Best-selling author James Patterson has apologized that “white older male writers” are victims of “racism” because it is now more difficult for them to get “jobs as a writer in film, theatre, television or publishing”.
Patterson, 75, apologized after his comments drew widespread criticism, with some calling him “tone deaf”.
The author, who famously wrote “Along Came a Spider” starring a black detective before it was made into a movie starring Morgan Freeman, tweeted: “I absolutely do not believe racism is practiced against white writers.
“Please note that I strongly support a diversity of voices being heard – in literature, in Hollywood, everywhere.”
Best-selling author James Patterson has apologized that “white older male writers” are victims of “racism” because it is now more difficult for them to get “jobs as a writer in film, theatre, television or publishing”.
James Patterson by James Patterson, pictured
Patterson, who is promoting his memoir James Patterson: The Stories of My Life, told the Sunday Times in an article that ran last weekend that he was concerned white men were having trouble finding work in film and publishing , calling it ‘just another form of racism’.
“Can you get a job?” asked Patterson, who is married to bestselling author Sarah Patterson. ‘Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It’s even harder for older writers. You don’t meet many 52-year-old white men.”
His comments sparked a backlash online, and author Keith Boykin, who wrote Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America, tweeted, “As late as 2020 the heads of every major publisher were white,” adding that about three Quarter of published books authors are white.
“But James Patterson thinks they’re being oppressed,” Boykin added.
Frederick Joseph, the author of “The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person,” tweeted, “From a black man who turned down over 50 books (all of which are now bestsellers) because white editors don’t understand them or ‘already have black male writers ‘…shut up.’
Meanwhile, Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, author of This Is Why I Resist, called Patterson’s comments “white supremacy personified.” She tweeted, “Does he miss the good old days when white men had ALL writing jobs?”
Author Jason Pinter tweeted, “I’ve been in editorial meetings where books by Black, Indigenous and Colored authors have been rejected because ‘we already have one.’ I respect everything James Patterson has done for India and given back to the industry, but his comments on race are wrong, hurtful and beyond deaf.
The 75-year-old Patterson himself is as successful as few others and publishes several bestsellers every year, including novels and children’s books. He is ranked among the wealthiest writers in the world with JK Rowling and a handful of others.
Patterson, 75, apologized after facing widespread criticism for his comments, with some calling him “tone deaf”.
James Patterson with his wife Susan Patterson, who is also a bestselling author, in March
In his 30s, Patterson was at the forefront of advertising as the youngest creative director and managing director of J Walter Thompson in New York.
But his “first love,” Jane Blanchard, of eight years, died of a brain tumor at the age of 39.
He dated her while he was “waging ad wars” and writing on the side as a novelist.
A whopping 1,500 women wrote to Patterson when they learned he was single after her death, but it was a decade before he found love again with Sue, a former art director at J Walter Thompson and a former Olympic swimmer.
Featuring two New York Times bestseller books: the thriller Run Rose Run, co-written and filmed with Dolly Parton; In addition to a Women’s Murder Club crime thriller with regular co-writer Maxine Paetro, he’s now working with former President Bill Clinton on a new project about the CIA.
He often collaborates with other writers and has teamed up with many famous names.
And he’s currently working on a book about Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry, which he co-wrote with journalist Chris Mooney.