‘He has treated women horrifically in every way possible’: Author Junot Diaz accused of sexual misconduct and misogyny

Allegations are unfolding in real-time on social media.

Author Junot Diaz is receiving side-eyes instead of pats on the back as numerous women reveal instances of misogynistic behavior from him and at least one woman alleges sexual misconduct against him.

TheGrio Staff

May 4, 2018

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Author Junot Diaz received loads of support and sympathy on social media last month when he penned a deeply personal and disturbing essay about being sexually abused as a child and how that trauma has impacted his life.

But today, Diaz is receiving side-eyes instead of pats on the back as numerous women reveal instances of misogynistic behavior from him and at least one woman alleges sexual misconduct against him.

Early this morning, What We Lose author Zinni Clemmons accused Diaz of forcibly kissing her when she was a graduate student.

“As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I’m far from the only one he’s done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore,” she wrote.

As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I’m far from the only one he’s done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore.

— zinziclemmons (@zinziclemmons) May 4, 2018

Clemmons alludes to other women that Diaz has been physically inappropriate with, and other women on Twitter have said the same.

After relaying a story about Diaz publicly berating her, author Carmen Maria Machado echoed Clemmons’ sentiment about there being other sexual misconduct victims.

In the intervening years, I’ve heard easily a dozen stories about fucked-up sexual misconduct on his part and felt weirdly lucky that all (“all”) I got was a blast of misogynist rage and public humiliation.

— Carmen Maria Machado (@carmenmmachado) May 4, 2018

Junot Díaz is a widely lauded, utterly beloved misogynist. His books are regressive and sexist. He has treated women horrifically in every way possible. And the #MeToo stories are just starting. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

— Carmen Maria Machado (@carmenmmachado) May 4, 2018

The claims against Diaz are unfolding in real-time on social media, but one major theme amongst the allegations has been aggressive and misogynistic behavior towards female authors, especially women of color.

The dinner just got worse from there. I’ve never experienced such virulent misogyny. Every point I made—ABOUT issues women face in publishing—he made a point of talking over me, cutting me off, ignoring me to talk to the other (male) scifi writer at the table, who played along.

— Monica Byrne (@monicabyrne13) May 4, 2018

Beyond ‘Cancelling’

In recent years (especially in the past few months with the #MeToo movement resurgence), any time a celebrity is “outed” with their own alleged trash behavior, there is talk of ‘cancelling’ said person and debates rage on about how to separate a person from their art or public persona.

In many circles, Diaz has been a highly respected author for years, so as in the above mentioned instances, chatter has already begun. These allegations coming to light, especially after his powerful New Yorker essay, have prompted his fans and colleagues to readjust and ponder the appropriate next actions.

Now, I don’t know how fans of this work proceed from here. I do know we need to have a more vigorous conversation that simply saying, “Junot DIaz is cancelled,” because that does not cancel misogyny or how the literary community protects powerful men at the expense of women.

— roxane gay (@rgay) May 4, 2018

Junot Diaz not only wrote in ways deeply unjust to women and self-indulgent into the bargain, but did a huge disservice to the many boys/men who were horrifically abused and go on to fight with and as feminists for what’s right, viz., an end to toxic masculinity and rape culture.

— Kate Manne (@kate_manne) May 4, 2018

if you’re horrified by the Junot Diaz conversation and don’t know what to do, consider going to your local bookstore and picking up @carmenmmachado and @zinziclemmons‘s books today. success is power and we begin to change the culture with every book we buy & read & love

— kerry cullen (@kermichele) May 4, 2018

At least one bookseller has already taken action. Women of color-owned pop-up bookstore Duende District has taken Diaz’ work off of their shelves.

THREAD: 1. We have pulled all Junot Díaz books from our shelves. Again, Duende District is a WoC-owned biz & not a publicly funded org. We do not hide behind any excuses to further promote or profit off abusers. 2. BELIEVE WOMEN. Period. https://t.co/RVo8aHszAw

— Duende District (@duendedistrict) May 4, 2018

Some of Diaz’s long-time critics have pointed out that his work has always been steeped in misogyny and a few have even suggested that his New Yorker essay was a pre-emptive move to proffer sympathy because he knew the #MeToo stories against him were coming.

Diaz has yet to publicly address the allegations.