Oh, E.L. James. Didn’t anyone warn you that the Internet is not exactly a playground?
When Fifty Shades of Grey’s U.K. Twitter account announced a Q&A with the series’s author on Monday, her fans weren’t the only ones dying to ask her a few, erm, important questions. Unfortunately for the fanfiction-writer-turned-millionaire, Twitter users brought their A-game—that is to say, they were cruel and unrelenting in their online reaming of James.
It started off innocently enough, with actual fans asking James serious questions about the series and its latest spinoff, Grey.
@fiftyshadesUK #AskELJames what was more fun to write, Ana's POV or Christian's? @E_L_James
— Two Bookish Brits (@TwoBookishBrits) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/gem_jg/status/613341932157177856
Now that you've finished writing #GREY how would you describe Christian w 1 word?#askELJames
— 50ShadesTheMovie.GR (@50ShadesGreece) June 23, 2015
It seems that the genuine curiosity about James’s work stops there, however. Despite commercial success, the series has received tons of criticism from audiences that found it to be a paragon of abuse rather than a love story, and many Twitter users took advantage of the opportunity to publicly bash James for “romanticizing abuse.”
Do you know how heartbreaking it is to see all the girls my age dreaming of such an unhealthy relationship? #AskELJames
— hedonism (@non_lo_so___) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/AlwaysAnimated/status/615622576757440516
#AskELJames How are girls supposed to form healthy relationships if this is what they're taught is true love? pic.twitter.com/c9qHL1ZyrL
— Sam Maggs (@SamMaggs) June 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/dawneywawney/status/615581421420322817
It’s not just readers who’ve noticed a pattern of abuse in the series. A 2013 Michigan State University study found that many aspects of the story are consistent with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of intimate partner violence, concluding that 50 Shades perpetuates violence against women. Many domestic abuse survivors have spoken out against the series for promoting the unhealthy relationship to impressionable readers. Some Twitter users noted that, rather than respond to and engage with survivors of abuse, James chooses to block and ignore such inquiries.
#AskELJames Are you getting tendinitis from having to hit "block" so often :(
— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 29, 2015
#AskELJames If there's no abuse in your books, why are you unable to defend it to survivors & charities, choosing to block/ignore instead?
— 50 Shades is abuse (@50shadesabuse) June 29, 2015
While many used the Q&A to start a larger dialogue about controversial aspects of the series, some users opted to keep their bashing on the lighter (yet still hilarious) side.
https://twitter.com/Twitflup/status/615622667455041537
#AskELJames please explain this https://t.co/Xm5lhB6GVO
— Sage Boggs (@sageboggs) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/Cryptoterra/status/615603360297660416
https://twitter.com/Cryptoterra/status/615576053759610880
#AskELJames How many times a day do you think Charlie Hunnam just laughs with sheer relief?
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) June 29, 2015
Others used this opportunity to take a (not entirely unwarranted) dig at James’ famously poor writing skills.
https://twitter.com/caitlinstasey/status/615591473044545536
https://twitter.com/FilthyRichmond/status/615575075794853889
Of course, no Twitter Q&A with E.L. James would be complete without its fair share of jokes about her ripping off Twilight.
#AskELJames How does it feel to have actually written a worse love story than Twilight? That is real skill.
— Gaby (@TravellingBeard) June 30, 2015
Did you see the abusive relationship of Bella and Edward and think "hmm needs more abuse" #AskELJames
— Rachel Charlton-Dailey 💖💜💙 (@RachelCDailey) June 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/TezMillerOz/status/615518173383651328
#AskELJames What's the minimum distance you have to stay away from Stephenie Meyer at all times?
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) June 29, 2015
And last but not least, one brave user went straight for the jugular, summing up everyone else’s questions in an impressively succinct manner.
https://twitter.com/NouisTeacup/status/615653536970375168
It’s probably safe to say that E.L. James might want to take a short hiatus from Twitter (or the Internet in general) after the brutality of that Q&A. Allow us to get you some ice for those burns, girl.
Screengrab via 50 Shades of Grey