Why are people boycotting Stephen King’s book?

Horror maestro Stephen King is facing a fierce backlash that’s led to boycotts of his books, with fans and bookstores pulling support over a controversial social media post. The uproar stems from King’s now-deleted claim that conservative activist Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gay people—a statement widely debunked as false, especially poignant after Kirk’s tragic assassination on September 11, 2025. Outlets like Belfast Books have yanked Stephen King’s book titles from shelves, citing the remarks as insensitive and harmful, sparking debates on accountability in the literary world.

The fatal tweet

The Stephen King’s book empire took a hit when he posted on X falsely accusing the late Charlie Kirk of pushing for stoning gay people to death. This came mere days after Kirk’s shocking assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10 2025, amplifying the outrage as many viewed it as dancing on a grave still fresh with grief.

King swiftly deleted the post and issued apologies across multiple outlets admitting he hadn’t fact-checked and vowing it won’t happen again Yet conservative voices from politicians to everyday fans decried it as slanderous with threats of lawsuits and calls for accountability echoing the somber tone of shows like The Crown where public missteps haunt legacies.

The boycott gained traction fast with Irish bookstores and Belfast Books stripping Stephen King’s book titles from shelves citing moral revulsion Social media buzzed with vows to skip his upcoming movie reflecting a broader sentiment that apologies don’t erase the sting of untimely baseless attacks on the deceased.

A backlash that bites

Amid the furor, Stephen King’s book sales have taken a nosedive, with reports from outlets like Fox News and USA Today highlighting retailer pullouts and fan-led boycotts. The controversy, ignited by his erroneous post about Charlie Kirk’s views on gay rights, has painted the author as out of touch, especially in the wake of Kirk’s assassination, fueling a sense of betrayal among conservative readers who once admired his horror tales.

Posts on X reveal a groundswell of sentiment urging others to shun Stephen King’s book adaptations, including his latest film, which reportedly logged the lowest opening for a King project in over three decades. This digital outcry echoes the real-world actions of bookstores in Ireland and beyond, where shelves now stand empty of his works as a stand against perceived insensitivity toward the victim’s memory.

While King has expressed remorse, emphasizing it was an honest mistake without proper fact-checking, the damage lingers. Analyses from media like Variety note how such public gaffes can erode a legacy, much like scandals in somber dramas, leaving fans divided on forgiveness and prompting ongoing debates about celebrity accountability in politically charged times.

The legacy question

The legacy question

Stephen King’s book legacy now hangs in the balance as boycotts spread beyond Ireland with U.S. retailers like independent shops in conservative states joining the fray Reports from USA Today and Variety detail how his false claim about Charlie Kirk made just after the activist’s assassination has alienated readers who see it as a callous smear on a victim of violence

On X users express raw anger labeling King’s remarks as disgusting and vowing to skip all Stephen King’s book adaptations forever This sentiment echoed in posts from influencers and everyday fans ties into broader discussions of grief and misinformation reminiscent of true-crime tales where hasty words compound tragedy without resolution

While no lawsuit from Kirk’s widow has materialized as clarified by Hindustan Times the controversy underscores a divide some forgive King’s apology as human error but many demand more ensuring Stephen King’s book sales face prolonged scrutiny in a polarized cultural landscape

The cultural fallout

Stephen King’s book controversies aren’t new, but this one cuts deep, rooted in grief over Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the author’s unchecked words. News from Hollywood Reporter and Variety shows how his false claim amplified pain for Kirk’s family, prompting boycotts as a stand against misinformation that dishonors the dead.

Retailers worldwide, from Belfast to U.S. independents, have cleared shelves of Stephen King’s book titles, per reports in Deseret News, viewing his post as beyond redemption. This mirrors true-crime narratives where public figures face reckoning, leaving fans to grapple with separating art from the artist’s missteps in a divided era.

As debates rage, Stephen King’s book sales slump persists, with X posts fueling ongoing vows to shun his works. While he pledges better fact-checking, the boycott underscores a sobering truth: in times of tragedy, words carry weight that apologies alone can’t lift, reshaping legacies overnight.

A sobering reckoning

In the end, the boycott of Stephen King’s book empire boils down to grief-fueled outrage over his false, untimely smear against assassinated activist Charlie Kirk, seen as dishonoring the dead. As retailers pull titles and fans vow abstinence, it highlights how unchecked words in a polarized world can fracture legacies, urging greater empathy amid tragedy.