Non-binary white author is accused of publishing under a fake Latin American alias for the second time by online sleuths who also allege the writer carried out a campaign of ‘racist bullying’

The publishing industry is once again stoking controversy: A white author who “impersonated a person of color” after being accused of hurling racist “abuse” at other writers is suspected of publishing works under another alias.

It has drawn comparisons to RF Kuang’s popular book on BookTok – in which a white author steals an Asian writer’s manuscript – a novelist is suspected of assuming another identity to avoid being exposed to his disgraced past linked.

The scandal dates back to 2020, when fantasy author Taylor Barton, 32, from Oregon (who also went by the name Taylor Brooke) allegedly bullied people based on their race, many of whom came forward on social media. Imaginative reported.

Taylor, who is non-binary and presumed to use the same pronouns, had admitted to “making mistakes” in an online apology, according to the outlet.

“I am learning, growing, and taking steps to interrogate my own internalized racism. Anger has always been my shield, but vulnerability is the only way I will ever learn to grow,” Taylor wrote.

They added that they are “actively reaching out to those they have hurt with apologies,” but also “taking a step back, listening to criticism from their community, and doing their work to become a better person.”

The writer then revealed that they would be making a one-time donation of $500 to The Trevor Project – an LGBT charity – and promised that all future royalties earned from their book The Ninth Life would also go to the organization.

At the time, many were confused by Taylor’s failure to specifically address a Black initiative as part of their apology message, which was also generally poorly received.

Shortly afterwards, their publisher dropped The Ninth Life and Full Moon in Leo – the latter written under Taylor’s other pseudonym, Brooklyn Ray – and their agent also ended their relationship with the writer.

However, as reported by ImaginativeJust days later, Taylor — on their Brooklyn Ray account — appeared to backtrack on the apology, claiming that they only issued the statement because “their team asked them to” and “because they wanted to move on” and “it was okay wanted to make’.

However, they wrote: “‘hurt feelings’ are not abuse.”

When challenged by posters who said multiple people came forward claiming they were being treated poorly, Taylor (as Brooklyn) claimed they “didn’t give a fuck” whether they had “support” or not.

Brooklyn went on to say that people need to “show the abuse they are talking about” – while others emphasized that “victims don’t have to prove their abuse to their abusers.”

In a commitment to privacy, the author wrote on June 25, 2020: “I’m just trying to pay my bills. I’m just trying to save the significant income I just lost so I can stay in my apartment, feed my pets, pay for my medications, and survive.

‘I don’t ask anyone to support me. But goddamnit, please leave me alone.”

However, in December of that year, a new fantasy author named Jupiter Wyse appeared.

Like Taylor, they identified as queer — but unlike Taylor, they claimed to be “Latinx” — and even spoke about it at length on social media.

Additionally, they also specifically claimed to be a “person of color.”

“As a diasporic, monolingual Latinx person, this is very important to remember. “I use a lot of Spanish in my books, but I use it in the way I’m used to,” they wrote in a post narrated by YouTuber with Cindy.

‘Small sentences. Familial words. Stolen pieces of a culture and language that I am still learning and finding.’

In another book, Jupiter denounced the publishing industry’s treatment of “Latinx/Hispanic” writers, claiming, “We are fighting an industry where our very existence [is] discussed at every turn’.

Jupiter also participated in a social media publishing event aimed at helping Latinx writers find agent representation.

And Cindy explained that it went beyond the rhetoric that Jupiter had co-opted.

“They’re also really limiting this new identity by using dark-skinned emojis,” the YouTuber explained.

“Choosing a dark-skinned avatar and posting content that implied they were culturally Latinx, such as a shot of Abuelita hot chocolate and a photo of their face covered in a sugar skull bandana.”

People who knew Taylor have said online that they never discussed Latin American heritage and only claimed to be European.

But as detailed in Cindy’s video, social media users soon began speculating that Jupiter was the same person as Taylor by comparing photos posted on the former’s profile – and even comparing their astrological charts (which were identical) .

Tara Gilbert, “Jupiter’s” agent at the time, eventually dropped the author and continued writing X in March 2021: ‘I recently discovered that my client Jupiter Wyse lied to me about their identity (see thread below). Long story short, when I offered rep and they didn’t want to speak via video due to dysmorphia, I wanted to respect that. I am a big supporter of mental health care.

‘And personal safety. I would never violate my clients by forcing them to do something they are not comfortable with. Unfortunately, that also gave Jupiter/Taylor the perfect opportunity to lie to me. Not just about who they are, but also about.

‘Their publication history. The names Taylor Barton or Brooklyn Rae never came up when I signed them. I am heartbroken and shocked by this. I would like to thank all the people who contacted me and brought this to my attention. I have ended my association with them.’

Three years later, yet another queer and “Latinx” identifying author is accused of being a creation of Taylor. As reported by Illuminated hubFreydís Moon appeared on the scene in 2022.

Writer Elle Porter suggested one X thread — and a 69-page Google Doc filled with screenshot — to claim that Freydís is yet another persona of Taylor.

The evidence suggested by the writer includes fragments of works in progress that appear virtually identical word for word to documents shared in Jupiter Wyse’s accounts years ago.

Elle also shared how she confronted Freydís about the discoveries, which seemed to prompt confused and bewildered responses from the author.

According to Elle and Illuminated hubFreydís has consistently denied any association with Taylor.

MailOnline has contacted Freydís Moon for comment, who declined to directly deny that they are Taylor B. Barton/Taylor Brooke/Brooklyn Ray, stating that their identities are ‘irrelevant’.

However, when asked how they feel about the furore and fallout from the controversy, Freydís said they consider “cancel-happy behavior” to be a “dangerous, unnecessary and toxic trend in the publishing industry.”

“Many, many creatives have been policed, unfairly and unjustly demonized, and have lost careers as a result of rampant, widespread, and strategic ‘social justice’ takedowns,” they continued.

“In an effort to ‘protect’ their communities, the anonymous – usually nameless – accounts leading these charges and inciting these online dogpiles have done nothing but attack and destabilize vulnerable people based on exaggerated evidence, completely false accusations, or petty grievances. .

“While this is a setback for me and I have certainly lost revenue and readers, I will still continue to publish, rebuild and write good stories.”

Freydís’ current Instagram bio doesn’t list them as “Latinx,” but their pronouns are listed as “she/él/ella.”