Anthony Horowitz, author of Alex Ryder, has said that cancel culture has compelled him to “shut up” because he worries about the “punitive reaction” he would get.
Instead, the 67-year-old multimillionaire novelist has chosen to compose tales that don’t offend anybody in order to prevent his works from being “damaged.”
He said, “I think the fact is that at the moment it’s really not worth questioning people because of the punitive reaction you would receive,” when asked on the Loose Ends podcast if he should try to challenge his audience as a writer.
According to The Times, he said in May that a “culture of fear” is restricting literary freedom.
He declared: “I’m very, very worried by what you’re calling cancel culture” while speaking at the Hay Festival.
“I believe what’s happening to authors is really hazardous, where certain phrases are concealed, where certain concepts aren’t permitted any longer, where certain behaviors [aren’t allowed], clearly related to gender, related to race, related to attempting to convey other people’s experiences,”
I don’t want to enrage people to the point that my books are harmed, he said on the program.
Ultimately, I’m not alone myself. On me, my publishers rely. both independent and large chain bookstores, everyone. I work in a certain field.
“And I believe that when I start discussing politics or start going into these uncomfortable areas, that I should just shut up and get on with the narrative because that’s what I’m being paid to do,” she said.
When talking about his most recent book, The Twist of a Knife, which includes the author as a character, Horowitz made the comments.
A fictitious Horowitz is questioned by a Native American character in the book about his inclusion in the narrative.
“Woke and cancel culture and all that is a very, very huge problem for authors, and what I’m trying to do (with the book) is have conversations about topics that matter,” he added.
And of course, at this point, it is important, and I have given it a lot of thought. And conversing with one of my characters who takes offense at being included in the story just because he happens to be Native American.
I ask the reader at the book’s conclusion, “Would you wish to be a Korean? Although I can fix it if you want, he isn’t quite convinced. Politically speaking, that’s probably not the best mindset to have.