Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Sex Steals: NY Press Sex Columnist Ousted After Debut
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 24, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 24, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Today the alternative weekly New York Press announced the resignation of their new sex columnist, Claudia Lonow, after her debut column – and the cover story, no less – was found to have used some questions from old Dan Savage advice columns. The answers were her own, but, as Jezebel discovered, not questions like the one seeking advice about [paraphrasing] ‘what to do when you walk in on your girlfriend canoodling with her noticeably erect brother?’
See how we just paraphrased the actual question? Lonow really couldn’t be bothered, and basically pasted the question sent to Savage into her column, keeping the exact scenario with minor edits. As former Press dating columnist Judy McGuire observed, it’s probably not the best approach to steal from the nation’s most widely syndicated sex advice columnist.
In announcing the resignation, NY Press Editor in Chief David Blum identifies Lonow – who appeared on Knots Landing as a teen – as “a television writer based in Los Angeles who had not previously written for a newspaper… [and] was unaware that using questions from Savage's column was a breach of journalism ethics.” If Lonow was that desperate for sex questions, would it have been so difficult to just make up her own? And lost in all this is the more important question: what should the poor guy with the incestuous girlfriend should do?
Tagged
Angeles
As
Claudia Lonow
dan savage
david
David Blum
fired
Judy McGuire
Lip Service
Los
los angeles
new york
New York Press
NY
ny press
resigned
sex advice
sex columnist
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .