Arts & Entertainment
Author Roxane Gay pulls Simon & Schuster book over Milo Yiannopoulos deal
the author had planned to release ‘How to be Heard’ through TED Books
Author Roxane Gay has pulled her book deal withĀ Simon & Schuster in response to the publisher’s $250,000 contract with Breitbart editor MiloĀ Yiannopoulos.
Gay, who is bisexual, had a deal with the publisher to release her book “How to Be Heard” through TED Books, an imprint ofĀ Simon & Schuster, 2018. Yiannopoulos also has a deal with Simon & Schuster for his autobiography, “Dangerous,” to be released in March.
For Gay, she couldn’t justify releasing her book from the same platform.
“I was supposed to turn the book in this month and I kept thinking about how egregious it is to give someone like Milo a platform for his blunt, inelegant hate and provocation,” Gay said in a statement to BuzzFeed.”I just couldnāt bring myself to turn the book in. My editor emailed me last week and I kept staring at that email in my inbox and finally over the weekend I asked my agent to pull the book.”
“And to be clear, this isnāt about censorship. Milo has every right to say what he wants to say, however distasteful I and many others find it to be,” Gay continues. “He doesnāt have a right to have a book published by a major publisher but he has, in some bizarre twist of fate, been afforded that privilege. So be it. Iām not interested in doing business with a publisher willing to grant him that privilege. I am also fortunate enough to be in a position to make this decision. I recognize that other writers arenāt and understand that completely.”
Simon & Schuster has defended its deal with Yiannopoulos by promising that the book will not contain hate speech.
Gay is known for her essay collection “Bad Feminist” and the novel “An Untamed State.” She says that although she does not have a new publisher for “How to be Heard” she hopes the book will be published one day.
Out & About
Blade Summer Kickoff Party returns to Rehoboth
Politicians slated to speak at annual Blue Moon party
The Washington Bladeās 17th annual Summer Kickoff Party returns Friday, May 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Itās an exciting election year in Delaware, which is poised to elect its first Black woman senator (Lisa Blunt Rochester) and the nationās first transgender member of Congress (Sarah McBride).
McBride is scheduled to speak at the party along with several politicos from the area. With the retirement of longtime state Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf, a staunch LGBTQ ally, three strong contenders are running to replace him. All three ā Marty Rendon, Kathy McGuiness, and Claire Snyder-Hall ā are slated to speak at the party. A representative from Blunt Rochesterās campaign is scheduled to speak, along with Kim Leisey, the new executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.
Tax-deductible tickets are $20 and available on Eventbrite or via the Bladeās Facebook page. The party is sponsored by Justin Noble of Sothebyās, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Blue Moon.
Andy Cohen, executive producer of āThe Real Housewivesā franchise and host of āWatch What Happens Live,ā will return to Sixth & I on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
This event will be his fifth appearance at the venue to celebrate the paperback release of his New York Times bestselling memoir, āThe Daddy Diaries,ā talk about the latest Housewives happenings, and answer audience questions about everyone’s favorite Bravolebrities.
Cohen will be in conversation with Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents California and is the first LGBTQ immigrant to win a congressional seat. Rep. Garcia has also been known to quote from āThe Real Housewivesā in congressional hearings.
Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
āHerses- Purse Frist Extravaganzaā will be on Friday, May 3 at 9 p.m. at 1835 14th St. N.W. This will be an evening of dancing and performances, hosted by HAUS of Bambi Award-winning Performance Artist, BUMPER. Refreshments are also available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.