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BuzzFeed launches 'failing pile of garbage' merch following Trump insult to raise funds for Committee to Protect Journalists

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By Rebecca Stewart, Trends Editor

January 12, 2017 | 3 min read

BuzzFeed has unveiled a tongue-in-cheek line of merchandise in response to comments made by president-elect Donald Trump, who called the publisher "a failing pile of garbage" at his first press conference since the US election yesterday (11 January).

buzzfeed failing pile of garbage

BuzzFeed launches 'failing pile of garbage' merch following Trump insult / BuzzFeed

The media outlet has chosen to wear the insult as a badge of pride, launching a limited edition collection on its shop where readers can purchase trash cans, t-shirts and bumper stickers featuring the quote.

Prices start from $5 (£4) and all proceeds will go to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a US nonprofit that promotes press freedom.

buzzfeed failing pile of garbage

The move comes after BuzzFeed published an dossier compiled by a former British intelligence official alleging that the Russian government has compromising information on Trump. The report contains 'potentially unverifiable allegations of contact between Trump aides and Russian operatives, and graphic claims of sexual acts documented by the Russians'.

Trump also took aim at CNN, refusing a journalist from the broadcaster the opportunity to ask him a question and saying "you are fake news".

The former reality TV host, who already has a troubled relationship with the media, has strenuously denied the explosive claims outlined in the dossier saying that BuzzFeed is "going to suffer the consequences" for publishing the full document.

BuzzFeed's editor-in-chief Ben Smith has defended the decision to publish the allegations, saying it reflects how BuzzFeed "sees the job of reporters in 2017". However, some media commentators have called into question the ethics of distributing a story from one source without supporting evidence.

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