E.L. James, renowned for her Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, recently launched a new novel titled Grey, which presents the story from Christian’s perspective. To celebrate this release, a member of James’ public relations team (who may now be seeking employment elsewhere) decided to host a Twitter Q&A session for her to connect with fans. Unfortunately, the event did not unfold as intended. Unless, of course, you appreciate the humor in unexpected outcomes, in which case it was a resounding success.
I personally did not complete the trilogy for various reasons. Firstly, my young child was entering the challenging phase of the terrible twos just as the books were released, leaving me little time to delve into an extensive 1,664 pages. Secondly, I struggled to prioritize putting together a matching undergarment set for my spouse, let alone exploring the complexities of Ben Wa balls or contemplating the purchase of handcuffs. The narrative often left me feeling rather prudish. Finally, the excerpts I managed to read were, to put it mildly, quite amusingly poor. For example, The Observer compiled a list of some notably awkward lines, illustrating why James often finds herself the subject of ridicule:
- “And from a very tiny, underused part of my brain—probably located at the base of my medulla oblongata near where my subconscious dwells—comes the thought: He’s here to see you.”
- “I am all gushing and breathy—like a child, not a grown woman who can vote and drink legally in the state of Washington.”
- “I sit up and reach for the orange juice, drinking it down too quickly. It’s delicious, ice cold, and it makes my mouth a much better place.”
- “I flush. My inner goddess is down on bended knee with her hands clasped in supplication begging me.”
Beyond the humor, there are substantial concerns regarding the book’s portrayal of relationships—most notably, how it romanticizes an abusive and manipulative dynamic. The character Ana appears to be subjected to manipulation and abuse, falsely masked as a consensual BDSM relationship. However, true BDSM principles, especially the crucial element of consent, are notably absent from James’ depiction. When one profits immensely from glorifying and romanticizing such troubling themes, it’s perhaps not surprising that backlash occurs.
A lesson to heed: if ever I find myself in a position of success, particularly in a domain subject to relentless critique, I will remember to avoid hosting a Twitter live chat.
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In summary, E.L. James’ Twitter Q&A intended to celebrate her new release instead became a platform for criticism, highlighting both the shortcomings of her writing and the troubling themes within her work.