Key Takeaways
- Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist, was uninvited from the Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2024 due to a controversy surrounding a column he wrote comparing the Middle East conflict to the animal kingdom.
- A group of 10 academics, including Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, had signed a petition demanding Friedman’s removal from the festival lineup.
- The festival’s director, Louise Adler, was accused of hypocrisy by former board member Tony Berg, who claimed she had lobbied for Friedman’s removal while defending freedom of speech for other authors.
- The controversy has led to the resignation of Adler and the cancellation of the 2026 writers’ festival.
- The incident has sparked a debate about freedom of speech, censorship, and the role of festival organizers in promoting diverse perspectives.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Adelaide Writers’ Week has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the uninvitation of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman from the 2024 festival. Friedman, who is Jewish, had agreed to appear in a video link session, but was subsequently notified that the timing would not work out. The decision came after a group of 10 academics, including Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, signed a petition demanding Friedman’s removal due to a controversial column he had written comparing the Middle East conflict to the animal kingdom.
The Accusations of Hypocrisy
Former festival board member Tony Berg has accused Adler of hypocrisy, claiming that she had lobbied for Friedman’s removal while defending freedom of speech for other authors. Berg, who is of Jewish heritage, made the accusations in a letter of resignation, which was tendered to the board’s chair, Tracey Whiting, and other officials. Berg claimed that Adler had programmed writers who have a vendetta against Israel and Zionism, while failing to include writers with different perspectives. He also accused Adler of leading a demand to retract the invitation to Friedman, after Abdel-Fattah had led a group of academics demanding that Friedman be de-platformed.
The Response from Adler and Abdel-Fattah
Adler has responded to Berg’s allegations by accusing him of breaching board confidentiality. She claimed that discussions of the board table are confidential and that Berg’s actions were indicative of the way the former board operated. Abdel-Fattah has also disputed Berg’s claims, stating that she was one of 10 Indigenous and academics of colour who wrote a researched letter about the harm of racial tropes. She argued that the issue is not about freedom of speech, but about power and the ability of certain individuals to silence others.
The Fallout from the Controversy
The controversy has led to the resignation of Adler and the cancellation of the 2026 writers’ festival. The festival’s board chair, Tracey Whiting, had also resigned earlier. The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has denied any direct interference in the decision, insisting that the board acted independently. The incident has sparked a debate about freedom of speech, censorship, and the role of festival organizers in promoting diverse perspectives. The controversy has also highlighted the challenges of navigating complex and sensitive issues in a public forum.
The Broader Implications
The controversy surrounding the Adelaide Writers’ Week has broader implications for the literary community and the role of festivals in promoting free speech and diverse perspectives. The incident has raised questions about the balance between promoting free speech and avoiding harm or offense to certain groups. It has also highlighted the challenges of navigating complex and sensitive issues in a public forum, where different perspectives and opinions may come into conflict. The controversy has sparked a necessary debate about the role of festival organizers and the importance of promoting diverse perspectives and inclusive dialogue.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the Adelaide Writers’ Week has been a complex and multifaceted issue, involving questions of freedom of speech, censorship, and the role of festival organizers in promoting diverse perspectives. The incident has highlighted the challenges of navigating complex and sensitive issues in a public forum and has sparked a necessary debate about the importance of promoting inclusive dialogue and diverse perspectives. As the literary community continues to grapple with these issues, it is essential to prioritize open and respectful dialogue, and to recognize the importance of promoting free speech and diverse perspectives in a way that is respectful and inclusive of all voices.
