New York Review of Books editor Ian Buruma exits amid outrage over sex harasser Jian Ghomeshi’s essay

Ian Buruma, the editor of the prestigious New York Review of Books, has left his position after being roundly criticised for publishing an essay condemned as insulting toward the #MeToo movement and victims of sexual abuse.

Nicolas During, a spokesman for the literary magazine, said on Wednesday Buruma “is no longer the editor” but would not confirm whether he had resigned or been fired.

The 66-year-old’s departure followed a wave of controversy surrounding an article written by the Canadian former broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi, who lost his high-profile job with CBC after more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct. He was accused of a range of violent and non-consensual behaviour, including choking, slapping and punching women in the head.

Ghomeshi, who said his sexual behaviour was consensual, was subsequently acquitted of sexual assault in a criminal trial in 2016. But he signed a “peace bond” that required him to apologise in court for his “sexually inappropriate” behaviour towards a former co-worker he had harassed, in order to avoid another criminal trial. The woman accused Ghomeshi of grabbing her from behind at work, and repeatedly thrusting his pelvis into her.

In the essay – titled “Reflections from a Hashtag” and published online on Friday – Ghomeshi muses on his life after the allegations, his pariah status among former friends and colleagues, his feelings of remorse and thoughts of suicide.

The article was immediately slammed by one of his accusers, Linda Redgrave, who underlined the gravity of the accusations against Ghomeshi and accused him seeking sympathy. The controversy quickly spiralled on social media.