Over the weekend, the New Yorker Festival—an annual “who’s who” of artists, politicians, and more, as well as a major draw for advertisers—announced that this year’s headliner would be none other than unemployed racist Steve Bannon.
The announcement got the exact response you would expect, the response that’s elicited every time a major festival or convention gives their giant, prestigious platform to someone whose entire career is built on white nationalism and bigotry.
NO WHITE NATIONALISTS AFTER LABOR DAYhttps://t.co/Vig2qpG5cL
— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) September 3, 2018
We just went through this with Politicon inviting Milo Yiannoupolis to speak, which caused other guests to publicly renounce the convention and cancel their scheduled attendance. The outrage was so overwhelming (and so justified) that Politicon canceled Milo’s appearance shortly after announcing it.
That is, of course, exactly what happened following Bannon’s announcement. It seems ludicrous that they wouldn’t have seen this coming. They did seem to know the reaction would be negative, since that’s the only explanation for their decision to make the announcement quietly, over a weekend, shortly before tickets go on sale.
But if these festivals and conferences think they’re setting themselves up to cash in on those outrage-based ticket sales, they seem to have underestimated just how awful Steve Bannon is, and just how fed up people are of seeing bigots be given access to these platforms. We’re beyond hate-watching men like Bannon. We just want him gone.
Immediately after Bannon was announced as headliner, the festival began hemorrhaging guests.
I’m out. I genuinely support public intellectual debate, and have paid to see people speak with whom I strongly disagree. But this isn’t James Baldwin vs William F Buckley. This is PT Barnum level horseshit. And it was announced on a weekend just before tix went on sale. https://t.co/oYk1llNgvV
— John Mulaney (@mulaney) 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 was scheduled to appear at The New Yorker Festival in a conversation with @MJSchulman whom I love dearly. After learning of the inclusion of Steve Bannon, I am respectfully saying fuck that. Peace and love!
— Bo Burnham (@boburnham) September 3, 2018
I’m out. https://t.co/JkIOGqCxaM
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) September 3, 2018
Bannon? And me? On the same program?
Could never happen.
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) September 3, 2018
I apologize to @EricLach — a lively, funny writer. I would’ve loved to have spoken with him. I hope @NewYorker keeps me in mind for future, “winking white nationalist cyst-goblin”-free events?
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 3, 2018
i always saw the new yorker festival as a wonderful moment to celebrate culture. so when they told me it would kacey musgraves, zadie smith and mike birbiglia etc – i was all in. steve bannon — respectfully that’s a full no for me and normalization of white supremacy
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 3, 2018
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
Even the stage doesn’t want Steve Bannon on it. https://t.co/C4G3Gymqsw
— Nick de Semlyen (@NickdeSemlyen) September 3, 2018
It should be noted that this isn’t the only prestigious upcoming event Bannon was invited to speak at. He was also announced as a speaker at The Economist’s Open Future convention. Other guests are having a similar reaction.
I was honoured to be invited by @theeconomist to speak as part of their prestigious #openfuture convention – but I cannot in good conscience appear at an event which chooses to dignify a neo-nationalist like Steve Bannon. Unless this decision is reversed, I will not be attending. https://t.co/8UcIpABcd4
— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) September 3, 2018
I was slated to speak at an event with @TheEconomist in New York following my return to USA but I cannot in good conscience speak at a conference that is giving space and platform to Steve Bannon. #wirsindmehr pic.twitter.com/Q410vkx4FY
— Blair Imani (@BlairImani) September 3, 2018
The editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, emailed the magazine’s staff, many of whom had also expressed discomfort over the announcement, to tell them Bannon would no longer be headlining the festival. He also published a lengthy explanation of his reasoning behind booking Bannon, which had apparently been in the works for months.
Remnick had previously defended the choice to host Bannon, telling the NYT he wasn’t planning to go easy on him. “I have every intention of asking him difficult questions and engaging in a serious and even combative conversation,” he said.
But while Remnick may not have planned to give Bannon a place to propagate his hateful bigoted ideologies unchallenged, by giving him a place in this festival–a headliner status, no less–it gives validity to those ideas as being worth debating.
It doesn’t matter how tough the questions are that Remnick asks him. Just by being given this platform, Bannon has won. https://t.co/n5YCxSRSC1
— Dana Stevens (@thehighsign) September 3, 2018
This is how we got here. The normalization and elevation of figures like Steve Bannon by respected platforms that should know better. Thus is truly disappointing @NewYorker. https://t.co/l2c91KIy8u
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) September 3, 2018
This isn’t cause for celebration.
The fact that they booked Steve Bannon in the first place is a sign that the media continues to beclown themselves by booking and covering this professional edgelord.
His opinion doesn’t mean dick. His only platform is the one they hand him. https://t.co/rGnvgUChnK
— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) September 3, 2018
Seeing Bannon disinvited doesn’t feel like a win. The win will be when he’s not invited to speak in the first place.
(image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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