Celebrated author Stephen King recently came under major fire after suggesting Dylan Farrow’s account of childhood sexual abuse contained “an element of palpable bitchery.” Today, he said he was sorry:
Short version: I apologize for screwing up. Extended version http://t.co/I8VW2MRCmc
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 5, 2014
From King’s “apology”:
Those of you who follow Twitter will know that recently I managed to put my foot in my mouth and halfway down my throat. A good many people came away from my tweet about the Woody Allen controversy with the idea that I had called Dylan Farrow or Mia Farrow (or both) a bitch. That wasn’t my intention, but the conclusion on the part of some readers is understandable. I used the wrong word to describe not Ms. Farrow—either Ms. Farrow—but a sad and painful mess. Some people seem to believe that writers never use the wrong word, but any editor can tell you that’s not true.
So, that whole “palpable bitchery” line wasn’t directed at a woman who described a horrific experience (or at her mother)? It was merely referring to a “sad and painful mess”? Puh-leeze. Maybe this is what happens to someone who’s spent too much time immersed in a world of fantasy. King seems to be under the impression that his apology is worth a damn. He’s sorely mistaken.
Yeahhhhhh this isn't great RT @StephenKing: Short version: I apologize for screwing up. Extended version http://t.co/LcE2aRp7Qq
— Jasmine Guillory (@thebestjasmine) February 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/fifthstarter/status/431100098550829056
https://twitter.com/silentkpants/status/431133372438433793
"Oops. I tweeted something negative and utterly horrid about a sexual abuse victim. My bad." – Stephen King… http://t.co/rhX9vu4BjF
— Jamie McGuire (@JamieMcGuire) February 5, 2014
C'mon, @StephenKing. A Farrow woman was clearly the target of your "bitchery" slur. You really need to own that and do better.
— Giuseppe (@60th_Street) February 5, 2014
Exactly.
More from his mea culpa:
Those of you who have read my work—Carrie, Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder, and Lisey’s Story, to name four—will know that I have plenty of respect for women, and care about the problems and life-situations they face. My single-mom mother faced plenty, believe me. And I have no sympathy whatever for those who abuse children. I wrote about such abuse—and its ultimate cost to the victim—in Gerald’s Game.
He’s written books about women, so he must respect them, right?
https://twitter.com/abcdefgben/status/431129320082268160
Oh, and did he mention that he’s written books?
Stephen King there with one of those non-apology apologies. P.S BUY MY BOOKS YOU GUYS
— Viriconia (@Viriconia) February 5, 2014
Just read Stephen King's apology. I admire the effort, especially for subtly plugging so many of his books. I'm going to go shower, now.
— Jamie McGuire (@JamieMcGuire) February 5, 2014
A “Shining” example of palpable B.S.
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Related:
‘Palpable bitchery’? Stephen King begs for ‘mercy’ after tweet about Dylan Farrow’s account of abuse
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