Writer who cancelled author in racism row sobs in video over 'past'

Writer Who Cancelled Author in Racism Row Breaks Down in Video

Monisha Rajesh, now an author herself, was an early critic of Kate Clanchy's award-winning 2020 memoir Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me. The book, which won the Orwell Prize for political writing, is based on Clanchy's 30 years teaching in state schools.

The memoir faced backlash a year after publication, with readers accusing Clanchy of using "racist" and "dehumanising" descriptions of some pupils' physical appearances. Rajesh publicly condemned the book on social media, expressing her anger on X in August 2021:

“F***ing chocolate-coloured skin!?! Jesus, this is making me rage and prickle all over.”

She later intensified her criticism by referring to Clanchy as “KKKlanchy.”

Renewed Controversy and Publisher Apology

Four years later, the dispute has resurfaced amid the BBC's upcoming six-part podcast series An Anatomy of a Cancellation, which revisits the divisive literary controversy.

In a notable development, Clanchy's former publisher Pan Macmillan has publicly apologized to her and others impacted by what they called a "regrettable series of events." The publisher admitted that their handling of the backlash was a mistake.

Summary

This episode highlights the lasting impact of public controversies in literature and the evolving responses from authors and publishers.

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Daily Mail Daily Mail — 2025-11-07

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