It bothered me but only because they used it interchangeably with her. I don't think they were using it indirectly like another commenter suggested since they were talking about a specific person who was identified in other parts of the article as her. It's lazy writing and sounds bad to just randomly switch back and forth like that, and idk if this person actually goes by they or her but it's disrespectful to keep saying her if they actually go by they. Anyhow that's my 2 cents, it bothered me too but because they were being really lazy about the writing and/or rude depending on the actual circumstances.