Hunter Moore, the founder of infamous IsAnyoneUp.com – a website that let users post nude photos of their exes (or anyone they pleased), with Mr. Moore sprinkling in remarks and adding screen grabs of the victims' Facebook accounts – seems to have had a change of heart.
On Thursday, Mr. Moore sold his misery-making franchise to an anti-bullying website, BullyVille.com, which bought the domain name to put it out of existence.
"Anybody that was ever posted, where it's been ruining your life or your job, everything is completely wiped," Mr. Moore told Gawker. "You're good."
"The problem of IsAnyoneUp.com is now solved," Bullyville founder James McGibney wrote in a statement. "In its place, BullyVille.com will exist to help people who are being bullied solve their problems through co-operation and thoughtfulness, rather than abuse."
So why did Mr. Moore sell his "digital sewer pipe?" With growing publicity, the site was overflowing with submissions, including some of underage victims – about 60 photos daily. These Mr. Moore would forward to authorities, but the investigations spoiled much of his fun. In short, the 30-year-old professional tormenter got "burned out."
Now, Mr. Moore is turning his attention to charity benefits. "I think it's important that everyone realizes the damage that online bullying can cause," he wrote in a profoundly oblivious statement. "Even though there was drama and lots of tears and pissed off parents, I feel blessed and thankful for all of you who came here to support me."
The move has yielded a publicity bonanza for Bullyville, itself problematic: Mr. McGibney also owns Cheaterville, a website where lovers scorned can shame their philandering partners – a "PG-rated version of Is Anyone Up," as Gawker put it. (Mr. McGibney disagrees, saying Cheaterville provides a public service, warning daters against "narcissistic and predatory individuals" who lie about the kids, wives and STDs in their lives.)
None of it will make Mr. Moore any friends at this point, Rebecca Greenfield writes at The Atlantic.
"The hate's partly because his farewell includes a lot of hypocrisy and not much repentance. … Moore isn't quitting because of remorse, he's quitting because of exhaustion. His attitude about what he does hasn't changed."
Are we doing enough to curb online bullying sites?
Zosia Bielski