’50 Shades’ Author EL James Held A Q&A Session On Twitter And It’s Backfiring Wonderfully
Someone's getting fired today.
Besides committing crimes against the English language that would make George W Bush blush, the Fifty Shades trilogy is looked on pretty dimly by a lot of people for the way it treats things like consent, control and abuse in relationships. Christian Grey’s behaviour throughout the books is treated as romantic and mysterious, but if someone acted like that in real life they would have an AVO taken out against them.
Now Shades author EL James is doing the rounds promoting her new book Grey, which is literally the exact same story only told from the creepy abuser’s perspective because THERE’S CASH TO BE MADE BABY. Someone in her marketing team thought it would be a good idea to host a Q&A session on Twitter, since that strategy has never backfired on anyone in the history of ever, and the #AskELJames hashtag has become an absolute bloodbath. Plenty of people are happy to take the absurdist road, which is never a bad choice in these things:
#AskELJames What’s your favourite shade out of the 50? Is there a chance that more shades will be added?
— Jack Howard (@JackHoward) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames did you notice Hannibal kinda looks like Pepe the Frog? pic.twitter.com/PHQBdPMehi — Daniel Dalton (@wordsbydan) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames Can you confirm that you will be writing the story of Ramsay Bolton from his perspective, showing he is just misunderstood?
— Ros (@GameOverRos) June 29, 2015
But the overwhelming majority of tweets take the glorification of creepy stalker behaviour as their jumping-off point, with some spectacular results:
#AskELJames I need advice on making a BIG romantic gesture. Should I put a GPS tracker in her phone and make threats if she tries to leave?
— Liam Dryden (@LiamDrydenEtc) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames what do you hate more? a) good literature b) consent c) women d) healthy relationships e) all of the above
— emma (@PRESERUMPINING) June 29, 2015
My boss said no when I asked if I could kiss him and then I did anyway because no means yes right? Things at work are awkward. #AskELJames
— Anna (@thatswedishgirl) June 29, 2015
What a time to be alive.
When I told my partner I wasn’t into certain sexual acts, he didn’t pressure me to do them. Does that mean he doesn’t like me? #AskELJames
— Ponta (@typicalfeminist) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames A lad once punched me on a night out. Does this mean he likes me? Should I have gotten his number?
— natgovin (@notgavin) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames : how much can Christian grey lift? Can he do sick skateboard moves? When is he going to prison
— The Frenemy Online (@The_Frenemy) June 29, 2015
This one is my personal favourite, I think.
#AskELJames after the success of “Grey,” have you considered re-telling the story from the perspective of someone who can write
— Andrew Vestal (@avestal) June 29, 2015
Goodbye!
EL James entering the #AskELJames hashtag. pic.twitter.com/hugpOU0MiH
— Kayleigh Anne (@Ceilidhann) June 29, 2015