The publishing industry is roiling with yet another controversy: A white author who “pretended to be a person of color” after being accused of uttering racist “abuse” at other writers is suspected of publishing work under another alias.
It has drawn comparisons to RF Kuang’s hit book on BookTok, where a white author steals an Asian writer’s manuscript; A novelist is under suspicion of adopting a different identity to avoid being linked to his disgraced past.
The scandal dates back to 2020, when fantasy author Taylor Barton, 32, from Oregon (who also went by the name Taylor Brooke) allegedly bullied people because of their race, many of whom came forward on social media. fanficable reported.
Taylor, who is nonbinary and is understood to use they/her pronouns, admitted to “making mistakes” in an online apology, according to the outlet.
‘I am learning, growing and taking steps to question my own internalized racism. “Anger has always been my shield, but vulnerability is the only way I will learn to grow,” Taylor wrote.
The scandal dates back to 2020, when fantasy author Taylor Barton (pictured), 32, from Oregon, allegedly harassed people because of their race, many of whom came forward on social media, Fanficable reported.
They added that they are “actively reaching out to those they have hurt with apologies,” as well as “taking a step back, listening to criticism from their community, and doing the work to become a better person.”
The writer then revealed that they would be making a one-time donation of $500 to The Trevor Project, an LGBT charity, and promised that all future royalties earned from his book The Ninth Life will also go to the organization.
At the time, many were confused that Taylor did not specifically address a Black-owned initiative as part of her apology message, which was also very poorly received.
Shortly thereafter, his editor dropped The Ninth Life and Full Moon in Leo (the latter written under Taylor’s other pseudonym, Brooklyn Ray), and his agent also ended his relationship with the writer.
However, as reported by fanficableJust a few days later, Taylor, on her Brooklyn Ray account, appeared to walk back the apology, stating that they only issued the statement because “their team asked them to” and “because they wanted to move on” and “make amends.”
However, they wrote, “‘hurting feelings’ is not abuse.”
When challenged by signs that several people came forward to claim they were being treated badly, Taylor (like Brooklyn) stated that they “don’t give a damn” whether they have “support” or not.
Brooklyn then said people should “show the abuse they’re talking about,” while others insisted that “victims don’t have to show their abuse to their abusers.”
However, in December of that year, a new fantasy author, named Jupiter Wyse (pictured), appeared on the scene.
Like Taylor, they identified as queer, but unlike Taylor, they claimed to be ‘Latinx’ and even spoke extensively about it on social media.
In a bid for privacy, the author wrote on June 25, 2020: ‘I’m just trying to pay my bills. I’m just trying to save the significant income I just lost so I can stay in my apartment, feed my pets, pay for my medications, and survive.
‘I’m not asking anyone to support me. But damn it, please leave me alone.
However, in December of that year, a new fantasy author named Jupiter Wyse appeared on the scene.
Like Taylor, they identified as queer, but unlike Taylor, they claimed to be ‘Latinx’ and even spoke extensively about it on social media.
Additionally, they also specifically claimed to be a “person of color.”
‘As a monolingual Latino person in the diaspora, it is very important to remember this. I use Spanish a lot in my books, but I use it as I am used to,” they wrote in a publication reported by the YouTuber. concindy.
‘Little phrases. Familiar words. Stolen pieces of a culture and language that I am still learning and finding.
And Cindy explained that it went beyond the rhetoric Jupiter adopted when they leaned toward a ‘Latino’ identity.
In another, Júpiter criticized publishers’ treatment of ‘Latino/Hispanic’ writers, stating: ‘We are here fighting an industry where our existence is debated at every turn.’
Júpiter also participated in a social media publishing event aimed at helping Latinx writers find agent representation.
And Cindy explained that it went beyond the rhetoric that Jupiter co-opted.
“They also really delineate this new identity by using dark skin emojis,” the YouTuber explained.
‘Choosing a dark-skinned avatar and posting content that implied they were culturally Latino, such as a shot of Abuelita hot chocolate and a photo of their face covered by a sugar skull bandana.’
People who knew Taylor said online that they had never talked about having Latin American heritage and only claimed to be European.
But as described in Cindy’s video, social media users soon began speculating that Jupiter was the same person as Taylor by comparing photos posted on the former’s profile, and even comparing their astrological charts (which were identical).
‘Jupiter’s’ agent at the time, Tara Gilbert, eventually abandoned the author and wrote in x in March 2021: ‘I recently discovered that my client Jupiter Wyse lied to me about his identity (see thread below). Bottom line, when I offered representation and they didn’t want to talk via video due to dysmorphia, I wanted to respect that. I am a big advocate for mental health.
And personal security. I would never violate my clients by forcing them to do something they were not uncomfortable with. Unfortunately, that also gave Jupiter/Taylor the perfect opportunity to lie to me. Not just about who they are but about.
‘Its publishing history. Taylor Barton or Brooklyn Rae’s names never appeared when I signed them. I am heartbroken and shocked by this. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me and informed me about this. I have ended my association with them.’
Three years later, another queer and Latinx-identifying author is accused of being Taylor’s creation. As reported by Illuminated centerFreydís Moon emerged on the scene in 2022.
Writer Elle Porter compiled a x thread, and a 69-page Google document full of screenshots, to prove that Freydís is another Taylor person.
Three years later, another queer and Latinx-identifying author is accused of being Taylor’s creation. According to Lit Hub, Freydís Moon will emerge on the scene in 2022
The evidence suggested by the writer includes fragments of works in progress that appear almost word for word identical to the documents shared by Jupiter Wyse’s accounts years ago.
Elle also recounted confronting Freydís about the discoveries, which seemed to provoke confused and bewildered reactions from the author.
According to Elle and Illuminated centerFreydís has continually denied any association with Taylor.
MailOnline contacted Freydís Moon for comment, who refused to directly deny that they are Taylor B. Barton/Taylor Brooke/Brooklyn Ray, stating that their identity is “irrelevant”.
However, when asked how they feel about the furore and fallout from the controversy, Freydís said they consider “cancel-happy behavior” to be a “dangerous, unnecessary and toxic trend in the publishing industry.”
“Many, many creatives have been surveilled, unfairly and unjustly demonized, and lost their careers due to rampant, widespread, and strategic takedowns for “social justice,”” they continued.
‘In an attempt to “protect” their communities, the anonymous (usually anonymous) stories leading these accusations and instigating these online kennels have done nothing but attack and destabilize vulnerable people based on exaggerated evidence, completely false accusations or insignificant complaints. .
“Although this is a setback for me and I have certainly lost income and readers, I will continue to publish, reconstruct and write good stories.”
Freydís’ current Instagram bio does not indicate that they are ‘Latinx,’ but their pronouns appear as ‘they/him/her.’