Crime fiction author James Patterson apologized Tuesday for claiming that older white male writers struggle to get writing deals because of racism.
Patterson told the British publication the Sunday Times that such denial of business opportunities for white writers represented “just another form of racism.”
“What’s that all about?” Patterson asked, according to the New York Times. “Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It’s even harder for older writers. You don’t meet many 52-year-old white males.”
After receiving intense criticism, Patterson backtracked, declaring that he celebrates diversity and doesn’t believe white writers are discriminated against.
“I apologize for saying white male writers having trouble finding work is a form of racism,” he wrote on Facebook. “I absolutely do not believe that racism is practiced against white writers. Please know that I strongly support a diversity of voices being heard—in literature, in Hollywood, everywhere.”
Some authors whose work focuses on social justice slammed Patterson.
“James Patterson of all people. First of all, write your own books, pal,” author Roxane Gay tweeted.
“What an obtuse statement from James Patterson,” tweeted Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, author of This Is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity. “He best pick up books & educate himself on what racism is. He’s missing good old days when White men had ALL the writing gigs?”
“I’ve been in editorial meetings where books by BIPOC writers were turned down because ‘we already have one,'” thriller writer Jason Pinter wrote. “I respect everything James Patterson has done for indies and giving back to the industry, but his comments on race are false, hurtful, and beyond tone deaf.”
Patterson is a very prolific and successful author who holds the record for the most books to rank at the top of the New York Times’ bestsellers list.
In the interview with the Sunday Times, Patterson also discussed the drama over Woody Allen’s 2020 memoir, which was cancelled by publisher Hachette Book Group after employees protested. It’s now being published by Arcade Publishing.
“The decision to cancel Mr. Allen’s book was a difficult one. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly. We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books,” Sophie Cottrell, a spokesperson for Hachette told USA TODAY. “As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard.”