NEW YORK (AP) — Facing widespread unhappiness over its response to the Israel-Hamas war, the writers’ group PEN America has called off its annual awards ceremony. Dozens of nominees had dropped out of the event, which was to have taken place next week.
PEN, a literary and free expression organization, hands out hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes each year, including $75,000 for the PEN/Jean Stein Award for best book. But with nine of the 10 Jean Stein finalists withdrawing, along with nominees in categories ranging from translation to poetry, continuing with the ceremony at The Town Hall in Manhattan proved unworkable.
Among those dropping out was debut novel finalist Rachel Eliza Griffiths, wife of former PEN president Salman Rushdie.
“This is a beloved event and an enormous amount of work goes into it, so we all regret this outcome but ultimately concluded it was not possible to carry out a celebration in the way we had hoped and planned,” PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement Monday.
Miles Russell's historic week continues as 15
Wilmer Valderrama talks NCIS franchise's 1,000th episode, show's enduring legacy
Hong Kong anthem bill passed amid protest
Person in hospital after Dunedin house fire
Canadian family receives wrong body after father died on Cuban vacation
Ministry of Health job losses 'cutting really deep'
Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart soars on music charts during total solar eclipse
China passes Hong Kong security bill
Bill allowing parents to be fined for child's criminal offenses heads to Tennessee governor
Christopher Luxon's reo Māori lessons paid for by taxpayer
Cruz Beckham's VERY sweet tribute to mum Victoria at her star
Government likened to 'dinosaurs behaving as though it's 1948' over te reo Māori use