Noughts + Crosses: Malorie Blackman hits back at ‘absurd’ claims she is ‘anti-white’

Writer was accused of ‘race-baiting’ in her novel and TV series

Malorie Blackman, the author of the Noughts + Crosses novel series that has been adapted into a BBC drama, has hit back at those who have accused her of “race-baiting”.

Noughts + Crosses, a young adult book published in 2001, imagines an alternate reality in which white people are the underclass and black people are the ruling elite.

Its race-reversal element divided viewers and critics, with fans hailing it as “vital” television and nay-sayers accusing it of “anti-white racism”.

Blackman has now responded to the criticism, writing on Twitter: “Btw, to those accusing me of being anti-white or stating I must hate white people to create such a story as Noughts and Crosses, I'm not even going to dignify your absurd nonsense with a response.

“Go take a seat waaaay over there in the cold, dark and bitter haters' corner.”

Her comment was retweeted by the drama’s co-lead Jack Rowan. “You tell ’em!” he encouraged the author, whose defence was supported and retweeted by many fans.

The Independent’s critic Fiona Sturges applauded the show’s concept, saying it “asks important questions of its white audience” and predicting the series would “induce hernias in right-wing commentators”.