The New Yorker Cancels Planned Interview With Steve Bannon After Loads Of Backlash

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I couldn’t care less about Steve Bannon. I feel nothing. The same can’t be said of everyone else on Twitter.

You see, the New Yorker was supposed to interview Steve Bannon at its upcoming festival, but that announcement was met with loads of backlash.

i’m no longer going to be speaking/performing at the new yorker festival as long as steve bannon is there

— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 3, 2018

If Steve Bannon is at the New Yorker festival I am out. I will not take part in an event that normalizes hate. I hope the @NewYorker will do the right thing and cancel the Steve Bannon event. Maybe they should read their own reporting about his ideology.

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) September 3, 2018

I can’t believe so many people are willing to appear at event where Steve Bannon will be headlining. And I can’t believe @NewYorker invited him in the first place. https://t.co/ofdATThcGm

— roxane gay (@rgay) September 3, 2018

White supremacy does not deserve a platform. Xenophobia does not deserve a platform. And either you are willing to hold that line or you are not. My god.

— roxane gay (@rgay) September 3, 2018

White supremacy does not deserve a platform. Xenophobia does not deserve a platform. And either you are willing to hold that line or you are not. My god.

— roxane gay (@rgay) September 3, 2018

I love working for @NewYorker, but I'm beyond appalled by this: https://t.co/WlZdsBpF1R I have already made that very clear to David Remnick. You can, too: [email protected]

— Kathryn Schulz (@kathrynschulz) September 3, 2018

How much is Steve Bannon being paid by the @NewYorker? I’ll be canceling my subscription today. The Nazi’s got all the platforms he needs. He gets none of my money. https://t.co/8SsigkY5g1

— Xeni Jardin 👩🏼‍💻 (@xeni) September 3, 2018

John Mulaney, Judd Apatow, Jim Carrey, and Jack Antonoff have all tweeted that they're pulling out of the New Yorker Festival over Steve Bannon.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 3, 2018

Freedom of speech, especially for those you detest, is an inalienable right. If the government tried to stop Steve Bannon from speaking, I would protest on his behalf. But the New Yorker Festival is a private event and hosting Steve Bannon is courting white supremacy for ratings.

— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) September 3, 2018

For anyone who wonders what normalization of bigotry looks like, please look no further than Steve Bannon being invited by both @TheEconomist & @NewYorker to their respective events in #NYC a few weeks apart. https://t.co/u0TDfCYrQ1

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) September 3, 2018

You get the idea. It was so bad that they rescinded their invitation.

New Yorker editor David Remnick told The Associated Press in a statement Monday that should he interview Bannon in the future it would be in “a more traditionally journalistic setting.” The former Donald Trump aide was supposed to be a featured guest during a prestigious gathering that over the years has drawn some of the world’s most prominent artists.

Here’s the full statement:

A statement from David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, explaining his decision to no longer include Steve Bannon in the 2018 New Yorker Festival. pic.twitter.com/opayiw5GQ2

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) September 3, 2018

Tough day for the two or three people who are both fans of The New Yorker and Steve Bannon

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) September 3, 2018

Guess so. I really couldn’t care less about either. Everyone is annoying. I need Melania’s jacket. “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?”