Researcher who paid fired Forbes editor $6M apologizes, says he had the best intentions

The founder of a research company that does business with Forbes has apologized for giving a cool $6 million to the publication’s former top editor, who was fired over the payment last month.Forbes axed Chief Content Officer Randall Lane after it learned he took the cash from RJ Shook of Shook Research, with the journo claiming at the time that the payment was a “gift” from a friend, the New York Times reported earlier this month.Now Shook is saying the payment was made “in recognition of the services and guidance” that Lane provided, including helping Shook sell the research company to a private-equity firm last year..“My actions were taken with the best intentions, but ultimately the payment was a mistake,” Shook told the Times on Monday.“I deeply regret that this has raised questions about the integrity and independence of Shook’s rankings.”Shook’s account appeared to differ from the explanation offered by Lane, who previously said: “I should have disclosed the gift, and failing to was a serious error in judgment.”Shook Research shares rankings of financial advisers with Forbes, and the info is sometimes used for the outlet’s clickbait-esque “best of” lists.  A spokesperson for Forbes told The Post that the payment was “unacceptable and is consistent with our policies and principles of trust, transparency and disclosure.” Lane was immediately fired and the company is “exploring all appropriate actions to hold Mr.

Lane to full account,” the spokesperson added.Forbes – which laid off dozens of contributors in December – is working with outside counsel to engage in an independent review of the scandal, and so far has not found evidence that the integrity of its rankings was compromised, according to the spokesperson.Lane and Shook “maintained a close connection” after they met in 2011, Shook said.The pair hit it off on a 2013 “humanitarian trip” to Liberia that was organized by Forbes, according to the Times. ...