Regarding the reaction we’ve been getting to publishing Tao Lin’s autofictional review of Ghostbusters for the NES, we at the Austin office of Sentenced Lit would like to push back against the idea that he’s a voice we shouldn’t listen to. We’ve long-since felt that free speech is more important than what is being said. We’ve been saying this ever since we were founded earlier this month.

I mean, it’s the reality of his fucking life, people. Even if it was the fucking Turner Diaries, we’re gonna put it out, because it’s Tao. He’s a big fucking name. What do people object to, seriously? Profanity? Are you so offended by the fact that he’d rather eat the rotten asshole of a roadkill skunk and down it with beer than play Ghostbusters?

No, we all know the blue-haired complainers aren’t even reading what he’s saying. We all know it! The fact is, none of the shit he’s accused of is even relevant to the story and isn’t proven in the first place. Being totally serious, why the fuck would we capitulate to these people? We’re not stupid cowards. I know the New York and LA offices are apologizing, and I just have to say, that says a lot about the way these pussy cities work. They’re more concerned with a writer writing for us than the crime on their streets every day, and yeah, we all know who’s doing that and it’s not people like Tao Lin.

The rumors circulating about Tao, a personal friend of mine, are heinous. They say a lot more about the people accusing than they do about him. If you want to point to his work having all of this shit about being a pedophile, it’s like, why aren’t we cancelling Bobby Lee now? Are we gonna ban Lolita? I’m asking seriously. Where does it end?

Look, we at the Austin office stand against this mob and we’re always going to, no matter what. Let’s be real about the shit that’s going on and not throw out the Constitution. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

-Sentenced Austin