The Cowardly Publishing World Betrayed Kate Clanchy
Has the publishing industry finally experienced a shift? There might be hope that one of the fields most influenced by woke activists and the cultural enforcers has realized the winds are changing—moving away from cancel culture and identity politics toward a freer, more reasonable space.
Kate Clanchy's Unjust Cancellation
You may recall Kate Clanchy, a renowned author whose cancellation in 2021 was one of the most egregious of the post-BLM backlash. Her memoir, Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, which recounts her teaching experiences in an Oxford comprehensive school, was labeled racist. Her publisher at the time, Picador, reacted by distancing itself from her, as was common practice.
Publisher's Apology
After two decades with Picador, Clanchy parted ways with the imprint in 2022. Recently, Pan Macmillan, the parent company of Picador, issued a formal apology following a BBC Radio 4 investigation into Clanchy’s reputational damage. They described the cancellation as a “regrettable series of events in Pan Macmillan’s past.”
“I’m sorry for the hurt that was caused to Kate Clanchy,” said Pan Macmillan CEO Joanna Prior.
This apology, though overdue, offers little solace to Clanchy, whose experience with cancel culture was harsh and completely unjustified.
Summary
The publishing industry’s recent apology to Kate Clanchy highlights a growing awareness of past mistakes linked to cancel culture, though the damage done remains profound.