Author John Boyne, who beforehand criticised TV author Graham Linehan over his stance on trans points, has issued a public apology, saying: “You were right, I was wrong.”
Boyne is finest recognized for his 2006 Holocaust novel The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and in 2019 printed My Brother’s Name Is Jessica, a few younger boy coming to phrases together with his older sibling transitioning.
At the time, he wrote an article criticising Linehan – an outspoken critic of transgender self-identification – for his involvement within the debate, printed in The Irish Times.
Boyne has now shared a prolonged apology to the Father Ted author on X, previously often known as Twitter, explaining that he had mirrored upon seeing the backlash in opposition to singer Roisin Murphy for criticising puberty blockers in a submit on her private Facebook account.
Boyne, who’s homosexual, discovered himself on the identical aspect as Linehan in defending Murphy amid studies that a few of her exhibits have been being referred to as off.
In his apology, the Irish writer wrote: “Graham Linehan – who is without question one of our best screenwriters – has sacrificed enormous amounts in his support of women, children, gay men, and lesbians. He’s experienced trauma in his personal life, been vilified for his views online, in newspapers, and on television. He is currently unable to work in the industry he loves.
“There isn’t any authorized purpose for me to submit this message – actually, Graham will likely be as stunned by its look as anybody – however I’ve given a whole lot of thought to this and realised that each one I did in that piece 5 years in the past was add to the pile-on of a good man in a susceptible place, once I may have used my platform to defend and help him.
“Graham, without equivocation, without excuses, and without evasion: you were right, I was wrong, and I apologise.”
Linehan accepted the apology, writing: “Don’t know what to say. Apology accepted, obviously. I said some things in anger to John that must have made this doubly hard to write, so my particular thanks to him for looking past that. Very decent of you, John, thank you.”
It comes after fellow Irish star Murphy, a Mercury-nominated solo musician after fronting dance act Moloko, confronted criticism for a submit she shared on Facebook, wherein she reportedly mentioned that puberty blockers “are f****d… big pharma laughing all the way to the bank” and that “little mixed-up kids are vulnerable and need to be protected”.
She later issued an apology on X, saying: “I am so sorry my comments have been directly hurtful to many of you. You must have felt a huge shock, blindsided by this so abruptly. I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us.”
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Before Boyne’s apology to him, Linehan had questioned the author over his defence of Murphy, writing on X: “Seeing John Boyne virtue signalling about Roisin Murphy when he enthusiastically joined in my cancellation is quite the spectacle.”
Linehan co-created the Channel 4 comedy Father Ted and later wrote Black Books and The IT Crowd.
He was banned from X, previously often known as Twitter, in 2020 for breaking its guidelines round “hateful conduct” with feedback about trans folks, however his account was reinstated after Elon Musk took over.
In August, an Edinburgh Fringe Festival venue, Leith Arches, pulled the plug on its Comedy Unleashed occasion after it obtained complaints that Linehan was on the invoice.
Content Source: information.sky.com