• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Telegraph journo’s cancel culture book cancelled after Islamophobic rant

The controversial Sunday Telegraph columnist was due to have her book - entitled Welcome to the Woke Trials: How #Identity Killed Progressive Politics - published next year.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2020-12-15 18:00
in News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Julie Burchill has had her book contract cancelled after her published said she “crossed a line” by making Islamophobic comments towards journalist Ash Sarkar on Twitter.

The controversial Sunday Telegraph columnist was due to have her book – entitled Welcome to the Woke Trials: How #Identity Killed Progressive Politics – published by Hatchette imprint Little, Brown next Spring.

But the release itself has now been cancelled, after Burchill “quite openly subjected [Sarkar] to Islamophobia”, the Novara Media writer and commentator said.

Little, Brown described Burchill’s comments on Islam as “not defensible from a moral or intellectual standpoint”, adding that they “crossed a line with regard to race and religion”. It said her book had become “inextricably linked with those views”.

In a statement, the publisher said: “We will no longer be publishing Julie Burchill’s book. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. 

“We believe passionately in freedom of speech at Little, Brown and we have always published authors with controversial or challenging perspectives – and we will continue to do so.”

On 13 December, Burchill started tweeting at Sarkar after she had criticised Rod Liddle for a 2012 Spectator article, in which he claimed he had opted against a career as a teacher because he “could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids”.

“We’re talking secondary level here, by the way – and even then I don’t think I’d have dabbled much below year ten, as it is now called,” Liddle said.

“It’s astonishing that both he and his editor thought guffawing about hypothetically being a paedophile made for a good article,” Sarkar commented – prompting a tirade from Burchill.

RelatedPosts

Gary Lineker says BBC should ‘hold its head in shame’ for not airing Gaza documentary

Donald Trump announces he plans to host UFC fight at the White House

BBC to stop showing ‘high risk’ performances after Bob Vylan Glastonbury controversy

Keir Starmer confirms Rachel Reeves will be Chancellor ‘for a very long time to come’

https://twitter.com/BoozeAndFagz/status/1338172141959847937
https://twitter.com/BoozeAndFagz/status/1338222166312177665

Julie Burchill, who once I suppose was a well regarded journalist, has quite openly subjected me to Islamophobia on here. I'm a big girl – it's not going to upset me – but I do find it strange that none of her colleagues or friends in the industry seem to have a problem with it.

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) December 13, 2020

Burchill’s book had been billed as “part-memoir and part-indictment” of what happened after she wrote an article for the Observer in 2013, which was removed after critics complained it was transphobic. 

Writing on Facebook on Tuesday, she said that it had now been cancelled – suggesting she was “gonna be a cause celebre”.

I've got nothing to say about the publisher's decision, having had no involvement with it.

But, as I've told The Independent and The Times, I think her comments were appalling. And I'm currently discussing my options for further action with lawyers. https://t.co/QokuZ0ixqZ

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) December 15, 2020

“Reason was ‘hate speech’ to Ash Sarkar and ‘crossing a line’ – There was also a concern that the line might be crossed again during the promotion of the book,” Burchill added.

In response to the debacle, Sarkar said she was “discussing options for further action with my lawyers.”

She told The Independent: “I was appalled by Julie Burchill’s comments when I first read them, and it was quite upsetting to see that it’s not the first time she’s made derogatory insinuations about my faith. 

“There’ve been all sorts of hateful comments from others that have followed, and I don’t think it’s right that ethnic and religious minorities are subject to this kind of abuse just for putting their head above the parapet and offering an opinion. I’m discussing my options for further action with my lawyers.”

Related: SpAd report reveals Dominic Cummings was given a £50k payrise after general election

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Watch – Meet the sheep farmer facing ‘man-made’ EU tariff disaster in case of no-deal Brexit ← Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Wednesday 16 December 2020
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->