Stephen King deletes his post backing Graham Platner amid a rape allegation
After a backlash, King pulled the message in which he hoped Platner would not drop out, and replaced it with a hedge: if Platner committed rape, he should bow out.
- The original post is gone, returning a 404 on King's account.
- The surviving post insists he is 'not defending' Platner, only 'making a comparison.'
- The reversal came only after severe online backlash.
Why it mattersThe post a man deletes is the one he could not defend; the hedge that replaces it is the apology he will not say.
Stephen King (@StephenKing) ↗ · Jul 8, 2026 · ✓ Checked