NEW YORK (AP) — The editor of The New York Review of Books has abruptly left his post following an outcry when the magazine published an essay by a former radio host accused of sexual misconduct that many deemed self-serving.
Ian Buruma, who was appointed to lead the magazine last year, is "no longer the editor," according to Nicholas During, a publicist for The New York Review of Books. It was unclear if Buruma was fired or resigned.
The magazine came under fire last week for publishing "Reflections From a Hashtag," an essay by Jian Ghomeshi, who has been accused of sexual assault and punching and choking women without their consent.
Critics say the 3,400-word essay had inaccuracies, minimized Ghomeshi's actions and was an egotistical attempt to rehabilitate himself. Farrah Khan of Ryerson University wondered why the magazine gave Ghomeshi such a platform while many people affected by sexual violence are not.
Ghomeshi was acquitted in March 2016 of four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking involving three complainants. He also apologized to a fourth complainant and signed a peace bond that saw another count of sexual assault withdrawn.
Buruma later defended publishing the essay in an interview with Slate, saying he was "no judge of the rights and wrongs of every allegation" and that the specifics of Ghomeshi's past misconduct were not his "concern."
Buruma contributed to the Review for more than 30 years. His books include "Their Promised Land: My Grandparents in Love and War" and "Year Zero: A History of 1945." Buruma also taught at Bard College.
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