Madison Beer apologises for ‘romanticising’ Lolita and Hannibal Lecter
‘I see now that the book is triggering for some people’
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Singer Madison Beer has apologised to fans for “romanticising” Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita.
The musician came under criticism for saying that she viewed the sexual abuse depicted in the 1955 novel as a “taboo relationship”.
After her followers began questioning her choice of words to describe the novel, Beer said that she also romanticised Hannibal Lecter, the ruthless serial killer in Thomas Harris’s series of novels.
Known within the story’s world as “Hannibal the Cannibal”, the character was made famous when he was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.
“He’s a character in a movie that is not real ...” wrote Beer, in a tweet that has since been deleted. ”I don’t romanticize KILLERS in real life ... it’s a fake made-up thing.”
The “Hurts Like Hell” singer subsequently returned to social media to walk back her comments, writing: “I love u guys & I’m sorry. I misspoke and would never condone inappropriate relationships of any kind. I’m sincerely sorry for it seeming like I do. let me make it clear – I do not. have a good night.”
In Lolita, Nabokov writes from the point of view of Humbert Humbert, an academic and paedophile who grooms, and sexually abuses, his 12-year-old stepdaughter Dolores Hayes.
Beer later posted a longer statement about the novel, writing: “I think I was too flippant in my answers and you deserve much more than that. I discovered the book several years ago and honestly, I really should revisit it and read it through a new lens. After thinking about how the book is perceived amongst critics and how it remains a compelling piece of work despite its controversies, I think I have allowed that to colour how I have viewed it up until this point.
“I see now that the book is triggering for some people, evoking a very complicated emotional response, & that for some this book is not just an academic exploration of complicated themes and dark characters.”
The singer rose to fame at the age of 13 after being praised by Justin Bieber for recording a cover of Etta James’s “At Last” on YouTube.
Her most recent studio album, Life Support, was released earlier this year.
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