Last Updated on January 15, 2020
Horrorist Stephen King sparked a Twitter storm over his ‘controversial’ tweets in relation to diversity in art following accusations that recent Oscar nominations were too white and male.
King, who has vociferously championed progressive politics on social media, came under fire for making what would be a politically incorrect pronouncement, “I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.”
…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020
The tweet inspired many to comment their disagreement, attacking King for his whiteness.
One commenter remarked, “Sir, respectfully saying you as a white man can’t really say that. You had more advantages and opportunities than a person of color would have. They have been wrongfully held back in so many ways just because of their color skin.'”
Sir, respectfully saying you as a white man can’t really say that. You had more advantages and opportunities than a person of color would have. They have been wrongfully held back in so many ways just because of their color skin.
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) January 14, 2020
An author attacked King’s white privilege, tweeting, “But you say this from #WhitePrivilage [sic]
“I wrote a quality children’s book on #IlhanOmar last summer & the struggle to get it published was painful & ultimately it didn’t happen.
“You have zero idea how to live in my world, where I can’t even find one book like this for my child”
But you say this from #WhitePrivilage
I wrote a quality children's book on #IlhanOmar last summer & the struggle to get it published was painful & ultimately it didn't happen
You have zero idea how to live in my world, where I can't even find one book like this for my child
— ACraftyArab is querying America's first Libyan #PB (@acraftyarab) January 14, 2020
Others targeted the notion that diversity and quality were mutually exclusive positions.
One tweet read, “To imply quality and diversity are mutually exclusive tells us quite loudly how threatened you are by the potential of a level artistic playing field in which said ‘diverse’ stories are exponentially more compelling, vast, resonant, poignant than your own…”
To imply quality and diversity are mutually exclusive tells us quite loudly how threatened you are by the potential of a level artistic playing field in which said ‘diverse’ stories are exponentially more compelling, vast, resonant, poignant than your own…
— Octavia Butler knew… (@NotNikyatu) January 14, 2020
Another tweeter wrote, “As a fan, this is painful to read from you. It implies that diversity and quality cannot be synonymous. They are not separate things. Quality is everywhere but most industries only believe in quality from one demographic. And now, here you are.”
As a fan, this is painful to read from you. It implies that diversity and quality cannot be synonymous. They are not separate things. Quality is everywhere but most industries only believe in quality from one demographic. And now, here you are.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 14, 2020
In another tweet, King made the following statement, “As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay. For me, the diversity issue–as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway–did not come up. That said…”
As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay. For me, the diversity issue–as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway–did not come up. That said…
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020
Again, King was attacked for being white while making a politically incorrect remark on the nature of diversity.
Good to know it’s just white men who produce quality in those categories
— 2021 Kins 🇺🇸⭐️ (@kins__khaleesi) January 14, 2020
A screen adaptation of King’s legendary work It was criticized for failing to feature sufficient LGBT representation in a film about a murderous entity assuming the form of a demonic clown which feasted on children.
