Update (4:45 P.M.): A new statement from Tamara Taylor, a spokesperson for Asher, calls the S.C.B.W.I.’s initial statement about the author “completely false.“
“In April 2017, Mr. Asher voluntarily agreed that he would no longer attend S.C.B.W.I. conferences,” the statement reads. “This was in response to many years of harassment from a group of authors with whom he had consensual relationships that ended with some hurt feelings when they learned about each other.”
The statement adds that Asher is still a member of good standing within the S.C.B.W.I., and that there “was no allegation, investigation, or finding of sexual harassment” by the group. “These women were not subordinates of Mr. Asher; they were his peers and they each entered into romantic relationships with him voluntarily, with some initially pursuing him,” the statement continues. “Mr. Asher was married at the time of these relationships, as were many of the women. He is deeply sorry for the pain these consensual decisions caused his family, and others.”
“The false statements to the news media have resulted in inaccurate and hurtful news coverage, which is threatening Mr. Asher’s livelihood,” the statement concludes. “Mr. Asher has retained legal counsel and will take whatever steps necessary to set the record straight.”
The original post continues below.
Thirteen Reasons Why author Jay Asher has been expelled from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the writers’ organization said Monday. The group’s executive director, Lin Oliver, told the Associated Press that Asher was banned last year; this is the first time the news has come to light in a public way.
Asher’s name came up multiple times in the comments section of a School Library Journal article about sexual harassment in children’s publishing, though the article itself did not name him. Oliver told the A.P. that the S.C.B.W.I. investigated anonymous claims against Asher and, as a result, he is no longer a member; Oliver did not offer further details about the nature of those accusations.
Asher’s debut novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, tells the story of Hannah Baker, a high-school student who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes explaining why she chose to take her own life. Netflix adapted the novel into a TV series last year; the series proved to be both buzzy and highly controversial due to its depiction of suicide. Its second season is expected to debut on the streaming service sometime this year. A Netflix spokesperson gave V.F. the following statement by email: “Jay Asher was not involved in the second season of 13 Reasons Why. The upcoming season will not be impacted in any way.”
Asher told BuzzFeed News that he chose to leave the group voluntarily, saying he felt “thrown under the bus” after the organization initially told him that “the e-mails showed nothing.”
“I understand the predicament they’re in with everything going on and to want to protect themselves,” Asher said, adding with regard to his accusers, “The truth is that I had been harassed by these people for close to 10 years. And I just could not deal with it anymore.”
Representatives for Asher and his publisher did not immediately respond to V.F.’s request for comment.
