LOS ANGELES, June 30 — EL James got more than she bargained for yesterday when critics of her “Fifty Shades of Grey” erotica series crashed her social media event, using the hashtag #AskELJames to challenge the author for writing books they allege perpetuate rape culture and sanction domestic violence.
The social media event was planned after the release of “Grey”, a follow-up to her erotica series that retells the story from Christian Grey’s point of view.
The author stopped by Twitter’s UK headquarters for the session, mostly to answer questions about what music inspires her or which scenes from the book were the hardest and easiest to write. But she also got a lot of questions about the quality of her writing, the novels’ “Twilight” inspirations and whether or not she glorifies domestic abuse.
The comments ranged from the funny and pointed, to outright scathing of the author and her fans, and were so numerous it became the top trending topic in no time. Here are just some of them:
How did you come up with the phrase 'Christian Grey-flavoured popsicle'? We're not worthy of such divine poetry. #AskELJames
— Jon Soares (@JonathasSoares) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames are you aware that eyebrows can't actually do this pic.twitter.com/5Fc6PI67ug
— lauren (@lburgundy) June 29, 2015 What do you dislike more, Independent strong woman or the English language? #AskELJames
— Trevor Donovan (@TrevDon) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames do you find it ironic that you write as if someone has tied you to a chair and forced you to?
— Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) June 29, 2015 Watching the #AskELJames hashtag like... pic.twitter.com/UoVRJBASDu
— Michael Scally (@FizzVsTheWorld) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames I need advice on making a BIG romantic gesture. Should I put a GPS tracker in her phone and make threats if she tries to leave?
— Liam Dryden (@LiamDrydenEtc) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames A lad once punched me on a night out. Does this mean he likes me? Should I have gotten his number?
— natgovin (@notgavin) June 29, 2015 If Christian and Ana were invited to a Halloween costume party, would they go as Edward and Bella from Twilight? #AskELJames
— Katiebabs (@katiebabs) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames Can you confirm that the formula to a best seller is to: Butcher the English language, copy existing rubbish and promote abuse?
— Michelle (@BosBaBe00) June 30, 2015 Reading through #AskELJames pic.twitter.com/qD1hdRPWbb
— Paola Loriggio (@ploriggio) June 29, 2015 That moment when #AskELJames hashtag is way more interesting than her books
— Laura.. (@5sose31d) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames you do realize that if Grey wasn't a billionaire, the 50 Shades trilogy would be one hell of a Law & Order episode?
— Belial Bell (@AlwaysAnimated) June 29, 2015 #AskELJames should be some PR student's thesis.
— Trenise (@Trenise) June 30, 2015 
