Amanda Hirsch is walking back a promotional post that encouraged followers to wager on the verdict in the Lindsay Clancy trial. The Not Skinny But Not Fat creator and host found herself in hot water after her partnership with Polymarket drew backlash online.
Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts, was charged with killing her three young children in January 2023. Her case has since fueled debate over maternal mental health, the healthcare system, and the legal definition of insanity.
After the judge declared a mistrial Friday, Hirsch shared the news in a since-deleted post:
“On Polymarket, it was predicted the verdict would be Not Guilty. Are you surprised? #Polymarketpartner.”
See what appeared below:
And deleting the reel did little to contain the fallout.
Screenshots continued circulating after it disappeared from Hirsch’s page, and when she returned to her Instagram Stories with her usual content Saturday, followers weren’t ready to move on.
One commenter called out Hirsch and Dear Media over the controversial ad:
“@dearmediastudio @notskinnybutnotfat partnering with Polymarket to bet on the outcome of the Lindsay Clancy trial is the most insane sh*t I’ve ever seen in the world of sponsored content. Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves.”
The uproar tapped into an uncomfortable reality that has followed the Clancy case beyond the courtroom: its transformation into online content. TikTok and X have become hubs for dissecting courtroom developments and the Clancy family itself, blurring the line between following a high-profile trial and consuming tragedy as entertainment.
Patrick Clancy, Clancy’s ex-husband, has also been swept into the speculation, becoming the subject of unfounded conspiracy theories attempting to implicate him in the killings or accuse him of a cover-up.
By Sunday, Hirsch changed course and apologized on Instagram:
“Posting about the Lindsay Clancy trial in the same breath as a brand partnership was completely insensitive, wrong, and out of character for me - I should have known better, and I feel sick that I didn’t see that in the moment…”
The misstep comes as the growing world of prediction markets continues to court controversy. This spring, Variety reported that Polymarket and Kalshi spoiled the winner of Survivor Season 50, prompting host and showrunner Jeff Probst to slam the companies.
Hirsch also acknowledged that her fascination with the Clancy trial made her lose sight of its gravity:
“I became so consumed by the trial that I completely lost perspective and didn’t stop to think about how grossly inappropriate it was to discuss something this tragic in that context…”
Hirsch eventually turned off comments on the apology, but the conversation simply moved elsewhere. With comments still open across her Instagram account, followers aired their frustration on other posts.
Read Hirsch’s apology in full below:
The Clancy case had divided public opinion long before Hirsch entered the conversation. As the BBC reported, some viewed it through the lens of severe postpartum illness, while others felt sympathy surrounding Clancy overshadowed the three children who lost their lives.
That divide carried into the response to Hirsch’s apology, where social media users had plenty to say:
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Hirsch’s interest in the trial also predates her Polymarket partnership. On August 21, she shared an Instagram video discussing the nationally watched case.
Hirsch used the caption to call for greater support for mothers:
“Whatever you believe about this case, I hope it forces a much bigger conversation about how we care for mothers before and after they give birth. Because we have to do better.”
In hindsight, the sentiment makes what followed all the more side-eye-worthy.
You can view Hirsch’s earlier post here:
The case now heads toward a September 29 status conference, when prosecutors from the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office are expected to announce how they intend to proceed. Clancy will remain confined to a state psychiatric hospital under continuous medical care while the case remains unresolved.
The Clancy trial may have become internet fodder, but the reaction to Hirsch’s post underscored the line many weren’t willing to cross: turning a family tragedy into a betting opportunity.
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