E.L. James, known for the Fifty Shades of Grey series, recently launched a new book called Grey, narrated from Christian’s perspective. To celebrate, someone on her PR team—who might be updating their resume now—thought it would be a brilliant idea to host a Twitter Q&A where James could interact with her fans. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go as planned. Unless you enjoy a good laugh at someone else’s expense, in which case, it was a riot.
I didn’t make it through the entire trilogy for a variety of reasons. First off, my little one was hitting the terrible twos just as those hefty tomes hit the shelves, leaving me too busy to tackle 1664 pages of anything (yes, that’s the total length of the trilogy). Secondly, finding time to coordinate a matching underwear set for date night with my husband was a stretch, let alone experimenting with Ben Wa balls or contemplating handcuffs. Honestly, the books had me feeling a bit prudish.
And let’s not forget the writing itself! The Stranger compiled some truly cringe-worthy lines that might explain why James has become the subject of countless jokes. Here are a few gems just to give you a taste:
- “From a very tiny, underused part of my brain—probably near my medulla oblongata—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.”
- “I sit up and reach for the orange juice, drinking it down too quickly. It’s delicious, ice cold, and 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.”
While the writing was ripe for mockery, there are serious concerns with the storyline itself. Most notably, it romanticizes a deeply problematic and manipulative relationship. Ana is portrayed as being in a consensual BDSM dynamic, but the reality is far from it. The key principle of true BDSM is consent, and James’ narrative strays far from those ideals. So, with a hefty profit made from glorifying such themes, it’s no wonder the internet had a field day with her live chat blunder.
Note to self: If I ever become a wildly successful author and my work gets relentlessly critiqued, I’ll skip the live Twitter chats.
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In summary, E.L. James’ Twitter Q&A turned into a comedic spectacle, drawing attention to both her writing style and the problematic themes in her work. While it was a misstep for her PR team, it provided plenty of entertainment for the masses.