Roxane Gay is a bestselling author you may have heard of. She did something recently I can only respect and applaud. She has a book forthcoming through Simon & Schuster, as does Milo Yiannopoulos.
I understand there’s a real chance you’re unfamiliar with either name. Milo is a leader of the alt-right. Just think of extreme, extreme conservativism. The group had no issue with any of Trump’s remarks heading into election day.
So as Roxane Gay was preparing to send off her book to be published later this year, she didn’t. She held on to it rather than send it off to a publisher willing to give Milo a larger platform for hate speech. Her words not mine. She’s not the only one with concerns. Other authors forced Simon & Schuster to release a statement on the publishing deal inked with Milo Yiannopoulos, but as of yet no one else has taken the action to pull their book from the publisher.
We all know people can say and do whatever they want to. That’s not what this is about. It’s about the platform being offered. At some point someone along the line has to say enough is enough. That they respect his right to his opinions, but the company believes there to be a better fit for his voice elsewhere.
Instead they reportedly gave him a $200k advance. Simon & Schuster dropped the ball. And now they’re paying the price.
Stand up for what you believe in just like Roxane Gay and Milo Yiannopoulos. We all should. But the United States is no place for hate.
Johnny Reads 
I’ve surfed past this site several times today, and wanted to comment. You seem to be able to have a quality debate, but not everyone does. I don’t know either author, and really don’t care about their politics. I do have a worry about either side denying the other the right to publish something. I like diverse opinions (right before either one gets rabid). I’d rather the reading public gets to decide the merits of a work than some kind of boycott. One person’s protest doesn’t make a boycott, but with the way the world functions these days it isn’t impossible.
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Well no one has the right to a $200k publishing contract. Or the right to any publishing deal. Also, what makes this particular case different is that his opinion on things is far from mainstream. His publishing deal is through a conservative imprint, and she isn’t speaking out against the other authors. Rush Limbaugh is one who immediately comes to mind, though I’m sure she has some real differences with him. Differences of opinion are one thing, Milo is another story. To me her action is no different from protesting any book. There’s obviously a reason for it, whether others believe it or not.
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I’m sure she feels strongly about it. Whoever he is, he probably does too. And on the surface, who cares. It piques my interest if it goes too far. S & S will make all their decisions based upon dollars, and this makes them easy to manipulate. Great post on an otherwise blah day.
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Of course they will. Can’t debate that. I don’t foresee much more happening between these two. Not unless more happens once his book is actually published.
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This is a really difficult one. My heart understands her decision and applauds it, but that side of my that believes in true freedom of speech and that no book (no matter how controversial) should be banned is able to look at this from another angle. So therein lies the another dilemma.
We argue that books should never be banned. And we advocate for this. And we do so under the pretense that this includes all titles, even those we absolutely disagree with or find offensive in our own ways. Would forcing publishers to refuse publication be another form of book banning? Food for thought. Believe me, I absolutely do not support Milo Yiannopoulos. But we have to cover all ground here if we are going to discuss I suppose. So technically, some might feel that if his book is ultimately refused for publication, it could be an infringement on the right to free speech? or similar to book banning?
I am glad you posted this. It really has me thinking!
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I just wanted to reiterate that I do commend the author 🙂 And do not share the views of Milo. I also figured I should mention that I understand and agree all authors and publishers have the right to make their own decision in matters such as this. I am simply trying to expand in the conversation. So I hope nothing I have said has come across as anything more. Just love a good discussion, which you have provided.
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Well this isn’t about freedom of speech. At least not in my eyes. I’m not saying send the guy to jail for being a racist, misogynist prick. I’m saying he doesn’t have some unalienable right to a publishing deal. None of us do. And it’s my opinion that the publisher is making a mistake by publishing his work. That’s all.
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I agree with those thoughts. If I owned a publishing company, I would opt not to publish him. Again, no offense intended at all. Was just branching out a bit with it for the sake of talk and thought. He doesn’t deserve any form of ear or print in my personal opinion.
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Roxanne Gay has the right to pull her book from publication assuming it is in her legal contract with the publisher and if not I am sure she will find herself in legal hot water. That said, publishers publish who they think will sell. If Milo causes controversy of course they will want his book, controversy sells.
I actually have no idea who either of these authors are. Sorry.
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Of course. Publishing is about money. But rarely have I heard of a publisher’s own authors speak out about something they’re publishing. She wasn’t the only one. So then there has to be consideration for what they’re saying, right? Since they’re the moneymakers. But I have no doubt his book will move forward.
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