‘Unclear, unfunny’: Milo Yiannopoulos book notes revealed
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Court documents filed in the US have revealed some scathing edits to Milo Yiannopoulos’ autobiography manuscript.
Publisher Simon & Schuster gained the rights to his book for an advance of $255,000 (£200,000), before cancelling the deal in february after a recording emerged that appeared to show Yiannopoulos endorsing sex between “younger boys” and older men.
In July Yiannopoulos launched a lawsuit against the publisher for $10m claiming breach of contract.
As part of the case, Simon & Schuster submitted documents that reveal numerous problems they had with the book.
Among the scathing criticisms, the publisher’s notes Yiannopoulos needed a “stronger argument against feminism than saying that they are ugly and sexless and have cats” and that another chapter needs “a better central thesis than the notion that gay people should go back in the closet”.
Editor Mitchell Ivers doesn’t hold back in his criticisms of the alt-right writer.
“Throughout the book, your best points seem to be lost in a sea of self-aggrandizement and scattershot thinking,” and adds: “Careful that the egotistical boasting … doesn’t make you seem juvenile.”
Another comment in the manuscript reads: “Add something like this – only less self-serving”.
“The use of phrases like ‘two-faced backstabbing bitches’ diminishes your overall point,” reads one comment.
“Too important a point to end in a crude quip” is another. “Unclear, unfunny, delete,” reads another.
Since the publisher and author parted ways, Yiannopoulos has been heavily criticised in court papers.
The major US publishers say Yiannopoulos has no claims to a lawsuit he has filed as court proceedings get underway.
The publishers argue that it had an absolute contractual right to not publish Yiannopoulos’ work
According to papers filed by Simon & Schuster, Yiannopoulos did not immediately return an $80,000 advance, which they say represented a “full satisfaction and discharge of Simon & Schuster’s obligation under the [Publishing] Agreement.”
They also labelled the lawsuit a “meritless publicity stunt.”
“Yiannopoulos accepted the payment without protest, thereby sealing the accord and satisfaction and barring this lawsuit as a matter of centuries-old law,” their lawyer writes.
“That should have been the end of this contractual matter.
“Instead, Yiannopoulos waited approximately five months to file this lawsuit, in a naked attempt to drum up publicity for the publication of his book,” states court papers.
The company cancelled his book deal “after careful consideration”, when controversial video footage emerged of him appearing to defend men who have sex with underage boys.
