Stephen King Doesn’t Understand Why “It” Book Child Orgy Worries Fans More Than Child Murders
Stephen King -- a.k.a. "The Master of Horror" -- doesn’t really understand why folks are so hung up on the child sex orgy scene in his novel "It." Read on below to find out what exactly he had to say about the controversy surrounding it (no pun intended).
What are your thoughts not he matter? Sound off in the comments section!
Stephen King responds to… In 1986, Stephen King’s horror novel It was released. The story, which we’re sure you’re familiar with by now, follows the experiences of seven children as they are terrorized by a being — primarily in the form a clown — that exploits the fears and phobias of its victims.
Stephen King responds to… As The Verge notes, the novel is 1,200 pages long. Mostly, these pages consist of child gang activity, murder, and attempted-murder. You know, the good stuff. That said, there are 10 pages that consist of something entirely out of left field: sex. Child sex.
Stephen King responds to… Let’s be clear here: These 10 pages consist of not just any kind of sex— rather, a child orgy sex scene. Seemingly, lots of people have clapped back at King for including such a thing in his novel. (The scene was conveniently left out of the just rereleased film.)
Stephen King responds to… That said, King doesn’t really understand why folks are so hung up on the child orgy. In fact, in a 2013 forum post, a fan shared a statement (unsourced) from King.
Stephen King responds to… The statement explains and also, in part, defends the controversial scene. It reads: “I wasn’t really thinking of the sexual aspect of it… The sexual act connected childhood and adulthood— 1985 and Grown Ups.”
Stephen King responds to… The statement continues: "The grown ups don’t remember their childhood. None of us remember what we did as children – we think we do, but we don’t remember it as it really happened.”
Stephen King responds to… "Intuitively, the Losers knew they had to be together again,” the statement explains. "The sexual act connected childhood and adulthood."
Stephen King responds to… It continues: "It’s another version of the glass tunnel that connects the children’s library and the adult library. Times have changed since I wrote that scene and there is now more sensitivity to those issues.”
Stephen King responds to… Then, this past week, Vulture decided to reach out to King to see if that statement actually did come from him. They also wanted him to expand on the remark now that It is making numbers at the box office.
Stephen King responds to… So, did King really say that about the orgy scene? Apparently. As The Verge reports, King told Vulture: “That sounds like my statement."
Stephen King responds to… King continued: "To it I’d just add that it’s fascinating to me that there has been so much comment about that single sex scene and so little about the multiple child murders. That must mean something, but I’m not sure what.”
Stephen King responds to… Since most of us here at Rebel weren’t alive in 1986, we’re going to have take Kings’ word for it that the scene wasn’t really that weird at the time. Nonetheless, those 10 pages are kind of… well, uncomfortable. We’ll leave it at that.
Stephen King responds to… What do you think about the controversial scene? Do you think King's defense of it makes sense? Sound off in the comments section and tell all!