‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ author Jay Asher was been expelled from a prominent writers organization because of allegations of sexual harassment.
Netflix meanwhile confirmed to Entertainment Weekly he will not be involved in the second season of the eponymous television series.
‘Jay Asher was not involved in the second season of 13 Reasons Why. The upcoming season will not be impacted in any way.’
Lin Oliver, executive director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, said that Asher had violated the society’s harassment code.
Thirteen Reasons Why author Jay Asher (pictured) was banned from a prominent literary agency last year but the news came to light with the #MeToo movement
Dylan Minnette as Clay, and Katherine Langford as Hannah in ’13 Reasons Why’ on Netflix. The streaming service confirmed Asher will not be involved in the show’s season two in 2018
Asher has said he chose to leave the children’s writers society and was himself a victim of harassment. In an email to the AP, he did acknowledge having affairs with ‘consenting adults.’
‘I am ashamed of myself and the pain our actions caused our families,’ wrote Asher, 42, who has been married since 2002.
‘During the past decade of harassment related to these affairs, I have never once retaliated. I will continue to leave my accusers to their anonymity in order to save them and their families from further hurt.’
Later on Tuesday, the executive director of the SCBWI told the AP that it had strengthened and expanded its anti-harassment policy. The additions included a code of conduct and a plan to have an anti-harassment monitor at SCBWI events. Lin Oliver also disputed Asher’s contention that he had left the SCBWI voluntarily and was himself a victim of harassment.
‘If he chose to leave, it was under duress,’ said Oliver, adding that she had made it clear to Asher that the SCBWI wanted him out. ‘And the reason he left was not because he was being harassed.’
Also Tuesday, Asher’s publisher issued a statement saying it had no comment on the allegations.
‘We are unable to comment on Jay Asher’s relationship with SCBWI because we have had no involvement with or knowledge of our author’s history with this organization,’ reads the statement from Penguin Young Readers, which currently has no plans for new books by Asher.
He was actually banned from SCBWI last year but the news only came to light with the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Asher told BuzzFeed News on Monday that he left voluntarily and felt that he had been ‘thrown under the bus.’
‘It’s very scary when you know people are just not going to believe you once you open your mouth,’ he said.
‘I feel very conflicted about it just because of what’s going on in the culture and who’s supposed to be believed and who’s not.’
Later on Monday, the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation told the AP that Asher would not be giving a scheduled keynote address at its conference in May.
‘Mr. Asher has denied the accusations, but in the end understood our decision to go in a different direction,’ said the federation’s publicity director, author Jennifer McMurrain.
Asher (pictured with Selena Gomez) says he voluntarily left the literary organization and he felt ‘thrown under the bus’ when the allegations came to light
‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ was Asher’s first book. The 2007 novel about a high school student’s suicide, adapted last year into a Netflix series, has attracted attention for its explicit content, including assault and harassment.
Netflix is planning to bring ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ back in 2018, but hasn’t set a date.
Asher, 42, has spoken publicly about the treatment of women.
Last weekend, he responded to a tweet by the prize-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson, who wrote of her ‘volcanic anger about rape culture and toxic masculinity.’
‘So grateful for @halseanderson’s voice and continued passion,’ he wrote.