Artists unite against book bans: Ariana Grande, Roxane Gay join 150+ names

In a powerful show of solidarity, nearly 200 esteemed artists, actors, musicians, and authors have come together to denounce the recent surge in right-wing book bans. In an open letter released on Tuesday, celebrities and stars from various fields voiced their concerns over the growing censorship of literary works, highlighting the profound impact it has on creative expression and free speech.

MoveOn, a progressive public policy advocacy group, launched their first-ever Banned Bookmobile this year and is currently on a multistate tour to sound alarms about Governor Ron DeSantis’s censorship and the rising wave of GOP book bans across the country.

The rising threat to creative expression

Prominent figures such as Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, and Gabrielle Union joined forces with 195 entertainers and writers to lend their voices to this essential cause. The initiative was spearheaded by the iconic former host of “Reading Rainbow,” LeVar Burton, in collaboration with MoveOn. Burton is also due to lead this year’s Banned Books Week as its honorary chair, which takes place October 1st to October 7th.

Read: School book bans: alarming rise as Florida takes lead

The letter unequivocally condemns the “restrictive behavior” associated with book bans and the “chilling effect” they have on the broader creative landscape. It asserts that such bans are fundamentally “antithetical to free speech and expression.” It adds: “We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans. It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.”

Find all 150+ artists against book bans listed in our spreadsheet.

A powerful coalition of voices

This rallying cry for creative freedom began its collection of signatures during the summer and boasts an impressive list of supporters, including Mark Ruffalo, Billy Porter, Chelsea Handler, John Leguizamo, Constance Wu, Christie Brinkley, Idina Menzel, Andy Cohen, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, and Sharon Stone, among many others.

The letter’s signatories also include influential personalities such as Busy Philipps, Judd Apatow, Alyssa Milano, Zooey Deschanel, Patton Oswalt, Natasha Lyonne, Margaret Cho, Bill Nye, Ellen Barkin, Jason Ritter, Michael Ian Black, Piper Perabo, Rob Reiner, and Ron Perlman.

Actor Alimi Ballard said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Let’s create a world where creativity knows no barriers and every voice can be heard.”

Read: AI open letter: authors including Margaret Atwood urge companies to honour copyright

The official MoveOn website elucidates the dire situation, stating, “Far-right politicians like Ron DeSantis are championing draconian laws to ban books and the teaching of accurate multicultural American history in favor of upholding a homophobic, transphobic, and white supremacist vision of our nation. MoveOn has partnered with LeVar Burton to organize more than 150+ artists, entertainers, writers, and creators to sign an open letter condemning these bans as a form of censorship and a threat to all artists in every field, and calling for an end to this oppressive attack on artistic freedom.”

The artists’ letter itself reinforces their commitment to the cause, declaring, “As artists, creators, entertainers, and activists, we recognize and are horrified by the threat of censorship in the form of book bans. This restrictive behavior is not just antithetical to free speech and expression but has a chilling effect on the broader creative field. The government cannot and should not create any interference or dictate what people can produce, write, generate, read, listen to, or consume.” The protest comes just as PEN America released its report spotlighting Florida as the worst state with the highest number of banned books in public schools. 

Beyond books: defending artistic freedom

Furthermore, the letter warns that the assault on artistic freedom won’t end with book bans but will inevitably extend to other forms of art and entertainment, targeting marginalised communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. It emphasises the need for unity among artists, highlighting, “We refuse to remain silent as one creative field is subjected to oppressive bans. As artists, we must band together, because a threat to one form of art is a threat to us all.”

In a final plea, the letter urges everyone to join the fight against these book bans, advocating for free and open creative industries, regardless of personal or ideological disagreements. It calls on individuals to use their voices at the local level to combat these bans in their school districts, reiterating the power of artistic freedom and the unwavering resolve of artists to resist draconian politicians who seek to stifle their creative expression.