Children's author Lemony Snicket is accused of making lewd comments about female writers after he signed #MeToo pledge
- Author signed online pledge to avoid literary conferences that don't enforce sexual harassment policies
- Woman who came forward says he once told a crowd that 'these children's book events always turn into orgies!
- Another says he told an off color joke to a room full of elementary schoolers
- He apologizes, noting that his sense of humor is 'not for everyone'
Multiple female children's literature authors and librarians are saying #MeToo, claiming they've all been subject to sexually inappropriate comments from famed author Lemony Snicket.
When Snicket, who's real name is Daniel Handler, signed an online pledge not to attend conferences that don't have and enforce sexual harassment policies, other writers started coming forward with stories of being harassed and made to feel uncomfortable by the best-selling author.
Author Kate Messner said she was glad that he'd signed the pledge, then went on to detail encounters with Handler that made her uncomfortable, including the time he interrupted a conversation she was having with a fellow author, shouting 'are you a virgin, too?!' on a crowded bus. And another time that Handler made a joke in a crowd of authors, that 'these children's book events always turn into orgies!' She noted that it was possible that 'some of the women in that lobby were likely survivors of sexual assault.'
Author Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, has written about 50 YA books
Librarian Allie Jane Bruce told of the time he was on stage in front of elementary school students and was asked why he used the pen name Lemony Snicket. She wrote 'You answered, 'Lemony Snicket is not a pen name, he is a person. My pen has a name. See? Uniball. It's named after an obscure medical condition.'
She says she was left to explain the joke to very young children, and that Handler left without even noting that it might have been an inappropriate joke for such a young crowd.
Roseanne Parry who wrote YA Novel Heart of a Shepherd, told of a time that the two appeared together at a book conference and he made a belittling comment to her. She says that a teenage girl jumped to her defense, at which point Handler made a crude comment to the girl, 'this teenager again said–Dude, I have a blackbelt and I’m telling you, you, have to stop talking like that to women. At which point you sauntered off without acknowledgement or apology.'
Roseanne Parry says one time Handler was so rude to her a teenager nearby came to her defense
YA author Gwenda Bond started the pledge on her website, she also says Handler has spoken to her in a demeaning way
Author Kate Messner was at her first children's book conference when Handler asked her 'are you a virgin?'
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This all happened in the comments section of YA writer Gwenda Bond's website. She notes that, 'The first time I met Daniel at a conference reception he referred to me in front of other people as a “hot blonde.” This is necessarily an uncomfortable conversation but it’s an essential one. Sexual harassment exists on a scale. I firmly believe this is on it.'
All of them women acknowledged that these were just a series of rude, and inappropriate comments made to a mostly female audience.
After days of this kind of post, Handler posted a lengthy apology, in which he noted that, 'my whole life my sense of humor has not been for everyone, and my books continue to be regarded, by a segment of the population, as inappropriate.'
He concludes that he is open to the criticism and willing to change, writing 'I do not find comments sections the ideal place to discuss incidents in which my memories, and the memories of others who were with me, sometimes differ. And I believe the people who are talking. I am listening and willing to listen; I am learning and willing to learn.'
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