday that shed light on his emotional state as he plans on “winding down” his journalism career.

Last month, he announced on Bluesky that he would quit the profession at the start of next year.

The Post has sought comment from Collins and NBC News.

One concerned Bluesky user asked Collins what he would be doing, writing: “I ask because I’m a healthcare worker, also close to throwing in the towel.”

“I don’t know yet,” Collins wrote in a reply that he posted on Thursday. “Some people want me to write a book but I would just hand in a bunch of sad poems.”

Another Bluesky user, Molly Knight, wrote: “Hey Ben how are you doing with all the weirdos going nuts on you? Just checking in.”

Ben Collins went on a social media rant, declaring that he was “irrevocably depressed and anxious” weeks after declaring he would leave journalism. Twitter/Ben Collins

NBC News published a story by Collins on Monday in which he cited a text message believed to be from a fired Trump White House aide that advised Musk to buy Twitter as a “declaration of war against the Globalist American Empire.”

The text messages that were reportedly sent to Musk laid out a “roadmap” that the billionaire has allegedly followed, including ongoing attacks against the Anti-Defamation League.

Musk and X, as Twitter is now known, have been engaged in a back-and-forth with the ADL after the civil rights group accused the social media platform of not doing enough to sufficiently crack down on antisemitic content and hate speech.

Collins wrote on Bluesky last month that he planned to leave journalism “early next year.” Twitter

The Post has sought comment from Musk.

Earlier this week, Collins also hinted at his job status, writing: “One time I got fired and had nothing to do in New York for three weeks and it was probably the best time of my life.”

Knight asked Collins: “How do you let the death threats and other hateful s–t said toward you every day not bother you?”

“Oh I absolutely do, I am deeply and irrevocably depressed and anxious,” Collins replied.

Collins recently authored a news story for NBC News regarding Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. Justin Lane/EPA/Shutterstock

In another post this week, Collins wrote: “Honestly, realizing that all of this has an end date next year has been a lot easier.”

“I simply don’t give a s–t anymore,” he wrote.

On Sept. 14, Collins wrote on Bluesky: “Unless things dramatically change, I’m leaving journalism early next year.”

“What’s next, I’m not sure,” he wrote. “I don’t have skills or family connections or money or anything.”

“But I’ve been working on my white whale stories to cap it off, big questions that have gone unanswered. First one comes out tomorrow.”

Collins was taken off the air last year after he mocked Elon Musk following the mogul’s acquisition of Twitter. AFP via Getty Images

Collins did not author a story for Sept. 15, according to his NBC News author page.

The last story he filed before this week’s report on Musk was a May 22 dispatch about a fake image of an explosion at the Pentagon which went viral on X.

The Post has sought comment from NBC News and Collins.

Last year, Collins was yanked off the air from NBC and MSNBC after he mocked Musk in a series of social media posts despite being warned by management to refrain from doing so.

At the time, Musk suspended several journalists whom he had accused of “doxxing” him by reporting on his decision to ban an account that tracked his private jet flights.

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